Basement waterproofing and crawl space repair in ON

Choosing Your Foundation Repair Method

Mon, March 19 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Does your Belleville, ON home show signs of sagging floors, bowing or buckling walls, and foundation cracks? Do such foundation problems make you question the safety, stability, and/or overall resale value of your home?

Foundation problems can be a serious source of stress and financial worry for Belleville homeowners. Fortunately, however, there are affordable, certified foundation repair contractors that can permanently solve foundation problems without breaking one’s budget. Continue reading to learn the four common steps involved in Belleville foundation repair.

Step 1: Find a Certified Foundation Repair Contractor in Belleville

Though it may sound like a daunting task, finding a certified foundation repair contractor in Belleville doesn’t have to be. You can begin the search online and compare contractors’ rates, services, and customer reviews that way, or you can ask your friends, neighbors, and co-workers for recommendations. In the end, you’ll want to hire a Belleville foundation repair company with extensive knowledge and experience in foundation repair, along with affordable rates and trustworthy contractors.

Step 2: Inspect for Foundation Problems

Once you’ve found the best foundation repair contractor in Belleville, it’s time to get to work! The first step is to conduct an extensive home inspection, pinpointing areas of your home needing foundation repair. Fixing these trouble spots will return your home to its original position and increase your home’s overall value.

Step 3: Discuss Effective & Affordable Solutions

Once the inspection is complete, the Belleville foundation repair contractor will sit down with the homeowner and discuss any problems they found. Together, you can come up with an effective solution that fits within your budget. Popular foundation repairs include:

Wall Anchor Systems: If your foundation walls appear to bow or buckle inward, it means they’re unable to handle the weight or pressure being applied to them. This may be caused by a variety of reasons, including hydrostatic pressure, the type of soil around the foundation, temperature conditions, and how deep the foundation reaches. Buckling walls will eventually crack and leak water. If ignored, they may even collapse. Belleville foundation repair contractors can install wall anchor systems that will not only stop inward wall movement, but even restore the walls back to their original (straight) position.

Foundation Piers: Foundations settle naturally over time, but settlement problems can occur when the soil under a foundation cannot support the home’s cumulative weight. Foundation settlement problems can result in cracked walls and drywall, titled chimneys, uneven doors and windows, and much more. To repair foundation settlement problems, Belleville foundation repair contractors can install stabilizing foundation piers. These sturdy steel piers can resist both long-term pressure and corrosion, and lift the foundation back to a stable and worry-free position.

Crawl Space Supports: Although a crawl space is not a “lived-in” and usable part of your home, it still needs to be protected and maintained. One common foundation problem in Belleville is when the floors above a crawl space begin to sag or sink. This is often due to a lack of crawl space supportive structures, moisture damage/rot, or sinking supports. To solve this problem, Belleville foundation repair contractors can install crawl space supports. These work to quickly and effectively restore the structure. If the sinking floors were a result of rot or mold, the contractor can also encapsulate and dehumidify the space.

Step 4: Receive a Free, No Obligation Estimate

The final step in Belleville foundation repair involves receiving a free, no obligation estimate from your chosen contractor. If the price is right, you can then implement the suggested foundation repairs and give your home a much needed “pick-me-up!” (No pun intended.) Don’t wait until it’s too late -- research Belleville foundation repair contractors today!

McInroy Basement Systems specializes in foundation repair in Belleville, ON and other surrounding areas. Visit them online for a foundation repair estimate.

Why is Basement Waterproofing Important?

Mon, March 19 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Most likely, your home is your biggest investment. To protect that investment, it’s important to maintain all areas of the home, including the basement. Whether your basement is a fully-renovated home office or TV room -- or if it’s simply a place for storage and half-empty boxes -- keeping a Kingston basement dry is vital for the health of both your home and your family.

Why is Basement Waterproofing Important?

There are many reasons why basement waterproofing is important. For starters, a damp basement is often home to mold and mildew. These fungi can lead to numerous health issues for both humans and pets, including breathing problems, allergies, eye and skin irritation, headaches, and fatigue.

A wet basement can also lead to troublesome and expensive structural issues, such as rotting wood. What’s more, many pests and rodents thrive in humid, damp environments. Employing effective basement waterproofing techniques will help keep your basement dry, healthy, and safe. It will also help to eliminate that unpleasant musty smell that permeates your basement and all the things kept there (e.g. furniture, clothes).

