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THE BASICS OF FOUNDATION WALL REPAIR
If there is one story line that has marked the summer of 2020, so far, it has been the number of intense storms that have blown through the region.
Several times, now, we have experienced short bursts of severe thunderstorms and downpours – even tornado watches. In July, on one day, The Weather Network reported that it rained more in 20 minutes in Toronto than the entire month of June and early July. Riverbanks overflowed. Motorists got stuck trying to drive through underpasses of rising water. Trees fell, dragging down power lines.
For residents, that has meant repairing damage and managing floods. These are the times of the year when waterproofing becomes front and centre for homeowners. Flooding causes thousands of dollars of damage to the home’s basement and foundation. Many times homeowners don’t have the proper insurance to cover the costs.
It’s unfortunate if foundation repair is something the homeowner discovers was needed only after a flood has occurred. (Get ahead of any potential catastrophe by calling Canada Waterproofers for a no-cost assessment of the home.)
Keep this in mind: If you see early signs of a water leak into the basement area, through the walls or floor, it will only get worse. More intense rainfall means more water pressure on the walls around the perimeter of the home. Water will find its way through – concrete is a porous material. It will absorb water and erode over time.
You can handle foundation repair yourself. There are DIY options. For example, there are plenty of YouTube videos showing you how to do it.
You’ll have to do a full inspection around the home, looking for “step” (if you have a block foundation), horizontal or vertical cracks in the walls. Even cracks in the drywall in the home above a window, maybe the corner of a door, are a sign there might be issues with the foundation walls.
Are the foundation walls settling or even failing? You’ll have to dig down to the home’s footing level, and go around the perimeter, and look for cracks. You’ll have to look for signs of failure, like bowing walls, leaning chimneys, things that go beyond cracks and water leaks. Inspect the exterior drain tile for any clogs (caused by dirt, or stones) in the weepholes. You may have to install a filter of some kind so the drain doesn’t clog again.
Any Home Depot or Canadian Tire will sell sealant to fill in cracks. Some foundation repair work might require epoxy injections into the cement. However, as said, you might be faced with more serious issues. These could be underlying reasons why there are cracks or leaks in the first place.
If the foundation wall is collapsing, a more sophisticated bracing system that goes under the footing might be required. Underpinning is a whole other issue. Depending on the situation, there also might be a wall anchoring system from the inside where you won’t have to do all the excavation work outside. These are all tools you likely don’t have.
Only a structural engineer will be able to see signs that you might be going from foundation problem to foundation failure.
Professional foundation repairs will also boost the value of your home. DIY is all well and good but there’s a reason why engineers went to school for these types of situations.
Foundation repair is a sophisticated, multi-step process, to do it right. By bringing in the professionals, you may in the end be saving yourself some money. If you do it yourself, and you don’t do it right, and a professional comes in and has to fix it, in the end you would have spent money needlessly.
The foundation is the most important part of your home. You risk doing further damage to the foundation by trying to do it yourself. You even risk injuring yourself, since it’s a big job.
If you have water leaks into the basement, consult a specialist. Call Canada Waterproofers today.
FOUNDATION REPAIRS
WATERPROOFING OF FOUNDATIONS
LEAKY FOUNDATIONS
WET FOUNDATION REPAIRS
COLLAPSING FOUNDATION REPAIRS
CONCRETE FOUNDATIONS
BLOCK FOUNDATIONS
Call: 416-333-LEAK (5325)
Email: Info@canadawaterproofers.com
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