An unfinished basement with bare concrete for the walls and floor and rough wooden shelves may be fine for storage, but it’s not exactly the best place to hang out and enjoy a spare afternoon. “Finishing” your basement means adding things like carpets, drywall, real light fixtures, and other amenities that turn what started as a large storage space into a true second or third floor. A finished basement can add several more rooms to your house, including bedrooms and bathrooms, and it can significantly improve the home’s property value. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Structural Damage on August, 16, 2016
Depending on where you live, a sump pump in your basement may be a waste of money, a cautious investment, or an absolutely necessary accessory. While other aspects of building construction keep rainwater from collecting against the basement walls and leaking in, what a sump pump does is keep the water table from reaching the basement floor and flooding it. But how does it do that? Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Water Damage on August, 15, 2016
Let’s be clear here: indoor air pollution isn’t as big of an issue as outdoor air pollutants like smog, car exhaust, and factory smoke. Anyone who says differently is probably selling an air purifier, or they’re referring to uncommon problems like asbestos and lead paint dust. However, some common indoor air pollutants can cause problems over the long term, triggering or even causing allergies and asthma, and part of keeping your house clean means keeping these pollutants under control. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Mold & Mildew on August, 14, 2016
If you’re on the lookout for solutions to a cracked or leaky basement wall, you may have come across something called waterproofing paint. You apply it just like regular paint, but once you’ve slathered on all the required layers, it’ll form a perfect barrier against water. But does it actually do what it says on the can? Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Basement Waterproofing on August, 13, 2016
Unless you were lucky enough to build your home on solid bedrock, its foundation will likely settle unevenly over the course of decades as the soil slowly moves beneath it. A settling foundation can lead to sloping floors, cracked walls, and other more serious problems that can even lead to an inspector declaring the building uninhabitable. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Foundation Repair on August, 12, 2016
Mold spores are everywhere. They may vary in species and density, but there are few places on Earth where you can escape them completely. Fortunately, they’re also mostly harmless, but if you aren’t careful you’ll produce just the right conditions to cause a population explosion. It doesn’t take much: moderately warm temperatures, some moisture, a porous surface to cling to, and some food, which doesn’t have to be anything more than the dust that settles out of the air. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Mold & Mildew on August, 11, 2016
Water and concrete aren’t friends. You need water to turn a mix into proper concrete, of course, but once it’s dry and cured, water has the ability to unmake what it’s made. It may take years or decades, but water can creep into the pores concrete and cause cracks thanks to the freeze-melt cycle and by slowly dissolving the lime-based cement that holds it together. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Structural Damage on August, 10, 2016
As far north as it is, Maryland isn’t exactly Hurricane Central: that honor goes to Florida, and to a lesser extent the Gulf Coast. However, hurricanes and tropical storms still make their way north along the East Coast on a regular basis, and Marylanders should know what to do when heavy rainfall and high winds pay a visit. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Water Damage on August, 09, 2016
There are a lot of different waterproofing methods that go into making a basement safe from water infiltration, methods applied both during and after the initial construction. For instance, construction workers will fill the hole surrounding the basement walls and foundation of a building with gravel instead of something denser like dirt or clay because it allows water to move freely down and into the perforated drain pipes that sit beneath the foundation. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Basement Waterproofing on August, 08, 2016
Black mold can provide a significant danger to your home. Sadly, mold can form quite easily and quite quickly. In fact, this toxic and living organism can begin establishing a colony within your home in as little as 48 hours. Continue reading →
This entry was posted in Mold Remediation on August, 07, 2016
