The Heroes of Basement Waterproofing! Michigan Toll Free: 800-STAY-DRY (800-7829-379), National Toll Free: 800-800-7073

If you have a damp crawl space, you are presented with a big choice. You can either obtain crawl space waterproofing from a licensed, experienced professional or you can just ignore it and move on.

Now pay careful attention and understand when we tell you that this choice is more important than you might think. Let us examine the outcome of each decision.

The results of obtaining crawl space waterproofing

• Increased home value
• Lowered future maintenance costs
• Easy to access crawl space
• Lowered energy bills

The consequences of foregoing crawl space waterproofing

• Possible rotting support systems
• Insect breeding grounds and invasion
• Breathing unclean air in your home
• Mildew and risk of mold

After reading the above list, anyone can see that obtaining crawl space waterproofing is a smart decision. And finding someone to do the job is simple. Just search the web for “crawl space waterproofing” in your local area and you’ll find plenty of options. Or get over to staydrywaterproofing.com and save yourself the hassle.

Foundation problems. It’s an unfortunate fact of many home owners’ lives. Too often foundations are laid incorrectly, trees roots dig in, or the earth underneath a home is just too soft. Whatever the reason, foundation cracking is often unavoidable. With that in mind, it’s absolutely necessary that you understand all the in’s and out’s of the foundation repair process.

How do you know you need foundation repair?

Are you questioning whether or not you truly need foundation repair? If so, consider the following signs:

• Cracks in your foundation walls
• Doors that won’t shut
• Cracking sheetrock
• Mysteriously damaged or uneven flooring
• Large trees growing closely to your home
• Cracks in your garage floor

The signs are numerous. And while they don’t necessarily ensure that you are in need of foundation repair, they need to be looked into.

Is it urgent?

In short—yes. If you think you have a problem, you shouldn’t delay. The longer you wait around, the more damage that will be done. Foundations will not fix themselves. If you catch the problem early on, you may find that foundation crack repairs can be quite affordable. On the other hand, if you wait too long you may be staring in the face of a complete wall rebuild. And that won’t come cheap.

Money and damage aside, it’s important to realize that foundation wall problems put your family at risk. Eventually they will fail completely. It happens more than you think. Imagine what happens if your foundation walls collapse… it could be disastrous for your family.

How do you find help?

Ask friends, family, co-workers. Anyone you can think of. You can also hit the web and do a search. Make sure you make your search as specific as possible. For instance, if you live in Michigan, type something like, “Michigan foundation repair” to get the results that work best for you. You aren’t going to hire a foundation repair company from across the United States are you?

What can they do to help?

Professional contractors offer a wide variety of foundation crack repairs. The right solution for you depends on the source and severity of your problem. Make sure your chosen foundation repair contractor first comes out and offers you a free estimate. They’ll diagnose the problem and offer you the possible pathways to get it fixed. They’ll also let you know how much each solution will cost you. No surprises.

A few possible foundation repair solutions are:

• Wall straightening
• Partial/full rebuilds
• Concrete crack injection
• Carbon-Fiber Kevlar® Straps
• Steel beam reinforcement
• Wall and earth anchors

Again, the solution that’s right for your individual problem depends on the severity and the cause. Call a professional contractor to start the conversation on what’s right for you.

What about the cost?

Foundation repair can be expensive, but help is available. Choose your contractor carefully and you’ll reap the benefits of affordable financing. Sometimes you can find same as cash financing, meaning you pay zero interest on payments over a fixed amount of time—often six months. This allows foundation repair to fit most budgets.

If you think your home is in need of foundation repair, call a professional contractor today!

There’s no doubt about it. Having a cracked foundation is frightening. But when it’s time for foundation repair, there’s plenty of false information floating around. Try to separate fact from fiction. The following details the truth about foundation repair.

• It doesn’t have to destroy you financially- Okay, so repairs of any kind aren’t cheap. And they certainly aren’t an expected or wanted expense. But when you have no other choice, know that foundation repair doesn’t have to force you to file for bankruptcy.Reputable foundation repair companies offer convenient financing plans to help ease the financial shock. By splitting up the total cost into payments with low (or even no!) interest, foundation repair can fit into almost any budget.
   
