Have you found a crack in your basement?

You may be asking yourself a lot of questions…

How did this happen?

Was there something wrong with the foundation?

Was it the builder’s fault?

What can I do about it? 

Have you found a crack in your basement? If so, you may be asking yourself a lot of questions. How did this happen? Was there something wrong with the foundation? Was it the builder’s fault? And finally, what can I do about it? 

Let us assure you that cracks in the foundation are not out of the ordinary. There are several reasons that cracks appear in the basement. The chances that the crack is the result of a bigger issue is low. However, you do not want to ignore the problem, or it can LEAD to a bigger issue.

Cracks can develop in the foundation during the settling process, when installing household utilities and around basement windows. 

Here at Suburban Basement, we have years of experience repairing basement cracks. We offer free estimates and warranty our work. Let our expertise keep your mind at ease and your basement dry.

In our previous article we stated that finding cracks in your foundation is not out of the ordinary. You might be asking, what causes those cracks in the foundation? Let’s take a closer look at the causes, in order to understand where they might be coming from.

In our previous article we stated that finding cracks in your foundation is not out of the ordinary. You might be asking, what causes those cracks in the foundation?

We briefly addressed this in the last article when we discussed finding a crack in the basement.  Let’s take a closer look at the causes, in order to understand where they might be coming from.

Settlement – 

Your home’s foundation naturally settles. Although this usually happens uniformly, sometimes it does not, and this can cause cracks in the basement.

Curing – 

The concrete that makes your foundation goes through a normal curing process. This can cause hairline cracks that are usually non-threatening.

Seasonal –

In the winter, when the ground freezes it expands upward and in the Summer, as the ground heats up the concrete expands and then shrinks at night when the temperatures drop. Both the hot of summer and cold of winter can cause cracks in the basement.

Grading and Landscaping – 

Improper grading allows water that should flow away from the house to settle in and around the concrete. Some soils have minerals that absorb water and roots from trees or plants that are placed too close to the foundation cause issues with the integrity of the foundation as well.

As you can see, cracks are indeed not out of the ordinary for your basement. When is it time to contact a professional? Any time you find a crack that is leaking or when you have a crack that is at or over ⅛ inches wide, it is time to consult a professional. And if you are asking what ⅛ of an inch looks like, take two dimes and put them together. If the crack is wider than the width of the two dimes put together then you know you need a professional.

Here at Suburban Basement, we have years of professional experience repairing basement cracks. We offer free estimates and warranty our work. Let our professional expertise keep your mind at ease and your basement dry.

Uneven Concrete at your home or business is not only a tripping hazard, it can cause drainage issues as well.

But what causes concrete slabs to sink or become uneven? And how can they be lifted or repaired?

Let’s take a closer look at why concrete leveling is needed and how our method of Polymer Foam Lifting (Poly Jacking) works.

What Causes Concrete Slabs to Sink?

• Erosion – Poor drainage, improperly placed downspouts, leaking drainpipes, and broken water lines are common culprits.

• Poor Compaction – When backfilling on a jobsite, the contractor is supposed to compact the backfill by driving over it with heavy equipment. However, this isn’t always done properly for one reason or another.

• Biological Decay – Construction trash pits, buried trees, and Other biodegradable materials all break down. Sometimes structures are built over these areas.

When you have uneven concrete, you have options:

• Do Nothing – The problem will grow and the longer you wait, the more expensive the repair.
• Replace – The process will take several days, is often messy, and is typically more expensive.
• Lift with Cement Grout – This procedure (known as “mudjacking”) requires heavy equipment, large drill holes and the use of weighty cement grout which may sink over time.
• Our Process – Lift with Polymer Foam – This procedure uses light equipment and material, small drill holes and makes less of a mess. 

Find out more on our Polymer Foam Concrete Leveling Services here.

Concrete Leveling has several different names. Those most common are:

• Concrete Leveling
• Concrete Lifting
• Concrete Raising
• Slab Jacking
• Concrete Jacking
• Poly Jacking

Whichever you are looking for, give us a call to get a Free Estimate.

Some crack repairs may require a touch-up to completely seal the area. Performing the water test helps to ensure the repair is effective.

Depending on the type of Foundation Repair you receive, you may be asked to perform a Water Test.

This helps to ensure that the Repair is sufficient.

When possible, we ask that this test is performed two days in a row for best results. It is especially important to perform the test twice when finishing the repaired area.

To complete the test, run a hose outside, on the wall adjacent to the repair area. You will want to run the hose for 20-30 minutes. After running the hose go to the basement and see if any of the water is coming through. If there are no signs of leaking, you are all set. If you see signs of leaking, mark the area and take a picture. 

Here are the instructions on performing your water test:

!! Do not perform the water test the same day of the repair. !!

1.  Take a Picture or Note how the repaired area looks before starting the test.

2. Run a garden hose outside next to the area that was leaking. 

3. Run water for about 30 minutes.

4. Check the area that was repaired to see if there is any Leaking or changes from how it looked before the test. 

5. If Leaking occurs, mark the area, take a picture if you can and contact us to set up a follow-up appointment. 

6. If there is no Leaking, please let us know this as well.

At Suburban Basement we want to make sure that each and every repair we complete is Quality workmanship, Effective and Reliable. When we ask you to complete a Water Test, we are looking out for your interests. Contact us directly if you have questions about performing a Water Test.