Prevent Sick House Syndrome

The EPA recently informed us that six out of 10 homes are“sick”, actually hazardous to your health to occupy as a result of airborne pollutants.

Since most people spend well over 90% of their time indoors, indoor air is going to impact health far more than outdoor air. According to Scientific American, a baby crawling on the floor will inhale the equivalent of four cigarettes per day and will be exposed to a multitude of pollutants as a result of the out gassing of carpets, molds, mildews, fungi, dust mites, etc. Sick House Syndrome occurs in homes with excess moisture and lack of ventilation. Cold damp basements and crawl spaces nurture mold and contaminants which work their way into the upper levels of the home.

A Humidex unit controls moisture and creates ventilation in both basements and crawl spaces. Humidex will create a healthier home environment, improving indoor air quality by expelling gases, toxins, VOC’s and odors. Stagnant air will be replaced by fresh air creating a healthy home.

Humidex is very energy efficient requiring 30 to 40 watts to operate and costs less than $4 per month on your utility bill and is maintenance free.

Call Pioneer Basement Solutions, serving Northeast Ohio for a free consultation and estimate for your Humidex unit today: 1-877-321-4889 or visit www.pioneerbasementsolutions.com

Basement Wall Cracks

Basement wall cracks can be cosmetic and or structural. Typically if the crack is a "vertical tear" that goes mostly straight down, it is not a structural concern. Vertical cracks are more prone to leak however and may require digging out on the outside to seal off the leak.

"Step cracks" , are basement wall cracks that step down following the mortar joints of the wall, these are common settling cracks. All homes settle and usually produce some step cracking. The common tolerance or acceptable level of cracking is up to 1/8". If your step cracks are 1/2" or more you may need what is called underpinning or peiring to support the foundation from underneath and bring it back up to its original position.

Horizontal basement wall cracks are very common and usually lead to basement walls bowing in. If the basement wall has bowed in 4 inches or more it should be replaced. So if you have a basement wall crack that is horizontal and your wall is bowing in, take action as soon as possible to stabilize it preventing any further movement.

For information on foundation repair/ stabilization check out www.pioneerbasementsolutions.com or call 1-877-321-4889 for more information.

Pioneer Basement Solutions has been in business since 1979 serving Northeast Ohio.

Basement Waterproofing Paint

Waterproofing a basement with paint on the interior of the walls is the most popular method used by do it yourselfers. Basement waterproofing paint can be a good solution for some, but not for others. Let's look at when it is probably not a good solution for you first.

1. If your walls are already painted. Basement waterproofing paint is designed to soak in to the pourous cement block material. Applying waterproofing paint on top of other paint will lead to big bubbles, flaking and loose chunks falling off because the waterproofing paint could not bond into the wall.
2. If your walls are not cement block. Basement waterproofing paint was designed for cement block. All other foundations, such a clay tile, will not take the paint correctly.
3. If you have actual water seepage problems. Basement waterproofing paint will create a "dam" and can allow water to stack up in your block walls. This can cause rot and decay that will lead to major problems later. Actual water seepage should be dealt with utilizing professional repair and solutions.

So really, basement waterproofing paint works well for minor dampness issues that occur in cement block walls that are not previously painted. If your basement does not fit this profile, call Pioneer Basement Solutions today for a free inspection and no obligation estimate at 1-877-321-4889. Or visit the website at www.pioneerbasementsolutions.com and be sure to check out our current sale!

Wet Basement After A Snow Melt

I have received quite a few calls recently about wet basements after the recent snow melt. Many people say, "I never had a leak before now, why is that?" Honestly each situation needs specific assessment to determine the source of the basement leak however there are a few basic causes.

When the snow really piles up like it did recently, it has a lot of potential to saturate the ground. When there is a fast melt, the original foundation drainage can get overwhelmed and the water simply has nowhere to go. This creates ground water build up, a water table around your foundation, that can create a lot of "hydrostatic pressure". Water simply pushes all around your basement, like trying to push a bowl down into a sink of water, you feel the water pressure push and if you let go the bowl will pop out of the water. Obviously your basement is no going to pop out of the ground. So water forces its way into weak points, usually the seam where the wall meets the floor and you get a wet basement.