• It doesn’t have to destroy your yard- Traditionally, foundation repair meant digging up the yard to get to and rebuild foundation walls.  And if you’re like most homeowners, you either spend a lot of time or a lot of money on landscaping. The last thing you want is to have to spend more money redoing your yard once foundation repair is complete.Luckily, times have changed. New technology and new methods of repair means your yard just might escape your home’s foundation repair injury-free. For instance, the use of Fortress Stabilization Carbon Fiber/Kevlar® Straps allows foundation repair experts to straighten and stabilize your foundation walls without digging into your earth. It all takes place from the inside of your basement.
   
• Old methods aren’t necessarily bad methods- Even though technological advances have made new foundation repair methods available, newer is not always better. With that in mind, if a foundation repair company advises you to go with an old method of repair, don’t be too quick to scoff. For example, Steel I beam Reinforcement has been around longer than most methods of foundation repair.

  However, in some instances it may be the right fix for your home. This method has been tested and proven over a long period of time. And you can’t argue with results. So remember, “older” doesn’t always mean “worse.”
   

• Not all contractors are the same- The old adage “if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ‘em all” doesn’t apply when it comes to foundation repair contractors. The fact is, contractors vary widely. Some over charge. Some offer low prices coupled with low quality work. Some care about their customers. Some only care about themselves.When you need foundation repair, you need to pick your service provider wisely. Make sure they are members in good standing with the better business bureau. Make sure they have been around and aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Make sure they are competitively priced and have proof of quality work. Remember—the lowest price isn’t always the best choice. On the other hand, highest price doesn’t necessarily equate to highest quality.

Remember, foundation repair doesn’t have to be scary and it doesn’t have to make you poor. The right contractor will help you find an affordable solution that works best for your individual situation.

Now that you know the truth about foundation repair, don’t hesitate to get help for your home today.

Living in a moist area such as Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio can spell disaster for the crawl space beneath your home. Failing to keep your crawl space dry and conditioned can eventually destroy your home and pose risks to your family’s health. While every home without a basement foundation can benefit from crawl space waterproofing, the following indicators demand your immediate attention.

• Sagging floors- If you notice your floors randomly sagging, the cause might not be so random. Extended exposure to water can rot the wooden floor joists underneath your home. As a result, your floors will become uneven over time. Crawl space waterproofing can prevent moisture damage to your floor joists.
   
• Musty odor in your home- Are you greeted with a stale stench upon entering your front door? That smell doesn’t just come out of thin air- it’s caused by moisture. As soon as you notice a damp or musty smell in your house, you need to find the source of the problem. When searching, don’t rule out the possibility that your crawl space could be the culprit. Due to a phenomenon called the stack effect, your home draws air up from your crawl space as part of the ongoing airflow. If you have a wet crawl space, your home is sucking up damp air, which can cause the musty odor.
   
• Allergy problems- Do you find yourself sneezing often at home or rubbing your nose and eyes? This is probably due to allergies. If you have a damp crawl space under your home (and especially if you notice the musty smell inside), chances are you have mold growing. Because mold spores travel by air, the air being sucked up into your home is bound to carry minute particles of mold, not to mention other allergens. A home suffering from this problem may cause occupants to suffer from allergies while inside, but clear up when they leave the house for a few hours.  
   
• High electricity bills- Rising electricity costs may indicate that your crawl space air is invading your home, causing your air conditioner or heater to run less efficiently. In this situation, homeowners traditionally point fingers at poor attic insulation and outdated single-paned windows. However, having established that your unsealed crawl space delivers air to the inside of your home, it’s logical to conclude that this may also lead to higher energy consumption. Crawl space waterproofing and conditioning will seal the walls and vents of your crawl space and will in turn cause your air conditioning or heating system to run more effectively. 
   
• Insect invasion- Insects such as spiders, slugs and roaches thrive in humid areas, including under your home. These insects have a way of finding passage into your house where they wreak havoc. Before calling an exterminator, consider crawl space waterproofing and conditioning. Doing so might stop an insect invasion from below your home. 
   
• Visual crawlspace damage- The primary indicators that you need crawl space repair are the visual signs beneath your home. Of course, this requires you getting on your hands and knees and venturing into the darkness of your crawl space. Once under your home, first look for standing water. If you find water, you likely have a problem. Next, look for any signs of wood rot. Also search for moldy spots and insect infestation. Any of these may signify your need for crawlspace repair. 

Whether you find any of the aforementioned symptoms or not, any home with a crawl space can benefit from crawl space waterproofing. By installing a crawl space vapor barrier, you insure a high quality of air in your home. Encapsulation also keeps your crawl space free from water and the damage it causes. Electronic humidity control systems also exist to regulate the level of moisture in the air beneath your home. 

