Signs that May Point to Foundation Problems

everdry on September 15, 2020

Signs that May Point to Foundation Problems

Quick question, what are signs that your foundation needs repair?

If you said cracks, you are part of the over 80% of people who would say that. While it is not wrong, cracks are definitely a sign, it is, by no means the only sign.

Just like a complicated illness, foundation repair will have a number of symptoms and not all of it will be just cracks. In some cases, there may be significant damage well before the cracks start to appear.

Is it settling?

The first step is to know if the problems your house is facing is really foundation related or if it is settling. Foundation repairs are normally caused by bad building practices. Settling on the other hand is more of a natural process. Even expertly crafted buildings can some times settle after construction is completed. The tower at Pisa is a prime example of a settled building. If your region sees extreme weather the year your house is built, say flooding, and a few years later there is a sever drought, the soil will expand and contract more than its natural level, causing the building to move up or down.

Signs of a house needing foundation work

Apart from cracks, look for:

Doors and windows jamming: If your doors and windows are not opening and closing like they should and if the jamming against the frame is consistent in consecutive floors, it may be a sure sign of foundation damage.
Roof damage: It may seem odd, but the top floors and the roof are among the first affected in case your foundation has moved. Go up to the attic, get between the roof and the floorboards, look closely for any signs of damage. The roof gets damaged because it is the furthest away from the foundation and even small changes down there will be amplified the higher up you go. If your home is brick built, look for step shaped cracks on the roof or in the walls that are in contact with the roof.
A damaged foundation: The most obvious thing is to see length wise cracks on the foundation slabs. If they look like a log split along the grain, your foundation may be in trouble.

It is a distressing thing, but if you do see any signs, catching it early is the best way to reduce the amount of money you will eventually end up spending on it.

EverDry Solutions

Everdry of Greater Indiana offers multiple solutions so you can be
sure to find the perfect one for your home!

Exterior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Interior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Multistep

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Customer Reviews

Kim Burns
2022-12-14
Mike's crew was professional and quick.
Roger Kidd
2022-11-14
Professional and timely installs from the guys that work here .
Nancy Ellis
2022-11-14
They was awesome of what they done. Cleaned everything as they came and left.

Combating Foundation Mold Problems for Homeowners in Indianapolis

everdry on August 20, 2020

Combating Foundation Mold Problems for Homeowners in Indianapolis

If you’re a homeowner in Indianapolis, understanding what can cause mold in your home and what your options are is important.

Mold is a serious situation that can affect your health and should never be left untreated.

Read on to learn what can cause mold in the foundation of your home, preventive measures you can take today, and what to do if you believe your home has mold.

What Causes Mold in the Foundation?

There are many things that can lead to mold in your home’s foundation. Here are 3 things that homeowners in Indiana should watch out for.

Foundation Cracks: Foundations made of concrete are more likely to experience cracking. When this happens, it can cause water to seep into the foundation.
Humidity and Condensation: It’s not uncommon for basements to have cold walls. This is especially the case during the winter months. When you combine indoor heat with cold walls, you get condensation. Unfortunately, this leads to mold growth.
Basement Flooding: Basement flooding is another cause of mold growth in the home. This is often a result of sump pump failure. But it can also be a result of an old sump pump that stopped working. In any case, many homeowners believe that once they clean the basement their problem is over. But, this can be the beginning of mold growth in the foundation.

Signs You May Have a Mold Issue

If you have water sitting in any area of your home, there’s a good chance you will deal with a mold issue sooner or later. Here are 3 signs your home is compromised by mold.

You notice mold in your basement as a result of a recent or past basement flood.
Another sign you have a mold problem is if you have a leak in your roof or plumbing. This can be a result of water that is trapped inside your walls or under the carpet.
Mold is in various parts of your home such as walls, ceilings, carpets, and books. You may also notice a musty odor throughout your home.

How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home’s Foundation

The good news is, there are plenty of ways homeowners can work to prevent mold growth from occurring in their home. One of the first and easiest things you can do to prevent mold growth in the home is by drying wet areas immediately. Mold relies on water to grow so minimizing the chance is a great way to prevent mold from occurring.

Another excellent way to prevent mold growth is through proper ventilation, especially in the basement. It’s a good idea to set up a foundation drain and incorporate a dehumidifier. In addition, it’s a good idea to insulate your walls.

Homeowners should also improve airflow at home. This can easily be done by opening closets door more frequently, as well as, moving furniture away from walls to provide better ventilation for spaces that are more confined.

What to Do If You Believe Your Home Has Mold

Mold doesn’t just impact your home, it is also harmful to your health. For this reason, if you have mold in your home, it should be addressed as soon as possible. Homeowners should call a professional who is experienced in mold remediation rather than trying to troubleshoot the issue themselves.

Trying to get rid of mold yourself will only expose you and your family to the dangers of it. Instead, a professional mold remediation service will have the right tools needed to not only investigate the source of the mold but to successfully treat it. In addition to this, a professional will understand the growth cycle of mold and ensure that it doesn’t come back.

