Hire the Right Foundation Repair Expert to Perform the Work

A couple was worried about the water in their basement. Like many of their neighbors in this suburban development, the couple had a poured concrete basement that stayed dry most of the year. Only during spring thaws and heavy rains did water come into the basement. But The husband had a concern about a couple of cracks in the foundation wall where most of the leakage was occurring. He was also worried about the moldy smell in the crawl space beneath his back porch.

“I could be wrong, but I think one of the cracks is larger than it was last year,” The husband said to the wife. “We should have a contractor come and look at it.”

The wife agreed, and even had someone in mind. “I mentioned our water problem to my friend, who works with me at the bank,” The wife related. “She gave me the number of a handyman who specializes in basic home repairs. My friend is sure he’d be able to seal the cracks in the basement wall, and for a reasonable price, too.”

Sure enough, the handyman came in and filled the foundation cracks with polyurethane sealant –the same caulk-type material the husband remembered seeing in the hardware store. Regarding the moldy smell in the crawl space, the handyman recommended running a dehumidifier. “You can expect moisture in a crawl space with a dirt floor,” he explained. “Just buy a good dehumidifier and you’ll be surprised at how quickly the space dries out.”

The Couple put their water problem worries to rest, but when their next electric bill arrived, they were shocked. “What happened to cause this big increase?” The husband asked. “When The wife called the electric utility company to ask about their bill, the customer service representative asked her if they had installed any new appliances. the wife mentioned the dehumidifier in the basement.

“Bingo,” said the utility person. “A dehumidifier is like a miniature air conditioning unit, and it’s running all the time. That’s where your usage spike is coming from.”

“I’m not sure what we can do,” The husband remarked. “How else can we deal with the moisture that comes from the crawl space?” To make matters worse, several weeks later the wife noticed that one of the cracks had changed size, growing wider at the top than at the bottom. The sealant had broken loose along most of the crack.

Lessons learned: Call a full-service foundation contractor.

The couple’s experience is not unique. In the realm of home repair, it’s a common mistake to treat the symptoms (in this case, cracked masonry and a moldy crawl space) without addressing the problems that caused them. When dealing with any foundation, basement or crawl space problem, the best strategy is to contact a full-service foundation contractor. Full-service foundation contractors can save homeowners time, trouble and money by correctly identifying and treating any and all foundation problems.

In the couple’s case, the growing crack indicated a foundation settlement problem that no amount of sealing would correct. Stabilizing the foundation to prevent further settling is necessary before cracks can be repaired. As for the crawl space, a complete sealing process –called crawl space encapsulation—is the best way to eliminate moisture and mold problems. Full-service foundation contractors have the experience to diagnose problems properly, and the specialized equipment and materials to complete a full range of repairs.

If you are looking for a foundation repair company in East Stone Gap and the surrounding areas, look no further than Fortress Foundation Solutions!

Call us today at 1-434-473-7012 or contact us online for a free estimate!