Your basement can be a useful room of your home, providing storage and even living space. But if not properly prepared, it can flood and be an endless source of headaches and a huge money sink. In this post, we’ll look at the chief cause of flooded basements and what you can do to prevent this from occurring in your home. We’ll also look at the consequences of not taking preventive measures to prevent flooded basements.
If your home has leaks from cracks in the foundation or basement walls, you’ve probably dealt with mold growth to some degree. You are probably aware of the health risks of allowing mold to grow unchecked, but may not be sure how to get rid of it and keep it from returning. In this post, we’ll look at the way to get rid of this unwelcome guest and make sure it stays gone. Continue reading →
If you’re like the majority of people living in the northeast, you’ve probably spent the winter of 2014 fighting the cold, the snow, and the ice. Plenty of us have been stuck inside because of bad weather, and most have focused their efforts on making sure that their home is heated, dry, and safe for their family. From Virginia to Delaware and beyond, the polar vortex probably isn’t done with us yet. And making sure that every part of your home is in good shape is still a must. That includes your foundation, and there are 2 big reasons you need to keep your foundation in the best shape possible even during the winter months. Continue reading →
When you think of mold problems, the chances are pretty good that you think of them during the summer –when the wet Northeastern weather starts dropping some snow on the region. Areas like Virginia and Washington DC get around 28 to 62 inches of rain annually, so this ‘wet season’ is the most common time to think about mold. But over the years, we at AA Action Waterproofing have seen plenty of mold related issues that come about not because of summer rains, but because of the winter freeze. If you’re not convinced that mold is a year-round issue, keep reading. Continue reading →
The entire eastern US has been suffering from the Polar Vortex and its arctic cold, heavy snow, and frigid ice. Throughout DC, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and Maryland, this winter has been a rough one and more snow is likely to be on the way after winter storm PAX has its way with us. AA Action Waterproofing has seen hard weather before, and we know it can be difficult to think about anything other than your family’s warmth and safety during the cold months. But taking the time to learn more about your home is important as well, and a quick review of some of the key reasons you need basement waterproofing is worth doing.
Winter is here, and isn’t letting up. With the Polar Vortex and record setting snowfall in areas like New Jersey, Virginia, and elsewhere in the northeast, it’s easy to spend your time focusing on shoveling out of the severe weather. But while you’re focused on clearing your driveway or driving to work, another problem may be occurring in your home that you aren’t even thinking about – foundation damage and basement moisture issues.
For most, foundation repair isn’t something that is even considered until problems like mold or leaking are noticeable. But in reality, you can take some steps during the winter that will help prevent problems throughout the year. Continue reading →
The DC area and surrounding states including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and even New Jersey have all spent this winter fighting the polar vortex. Between subzero temperatures and big snowfalls, it’s hard to think about anything else. But you still need to make sure your home is in good shape, and one thing to consider is that ignoring some basic preventative steps could lead to major problems like flooded basements.
AA Action Waterproofing can help, and we want you to know that even in the heart of winter it’s still worth thinking about some ways that you can prevent flooded basements. First, you need to understand the number one cause of basement floods following the winter months – a one-two combo consisting of freezing and thawing.
This freeze-thaw combo can have serious effects on your basement’s moisture level. Here’s how the two things go together to wreak havoc on some homes.
• The Freeze – When things freeze, they expand. That includes water. Even a hairline crack in your basement can allow a few drops of water inside. And if those drops of water freeze, they’ll expand. That means that they’ll put extra pressure on the foundation – often from within it. This can lead to worse cracks that will potentially allow water to flood into the basement Continue reading →
Mold is something that you probably don’t think much of during the winter – and who can blame you? With the polar vortex bringing incredibly cold temperatures and heavy snow throughout the northeast, mold seems like a distant danger. 9 deaths occurred in early January as a result of snow and cold, and mold is usually far from our minds with things like that happening in the region.
But it is still a danger, even in the cold of winter. At AA Action Waterproofing, we’ve seen firsthand the kind of damage that mold can do to a home and a family. That’s why we offer full mold remediation services as well as waterproofing to prevent it from occurring. But before you consider our service, we think it’s important that you spend some time understanding more about the seriousness of mold in your home.
Mold Dangers:
• Health – The primary risk that mold brings with it is on your health and wellbeing. Mold can cause serious health issues to occur including respiratory problems, nausea, headaches, and much more. Left unchecked, it can have even more serious consequences.
• Property Damage – While mold remediation can remove the mold from your home, there is a chance that you’ll lose items that are near and dear to your heart. The basement Continue reading →
Spring seems like it’s a long way off, considering that the northeast has been getting hit by winter storm after winter storm. But eventually the polar vortex will leave us, and the weather will turn warmer again. Of course, that doesn’t mean that everything will go back to normal for everyone. One of the worst issue that can happen in the spring is the visit to the basement only to find that serious issues have happened over the winter. At AA Action Waterproofing, we respond to many calls from clients who have found flooded basements and worse following the winter.
The winter freeze/thaw is the big cause of these issues, and it can lead to some very real problems. There are plenty of ways to repair your foundation and get it back to normal, but preventing foundation repair before it is needed is a much better option. Here are the top reasons to prevent foundation repair – they’re obvious in most cases, but still worth a review.
1. Cost – For starters, it’s cheaper to take preventative steps than it is to do a full repair. Even when winter is in full swing, it’s possible to complete waterproofing and other preventative measures that will help you dodge the much higher repair bills that could come down the road. Continue reading →
Thanks to the polar vortex that’s pummeling the country and the fact that areas in Maryland, Virginia, DC, Delaware, and the rest of the East Coast are all in the path of constant weather fronts, it’s hard to ignore the need to start getting your home prepared for the cold, wet weather. And while things like insulation, heating oil, and even the much-laughed about trip to the grocery store for provisions are all part of preparing for winter, there’s one aspect of getting your home ready that is often overlooked.
Specifically, waterproofing your basement is something that is regularly ignored during the cold months. It’s not hard to see why – the last thing on your mind is usually whether or not your basement is waterproofed properly when you’re dealing with heavy snows, cold weather, and more. But basement waterproofing is important to consider, and at AA Action Waterproofing we think it’s important that you understand why preventing problems is a better option than any other out there.
The primary reason that you can’t afford to ignore the importance of including basement waterproofing in your winter weather prep plans is simple – money. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand just how much a serious repair can cost, and when damage is done by leaking basements, repairs can Continue reading →