It simply could be bad timing. At some point, all basements are going to leak. Your waterproofing system will fail eventually because it is out in the elements. It could be that the snow melt was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back in your case.

I would be happy to visit your home for a no obligation free evaluation. I will prepare a free estimate if you need repairs. Call me at 1-877-321-4889 or visit us online at www.pioneerbasementsolutions.com

Wet Basement? Look up!

Wet basements can be very frustrating. How about when you are out shopping, or even worse out of town, and you know there is a deluge that is probably wreaking havoc on your basement. Thinking about what must be going on can consume a person, and then finally you head down the stairs to see what could be bad as you hope for the best.

One common cause for wet basements is actually your roof water. Yeah, roof water management is more important than most people think. Overflowing gutters can pelt water right close to your foundation at a very heavy rate. Downspouts that are disconnected from extensions that lead the water away underground or away from the home on the surface can have the effect of a couple garden hoses running wide open right down your foundation walls.

There are a few common signs that I look for that relate to roof water when I inspect foundations for water seepage sources. First, if your mulch or the dirt around your home is impressed or eroded away in a straight line parallel to the foundation, look up. This is a typical sign of gutters overflowing. Also look to see if there is a lot of gravel or pebbles along the ground close to the foundation that have washed up to the surface in those areas. If so that could mean the problem has been going on for a while. You may be able to simply clean out your gutters and be fine. Watch after the next heavy rain, if you still have cascading water off of the roof you may need to go to an oversized gutter. Or it could be the downspout drain.

Another sign I look for is mulch or dirt that has sunken and or eroded away around the downspout. This could mean the drain is clogged underground and is backing up, causing the water to wash away the soil around the drain. Cleaning underground downspout lines is very important and often overlooked. Have your underground downspout lines checked or cleaned by a drain professional every year or two to prevent that water back up and keep it out of your basement.

If your downspouts are simply running out on the surface, five to six feet away from the foundation to an area where the water will run off and away on to your lawn or landscape should do fine. You want to get at least four feet out to get past the "soft zone" which was created when the home was built. This is where soil from construction is mixed up and was back filled around the home. This soil will stay soft for many many years. It's pretty shocking how easy it is to dig by hand all the way down a sixty year old foundation. Try that out in the middle of the lawn and you are lucky to get past 18 inches!

If your roof water is well managed you will greatly reduce your chances of a leaky basement. If all is well and you still have a leak, call a waterproofing professional!

I would be happy to personally visit your home and asses your basement conditions free of charge. If professional repair is needed, I will review your options and make a recommendation. Call me at 1-877-321-4889 or...

Visit our website for more information at www.pioneerbasementsolutions.com

The #1 myth about what causes a wet basement

The number one thing most people are told to do, think they should do and try to do to stop their basements from getting water is a result of the #1 myth about what causes a wet basement. That is "the dirt around my house isn't sloped enough".

Over the past fifteen years I have probably visited around 5,000 homes and I must say, over 90% of them have an "OK" grade, or slope around the house and the problem they are having in their basement has nothing to do with the slope of the dirt around their foundation.

If the dirt has any slope to it at all it is most likely good, even if it is flat is it probably fine. Only severely negative slopes toward the house that extend far enough away from the house to grab rain water that flows on the surface is actually a problem.

Piling dirt up too high can actually create worse issues. If you do not raise the level of the waterproof coating on your foundation first, stacking dirt up can allow some moisture to wick through the wall and cause problems in your basement.

If you do have a problem with the slope of the dirt around your home you will see signs up high on your basement wall (where the water that runs on the surface toward the foundation enters your basement wall). Those signs will appear right at the "grade" or dirt level and trail down from there. These signs are typically damp spots, mold and or mildew, peeling paint or actual water that trails down on your basement wall.

I would be happy to personally visit your home and asses your basement conditions free of charge. If professional repair is needed, I will review your options and make a recommendation. Call me at 1-877-321-4889 or...

visit our website @ www.pioneerbasementsolutions.com