Certified Basement Waterproofing Companies in Kingston

The number one secret to effective basement waterproofing in Kingston is finding an experienced, reputable basement waterproofing company offering top-notch products and service. Patented, time-tested basement waterproofing products are key to keeping any Kingston basement dry and healthy year-round. So don’t settle for just any basement waterproofing contractor offering the cheapest rates. Instead, look for professional, certified basement waterproofing companies in Kingston. In the end, you’ll be very glad you did!

Popular Basement Waterproofing Products in Kingston

From flooring, walls, windows, gutters, dehumidifiers, washing machines, and water heaters, there are numerous basement waterproofing products available for Kingston homeowners. Let’s take a quick look at two popular basement waterproofing products.

1. Basement Dehumidifier: Perhaps the easiest and most affordable basement waterproofing product, an energy-efficient dehumidifier helps remove moisture from the air. Reducing moisture and humidity from the air not only stifles mold and mildew growth, it also helps reduce that “musty basement” smell.

When shopping for a basement dehumidifier, be sure to purchase one that’s both energy-efficient and self-draining. Energy-efficiency is important for obvious reasons -- you can run the dehumidifier 24/7 without worrying about it drastically increasing your monthly energy bill. A self-draining basement dehumidifier comes highly recommended because it requires no effort on the part of the homeowner. The dehumidifier can remove more than 100 pints of water every day, and expel it automatically, without the homeowner having to empty a collection tray several times a week.

2. Perimeter Drainage / Sump Pump System: When it comes to protecting your home from leaks and flooding, you’ll need more than a basement dehumidifier. That’s why many Kingston homeowners turn to perimeter drainage and sump pump systems. Interior basement perimeter drainage systems collect excess water and direct it towards a sump pump, which then expels the water outside and away from the home. Interior perimeter drainage systems can be installed in one to two days and cost half the price of exterior drainage systems.

When shopping for a sump pump, be sure to ask your Kingston basement waterproofing contractor about installing a battery backup pump. That way, you’ll be 100% protected from water damage and flooding even if you lose power during a severe storm.

McInroy Basement Systems specializes in basement waterproofing in Kingston, ON and the surrounding areas. Visit them online for a free basement waterproofing estimate.

McInroy Basement Systems is the Newest Waterproofing Professional

Tue, October 25 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Tweed, ON – McInroy Basement Systems has joined the Basement Systems Inc. network to provide basement waterproofing and more to the greater Tweed, Ontario area.

McInroy Basement Systems had 8 years of basement waterproofing experience prior to joining Basement Systems, Inc. They will now add the following services:

•   Crawl Space Repair
•   Foundation Repair
•   Mold Remediation
•   Sump pump installation
•   And more!

Basement Systems, Inc. is a network of over 300 basement waterproofing contractors and crawl space environment specialists in six countries. They have 25 patented, award winning products and train their contractors at their headquarters in Connecticut.

McInroy Basement Systems specializes in crawl space repair, mold problems and basement waterproofing in Bancroft, Belleville and Kingston. They provide free basement waterproofing estimates to Ontario homeowners.

Four Steps to Maintaining a Dry Basement

Mon, September 26 2011, 00:00:00 -500

If you're concerned about the ever-present musty smell in your basement or the possibility of mold or mildew growing in your home's lower level, it's time to take the necessary steps to waterproofing your basement. Unless you have training in this area of expertise, it’s best to hire a dedicated and experienced basement waterproofer to help keep your basement dry.

Step 1: Identify the Problem(s)

Once you hire a certified basement waterproofer that has experience handling all types of basements and waterproofing systems, he or she can visit your home and diagnose your basement's issues. For example, he or she can identify where the water is coming from, how to repair the wetness or leak, and how to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.

After all, basement waterproofing is a job that you -- the homeowner -- only wants to complete and pay for once; which is exactly what a certified basement waterproofer with extensive knowledge and experience can provide.

Step 2: Discuss Possible Solutions

Once your certified basement waterproofer has correctly identified the problem areas in your basement, it's time to talk about how to fix them. If your basement's wetness originates from the wall-floor joint, the basement waterproofer may suggest installing a perimeter drainage system along the basement floor. This would then drain to your existing (or newly-installed) sump pump, which would expel the water from inside your basement to the outdoors, away from your home.