If you notice any of the indicators listed above, or maybe you want to avoid them in the future, call a licensed crawl space repair contractor to inspect underneath your home. After a careful, free examination, they can provide you with a plan for your crawl space needs.

Why It’s Important

Everyone knows that water penetration will destroy your home. But did you know that water in your crawl space can also affect the inside of your home? Here’s a brief rundown of resulting problems:

• The joists under your home may rot, resulting in sagging floors and eventual collapse.
• The damp areas in your crawl space provide the perfect habitat for insects such as spiders and cockroaches, which inevitably enter your home.
• The damp air negatively affects the air quality inside your home, causing your family to inhale dust, soil gases, and possibly mold spores.
• Your family may develop allergy and other respiratory problems from breathing musty air.
• The air intrusion from your crawl space causes your cooling and heating systems to work less efficiently, raising your monthly bills.

 While the above list only scratches the surface of what a damp crawl space can cause, it’s undeniable- a wet crawl space will only lead to trouble. Fortunately, crawl space waterproofing and conditioning can help mitigate all the potential risks.

What Not to Do

Traditionally, experts thought your crawl space needed to breathe. Therefore homes commonly came equipped with vents in the crawl space. However, contrary to popular belief and older building code recommendations, recent studies show this line of logic to be flawed. The fact is, vents allow humid and moist air to flow into your crawl space which first causes humidity fluctuation and then condensation on air ducts and floor joists. This can eventually create structural problems and also a number of air quality problems, including mold and mildew. Venting of the crawl space is now known to be very detrimental to solving a moisture problem.

The Stack Effect

The stack effect is the process of constant air circulation throughout your home. Basically, as hot air in your home rises, cool air rushes in through your crawl space vents. Your house then sucks the cool, damp air up inside through various cracks and crevices. Unfortunately, the air from your crawl space isn’t pure. Instead it’s likely packed with soil gases, dust, allergens, and maybe even mold. In order to prevent your family from breathing the impurities, you need to condition and control the humidity and moisture in your crawl space.

Crawl space Vapor Barrier

In order to properly condition your crawl space you need to have a professional install a crawl space vapor barrier (sometimes referred to as a vapor diffusion retarder) to encapsulate the area underneath your house. Using a thick, fiber-reinforced material, unlike the thin plastic Visqueen used very often, minimizes the amount of water vapor that finds its way into your home. However, the vapor barrier will not serve its purpose unless it is properly installed. Correct installation includes multiple strategically placed fasteners and overlapping seams to ensure that the crawl space is completely sealed off from the soil underneath. That said, it’s probably not a good idea to take crawl space vapor barrier installation on as your next do-it-yourself home improvement project.  

Electronic Humidity Control Systems

An electronic humidity control system can be installed to regulate the quality of air in your crawl space. It works by first expelling the damp air from underneath your home and then reclaiming the warm air that has risen into the upper levels. This warmer air gets repurposed to dry out your crawl space. The end result is a home that is dry from top to bottom, with clean, comfortable air that won’t put your family at risk.

Where to Begin- Free Inspection

It’s easy to get started. Simply find an experienced contractor with ample references to visit your home and give you a free inspection. Then you’ll know exactly what you need and how much it will cost. Don’t let dollar signs scare you off- a quality crawl space repair company offers convenient financing options, making it affordable for any budget. And don’t worry; finding the right contractor means you’ll never have to worry about your crawl space again because they offer warranties.

So don’t hesitate, call a professional for crawl space repair today.

Painting your bedroom, refinishing kitchen cabinets, planting a flower bed- these are a few home improvement projects you might consider taking on by yourself one weekend when you’re feeling productive. However, when it comes to something as important and involved as crawl space repair, you should consider finding a reputable contractor to do the hard work for you. Of course, the thought may cross your mind that you could save your hard earned cash by squeezing under your house and sealing it yourself. The following should convince you otherwise.

1.       You might miss bigger problems- If water has stood under your house for long periods of time, installing a crawl space vapor barrier might only mask the problem.  Before engaging in crawl space waterproofing, it’s important to inspect your crawl space for signs of damage. You may find that the water has rotted the joists that support your entire home, requiring you to replace some of them. Another serious problem you could overlook is mold. Mold spores love damp areas such as your crawl space. Crawl space waterproofing alone will not rid your crawl space of mold. Before installing a vapor barrier, proper drying and cleanup must occur. Luckily, a professional will crawl under your house and thoroughly examine the area before beginning your project.

