Basement waterproofing and crawl space repair in GA

The Man Cave Redefined - Design-savy basement remodels

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:47:02 -0500

The November 2011 issue of Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine, features a great article about the growth and changes in the basement remodeling industry.

Entitled 'Man Cave Redefined', the article highlights the explosion of building and remodeling companies offering their design and build services to help homeowners transform old and damp spaces into additional living and entertaining spaces.

The article goes on to highlight the services of three local design/build companies, including AquaGuard Basement Sytems.

From California-inspired wine cellars, to full-size bars, and family-friendly basement repurposing, basement spaces are quickly becoming another area for the whole family to enjoy in comfort and style.

Waterproofing a basement, before finsihing or remodeling a basement is an important first step in protecting a homeowners investment in their new basement space.

Lending their expertise and professional input to the article, AquaGuard Basement Systems lists the symptoms of a wet basement and outlines the importance of a professional inspection to identify water and foundation problems before they escalate into costly repairs.

For a full copy of the article, please visit the Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine website.

Why Fix The Wall Cracks in Your Georgia Basement?

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 09:03:50 -0400

Leaky Basement Walls

Leaking basement walls can limit the way you use your basement space. The cracks create leaks that tend to transform your walls into ugly surfaces, stained by water, mold, and white, powdery efflorescence. The moisture coming through the wall crack encourages the growth of mold, mildew, and rot on your organic materials.

Over time, this may cause structural damage, as the problem continues to worsen into an increasingly more expensive and complicated issue. Catching the problem early on can save you money, time, and other considerable inconvenience.

What Causes the Leaks?

Shifting, settling or expanding soils tend to cause wall cracks. Water not only enters your home through foundation wall cracks but may also enter through cracks in floors, around pipes, and even through gaps around basement windows.

What Not to Do

Many homeowners will try to fix these problems by using caulk, hydraulic cement, or mortar. This is only a temporary solution to a long lasting problem.

•   Caulk sealers will fail to fill the crack as they cannot flex, contract or expand with the basement walls as the temperature changes throughout the season. Similarly, urethane sealers can only expand to 10% of their volume, whereas a wall crack may expand to many times its width.
•   Hydraulic cements may work to fix the original crack, but they are not a solution fro the pressure that caused the crack to form in the first place. This continued pressure can lead to a new crack forming nearby or elsewhere along the wall.
•   Mortars are also inflexible, and tend to seep through the other side of the crack without solving the problem.
•   Caulk needs to be applied to a clean dry surface to work properly. This is usually not the case if you have a foundation wall crack with seeping water!

It is also worth noting that a wall crack may be a sign of a potentially serious foundation issue. If your wall crack is wide enough to fit a dime into its opening, we recommend that you consult with a foundation repair expert.

The Best Solution

There are long-term solutions to these issues. Polyurethane is an amazing sealant that, in most cases, can stop the leak permanently. Here’s how it works:
A special polyurethane is injected into the crack. This high-viscosity polymer flows deep into the crack to form a durable, flexible seal. The seal is capable of expanding and contracting with the natural movement of your settling basement walls. The benefit of a polyurethane sealant is that is can stretch many times its size – without breaking or coming loose. It will not seep through the crack, and can even be applied to wet wall cracks. This step of the process should stop 95% of the leakage.

Next, a thin foam strip should placed over the crack to collect any seeping water and direct it into the dry well that is created below the floor. When possible, this water seepage could also be directed into a perimeter drain.

Last, the foam strip is coated with a polyurethane sealant to hold it tightly against the wall and to give it a professional-looking finish.

There are plenty of resources for foundation repair and tips, but it’s always best to contact your local expert. Make sure you trust who you work with and you’ve researched the company before committing. It’s always best to have the most trusted and capable contractor helping, especially when it comes to your home.

AquaGuard Basement Systems is an independently owned and operated company in Marietta, Georgia. They are your trusted foundation repair contractor in Atlanta, and also specialize in crawl space and basement waterproofing and repair. They proudly serve in and around Atlanta.