If the basement waterproofer is concerned about waterproofing your basement's walls, he or she may suggest installing a wall vapor barrier or insulated wall panels. If your basement has visible cracks along walls or floors, it's important to have your basement waterproofer repair them immediately; otherwise, your home is at serious risk of flooding during a heavy rainstorm. Cracks in a basement's walls or floors can also permanently compromise a home's structural stability.

Step 3: Basement Waterproofing Installation

Now that you have identified your basement's water-related issues and discussed waterproofing solutions, it's time to have the certified basement waterproofer install the correct waterproofing system(s) in your basement. Depending on the severity of your basement's wetness, this could range from a drastic renovation (e.g. installing a perimeter drainage system, sump pump, and waterproof walls and floors) to a simple yet effective remedy (e.g. installing an energy-efficient basement dehumidifier). Whatever the solution, the sooner you repair a leaky or wet basement, the better!

Step 4: Follow-Up Visits

Quality basement waterproofers will occasionally check in with you after they complete your basement waterproofing installation. They'll provide you with tips on how to keep your basement dry during the wettest months of the year, and how to spot even the smallest signs of wetness or leakage in your basement and throughout your home. Follow-up visits and consultations help give the homeowner extra peace of mind and help to ensure the home is a safe, healthy, and comfortable space.

A wet, damp, or humid basement not only compromises the safety of your home, but also decreases its value. To protect your family from mold and mildew exposure, and to protect your investment, hire a certified basement waterproofer serving your town today!

McInroy Basement Systems is your qualified and experienced resource for basement waterproofing in Kingston and all nearby Ontario areas.

The How and Why of Basement Waterproofing

Mon, September 26 2011, 00:00:00 -500

There are several ways to waterproof your basement, including French drains, sump pumps, dehumidifiers, and sealants. Any or all of these basement waterproofing techniques will help keep your basement dry, your home's living space safe, and increase your home's comfort and overall monetary value.

How Water Enters a Basement

Water typically enters a home or basement in one (or more) of three ways: via air movement, heat transfer, or diffusion. Of these, air movement is by far the most common method of water vapor movement in a basement. Because air moves from high- to low-pressure areas (by any means necessary), it can transfer moisture through any open holes, cracks, or unsealed spaces in a basement's walls or floors. Water can even pass through small cracks in concrete, wood, or masonry blocks via capillary action. These small cracks are able to absorb water in any direction, causing serious damage to a home's basement.

Why It's Important to Keep Your Basement Dry

Many homeowners choose to renovate their basement to make it a usable space. It might become a child's playroom, a spare bedroom, a home office, or a game room. Other homeowners, however, do not need or use their basement, and prefer keeping it as a storage space or simply a part of the house that one simply passes through from time to time.

Whether your basement is fully-functional or completely empty, it's important to keep it dry at all times. Why? For starters, proper sealing helps to protect against possible flooding. It's also important to keep a basement dry because any wetness, dampness, or moisture in a basement can lead to mold and mildew growth, which can cause such health issues as asthma and allergies (as well as more serious concerns).

A wet, damp, or humid basement is considered unsafe, regardless of whether you use the space on a day-to-day basis. That's because mold and mildew growth can start in the basement and make its way up to the more lived-in areas of a home. It's important to keep your basement dry at all times and stop a potential problem before it can begin.

How to Keep Your Basement Dry

The best way to keep your basement dry is to find a trustworthy and knowledgeable basement waterproofing specialist serving your area. He or she can help identify immediate or potential problems, and recommend basement waterproofing solutions to protect your basement and family against potential flooding and/or possible mold- or mildew-related health issues.

Your basement waterproofing specialist may recommend installing a basement sump pump (with a battery-powered backup pump), a perimeter drainage system, a French drain system, waterproof flooring, basement wall coverings, and/or an energy-efficient dehumidifier. There are many effective ways to keep your basement dry; it's just a matter of taking the initiative to speak with a certified basement waterproofing specialist to find out which options are best for your home, climate, and budget.

Don't wait! Research basement waterproofing specialists serving your area to learn about how water enters your basement and ways in which you can keep your basement dry, safe, and usable year-round!

Contact the experts at McInroy Basement Systems today for a free estimate for basement waterproofing in Belleville and all surrounding areas in Ontario!