2.       Proper Materials- A professional crawl space waterproofing company will have the proper materials and products to permanently seal, waterproof and condition your crawl space. Most do it yourself homeowners use thin plastic Visqueen to line the ground of their crawl space thinking that they are doing it right. Professional crawl space waterproofing companies now use thick 16 – 21 mil fiber reinforced vapor barriers to properly seal the crawl space floor and walls from the home above. These vapor barriers are held in place with heavy duty 4 inch nylon tape, glue and nylon fasteners. To properly waterproof a crawl space sometime a drain tile system is buried along the walls of a crawl space and a sump pump and crock is installed. Do you have all these materials to do the job right? 

3.       It’s difficult- Have you ever actually crawled under your home? With only a few feet of room to maneuver, you’re not exactly free to move around as you wish. With so little room to work, crawl space repair proves a difficult and time-consuming task especially when digging and installing a drain tile system. Besides the limited work space, it’s important to properly set up, seal and secure your crawl space vapor barrier so it doesn’t leak. And you certainly don’t want to accidentally tear your new vapor barrier along the way. Do you really want to take a chance on spending days getting a stiff neck under your house only to find out that you didn’t do it correctly and it is still wet?  

4.       You have no guarantee- Imagine this scenario: 5 or 6 years after you sealed your own crawl space, you notice your living room floor sagging in several spots. The problem continues to grow worse and finally you break down and bring in a contractor. Almost immediately, the contractor diagnoses your problem as rotten support beams caused by prolonged exposure to moisture. Maybe you sealed your crawl space correctly- maybe you didn’t. Maybe you failed to dry it properly before you closed it up, or maybe you failed to replace joists that were already rotting. At any rate, you’re now looking at tearing out all your hard work, and having someone rebuild your support system. Not to mention the interior floor work you’ll need to repair cracked wood or tile. Think this scenario doesn’t occur in real life? Think again. But if you hire a reputable crawl space repair company, you’ll get a warranty, typically for 25 years. Also that warranty is transferable to the new owner if you should ever sell the home. That means once you pay your contractor, you’re secure for the long-term that your crawl space will be moisture free and sealed tight.  

5.       It’s not that expensive- Maybe money is holding you back. Don’t let it. The right crawl space waterproofing company will surprise you with how inexpensive the job actually is. Of course you don’t want to hire the cheapest guy on the block because the quality of work will probably drop with the price, but you don’t have to spend your life savings either. And if you find you can’t come up with the money right away, never fear. Reasonable financing options exist that can spread out your payments over 6 – 12 months with no interest.

With so much at risk, don’t take such an important job into your own inexperienced hands. Call a professional for a free estimate today.

Water may quench your thirst and offer loads of summer fun, but it’s also your home’s biggest enemy. More specifically, water in your crawl space can harm you and your home in multiple ways. Luckily, you can avoid these problems with one phone call to a crawl space repair company. In case you still aren’t convinced, here are a few reasons to seriously consider crawl space waterproofing.

1)      Mold- Did you know that the air in your crawl space always finds its way into your living area? That means you and your family breathe your crawl space air on a daily basis. This poses a risk to your family’s health if you have water under your home. 

Damp areas in your crawl space offer ideal breeding grounds for mold. And if you have mold growing, then the mold spores traveling in the air are finding their way into your family’s lungs. These spores cause a wide array of health problems, from asthma to headaches. Hiring a professional for crawl space waterproofing offers the only long­-term solution to this moisture problem. 

2)      Pests- Mold isn’t the only unwanted guest your wet crawl space invites into your home. Pests such as spiders, slugs, and cockroaches thrive in wet, dark environments. Perhaps you’re okay with these pests occupying your crawl space, but you certainly don’t want them in your home. Unfortunately, similar to your crawl space air, the pests will eventually find their way into your house through vents and cracks.  You can hire an exterminator for pest control, but what you really need is moisture control. If you notice more insects than usual running around in your home, consider checking beneath your house. Crawl space repair might fix your problem and permanently rid you of your unwelcomed visitors. 

3)      Structural damage- It doesn’t take a professional to figure out that allowing water to sit under your home will inevitably lead to structural damage.  Eventually the moisture will soak your joists, causing them to rot- and rotten joists lead to soft, saggy floors. In extreme cases, rotten joists could even cause your floors to collapse. So you not only have a risk to your investment, but also a safety risk. 