Foundation Repair for Your Atlanta Georgia Home

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:39:43 -0400

Foundation cracks can happen as many different forces apply pressure to, or fail to support , your structure. For example:

•   Foundation cracks can occur due to the soils surrounding your foundation walls: Expansive soils tend to occur in places with clay-rich soil. When this soil is saturated with water, it expands, applying pressure against the foundation walls. As this pressure exceeds the bearing weight of the walls, it can lead to damages related to the bowing, cracking and inward movement of your foundation walls.

•   Erosion takes place when rainwater or underground springs slowly wash away the soil that supports the foundation. This causes foundation settlement. Signs of settlement include stair-step cracking along walls, tilting chimneys, drywall cracks, and cracks around door and window frames.

Cracks can form in your foundation due to the way the concrete was made or produced:

•   One way a crack can form in a basement wall is due to the natural drying and hardening of the concrete as it cures. This has many variables such as: the temperature of the air, the density of the particles, the temperature of the concrete, the humidity of the day, the air content of the concrete, the density of fly ash within the concrete, and more.

•   Another reason that a foundation may begin to crack is due to the conditions by which the foundation is originally constructed. To save time and money, foundations are always backfilled before the concrete has time to completely cure. The impact upon the walls from the sudden pressure of backfill, combined with temperature changes is a recipe for foundation damage.

•   A crack can occur when the procedure to extract bubbles from the concrete is improperly conducted. When concrete is mixed, vibrating rods are inserted to shake the air bubbles to the top of the mix. If this is performed inadequately, large air pockets may remain. These air pockets will expand and contract at a different rate than the rest of the concrete, which can lead to deterioration and cracking of the concrete.

•   Cracks also occur when too much water is mixed into the concrete. This weakens the structural integrity of the concrete and leaves greater potential for flaking and spalling damage.
Repairing A Damaged Structure
In nearly every situation, removing and replacing the foundation is a step that is not necessary. There are many options for foundation repair that can restore even a severely damaged foundation, without the need for this expensive and time-consuming process.

However, we do not recommend that these repairs be conducted by anyone but a certified professional. Foundation repair is a highly advanced process that takes many factors into consideration, including local soil conditions, the weight of your home, and the condition of your foundation wall.

Once damage has been recognized, it's most cost effective to address the damage quickly. A foundation issue can be repaired at peak efficiency, effectiveness, and for the last monetary cost when conducted early on. Don't wait to solve your foundation issues!

AquaGuard Basement Systems is centrally located in Marietta, Georgia. Locally owned and operated, they're trusted Structural Repair Contractors in Atlanta. In addition to foundation repair, AquaGuard also specializes in crawl space and basement waterproofing, below-grade insulation, and basement upgrades. They proudly serve in Greater Atlanta, including Sandy Springs, GA and many areas nearby.

AquaGuard Basement Systems Receives Awards at International Convention in Connecticut

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:38:07 -0400

Atlanta, GA – AquaGuard Basement Systems was recently honored at a meeting of over 600 guests from all over the United States and Canada at this year’s Team Basement Systems Convention. The annual convention is held each year between Seymour, Connecticut, (where the Basement Systems headquarters is located) and Hartford, Connecticut, and brings together dealerships of the international network for classes, seminars, training, parties and networking.

This year AquaGuard Basement Systems received four awards at the Team Basement Systems International Convention. AquaGuard Basement Systems was awarded for ranking 3rd in Foundation Supportworks Smart Jacks Dealers. They also ranked in the Top 25 for CleanSpace Dealers, Basement Systems Dealers and Foundation Supportworks Dealers.

The convention featured guest speakers Krish Duhnam (of the Zig Ziglar corporation), and the “Pit bull of Personal Development” Larry Winget. A sports-themed party at the Connecticut Convention Center ended the convention week with music, food and performances by the Harlem Wizards and the New England Patriots Cheerleaders.

AquaGuard Basement Systems is a certified Basement Systems dealer specializing in basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and foundation settlement in Dunwoody, GA. AquaGuard Basement Systems has services homes within 60 miles of Atlanta, GA.

Basement Systems is an international network of basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and basement finishing contractors. The international headquarters, based in Seymour, Connecticut, also provides sales and service throughout Connecticut and Westchester County, NY. Larry Janesky's Basement Systems has been helping homeowners increase their usable living space for over 20 years across the United States, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. They have 27 patented basement and crawl space products, designed to help homeowners get more out of their basements and increase their home's value.