Let’s not forget the pain of replacing rotten joists in your crawl space. That’s certainly not a job you will want to take on yourself, so you’ll have to hire a professional contractor. As a result, you’ll find yourself emptying your bank account to fix the effects of your moisture problem. After that you will still need to find someone to seal underneath your house with a crawl space vapor barrier. Why not avoid the moisture problems altogether by investing in crawl space waterproofing now?   

4)      Won’t pass inspection- When it’s time to sell your home, your potential buyer will hire a licensed home inspector to pick apart your home, searching for any potential problems. If you think the inspector isn’t going to examine your crawl space, think again. A competent home inspector will sound the alarm at the first sign of moisture underneath your home. He won’t stop until he can find evidence of water damage- be it a speck of mold or a patch of rotten wood. At this point, you can count on one of two things happening. Either you will lose your potential buyer due to failed inspection, or the buyer will demand you reduce your selling price to pay for crawl space repair.    

The message is a simple one: crawl space waterproofing will save you lots of trouble in the long run. By delaying, you guarantee that problems will brew under your home. The moisture won’t leave on its own. Why not search for a trustworthy crawl space repair expert today?

Owning a home in a humid state like Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio ensures that you have at least one enemy – moisture. Water will find whatever avenue possible to penetrate and slowly destroy your home. Target areas include crawl spaces, basements, and foundations. Fortunately, basement waterproofing contractors have a number of tricks up their sleeves to help secure your investment.   

1. Crawlspace Repair and Conditioning - The crawlspace beneath your home is rarely accessed and provides water the perfect hiding area. If rain seeps under your home and just stagnates, it may never fully dry. The result? Well, besides the horrible musty smell and insects it attracts, standing water will eventually turn into air vapor and penetrate the floor joists of your home. Eventually, you’re looking at moldy rotten wood and saggy floors. At that point, you will have to search for a contractor to crawl under your home and replace the beams, which won’t come cheap – the process is difficult and time-consuming. However, replacing the joists won’t fix the long-term problem, as the soggy ground under your home will eventually lead to the new wood’s demise. Do you see the cycle? 

   Fortunately, you can avoid the rotting floors with a phone call to a basement waterproofing contractor. By installing a sump pump and drain tile along with a crawlspace vapor barrier to dry things up, the contractor can assure you that you’ll never have to worry about rotten floors in your home.

2. Basement Waterproofing- Since gravity pulls all things down, your low-level basement serves as an end destination for water. The tiniest crack in your basement walls or floor let’s your enemy walk right in. While you might think there’s nothing wrong with a bit of a musty smell in your basement, it’s important to realize that the stench of a wet basement is the least of your problems. Moisture penetration in your basement leads to a long list of headaches such as, destroying personal belongings, possible mold, mildew, or much larger cracks. Spreading cracks could end up destroying your basement walls, forcing you to need serious foundation repair. And spreading mold… well you know what that means. Allergies, sickness, mold remediation specialists- you don’t want to go down that path.

   Basement waterproofing contractors offer methods such as concrete crack injection, interior and exterior waterproofing, as well as sump pumps and crocks. Basement waterproofing contractors make sure your basement walls and floors will stay dry. Sealing up your cracks and removing the water means no mold, no musty smells, and no further separating of basement walls.    
    

3. Foundation Repair- Many things can cause damage to your foundation, but the number one cause is Water. Whether it’s frozen water pressure in the winter, or heavy wet soil pressure in the summer causing your walls to bow or crack, you’re facing a problem with enormous potential consequences. Cracking and bowing walls will cause expensive cosmetic damage in your home. You’ll wake up one day and suddenly doors won’t shut, drywall is cracking, and swelling floors separate tiles and wood planks. Of course, the cosmetic problems are the least of your worries at this point. 

   A cracked foundation destroys the resale value of your home. When an interested buyer discovers your house has foundation problems, you might as well kiss your sale goodbye. No one wants to purchase a home with that sort of monster looming. Besides the monetary considerations you must make when it comes to a damaged foundation, bowing foundation walls also present a safety concern. If you don’t hire a contractor for foundation repair, your walls could eventually collapse on you or your loved ones. While this case is extreme, it is not impossible.

   With so much at risk, why wait any longer to repair your home? The answer is right under your nose- contact an experienced basement waterproofing contractor to repair, seal and permanently fix your homes foundation today.