EverDry Solutions

Everdry of Greater Indiana offers multiple solutions so you can be
sure to find the perfect one for your home!

Exterior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Interior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Multistep

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Customer Reviews

Kim Burns
2022-12-14
Mike's crew was professional and quick.
Roger Kidd
2022-11-14
Professional and timely installs from the guys that work here .
Nancy Ellis
2022-11-14
They was awesome of what they done. Cleaned everything as they came and left.

Complications With Your Foundation | Carmel, IN

everdry on March 9, 2019

Complications With Your Foundation | Carmel, IN

Foundation Problems

A home’s foundation is as essential as it sounds.

Without a proper foundation, a variety of structural issues can plague a home that could end up costing you scads of cash to repair. But how do you know if a house has foundation problems, and how hard are they to fix?

Is it settling?

The first step is to know if the problems your house is facing is really foundation related or if it is settling. Foundation repairs are normally caused by bad building practices. Settling, on the other hand, is more of a natural process. Even expertly crafted buildings can some times settle after construction is completed. The tower at Pisa is a prime example of a settled building. If your region sees extreme weather the year your house is built, say flooding, and a few years later there is a severe drought, the soil will expand and contract more than its natural level, causing the building to move up or down.

Signs of a house needing foundation work

Apart from cracks, look for:

Doors and windows jamming: If your doors and windows are not opening and closing like they should and if the jamming against the frame is consistent in consecutive floors, it may be a sure sign of foundation damage.
Roof damage: It may seem odd, but the top floors and the roof are among the first affected in case your foundation has moved. Go up to the attic, get between the roof and the floorboards, look closely for any signs of damage. The roof gets damaged because it is the furthest away from the foundation and even small changes down there will be amplified the higher up you go. If your home is brick built, look for step shaped cracks on the roof or in the walls that are in contact with the roof.
A damaged foundation: The most obvious thing is to see length wisecracks on the foundation slabs. If they look like a log split along the grain, your foundation may be in trouble.

It is a distressing thing, but if you do see any signs, catching it early is the best way to reduce the amount of money you will eventually end up spending on it.

EverDry Solutions

Everdry of Greater Indiana offers multiple solutions so you can be
sure to find the perfect one for your home!

Exterior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Interior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Multistep

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Customer Reviews

Kim Burns
2022-12-14
Mike's crew was professional and quick.
Roger Kidd
2022-11-14
Professional and timely installs from the guys that work here .
Nancy Ellis
2022-11-14
They was awesome of what they done. Cleaned everything as they came and left.

Why You Should Repair Cracks In Your Foundation | Valparaiso, IN

everdry on February 9, 2019

Why You Should Repair Cracks In Your Foundation | Valparaiso, IN

Did You Know

Foundations are rigid and tend to crack over time. Minor cracks, though unsightly, are not normally cause for alarm. Major cracks, on the other hand, indicate substantial movement and can undermine the home’s structural integrity.

Therefore, you can’t just ignore cracks in a foundation or concrete slab. Filling in these cracks and stopping them from spreading is essential to preventing serious structural issues in your home. This may seem like a tempting thing to do however, you should allow foundation professionals to inspect and repair your foundation if you are able.

Size does count

The real test of any crack is its size and placement. Smooth, even hairline, cracks are usually not serious and a quick repair is all that is needed to prevent them from turning into something more serious. Any crack with an accompanying slant or bulge–in any direction–is serious. The same goes if the crack is large enough to put the tip of your pinky into or if it’s leaking water. These types of cracks need to be assessed by an expert before any repairs can be done. In this case you would call a foundation expert.

When horizontal cracks are a problem

Horizontal cracks are most common in concrete block and brick foundations, but they can also show up in poured concrete foundation. Usually they are the result of frost damage after freezing temperatures shrink the concrete, but they are also caused by excessive pressure on the foundation from wet soil.

Long, horizontal cracks extending the full length of any outside wall should be investigated closely. A bulging crack can indicate a wall sliding off its footing or other stresses on a supporting wall.

Those who understand the relationship between soil and foundation stability seem to think that over watering the soil is the leading cause of damage. This isn’t entirely true. Though water causes soil to expand – and extreme heat will shrink the soil – the differences typically aren’t enough to cause significant cracking. Identifying cracks in your foundation is important. These are symptoms that tell you something much larger is occurring somewhere beneath the surface. However, you shouldn’t assume that cracks will help you identify the source with 100 percent accuracy.

EverDry Solutions

Everdry of Greater Indiana offers multiple solutions so you can be
sure to find the perfect one for your home!

Exterior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Interior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Multistep

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Customer Reviews

Kim Burns
2022-12-14
Mike's crew was professional and quick.
Roger Kidd
2022-11-14
Professional and timely installs from the guys that work here .
Nancy Ellis
2022-11-14
They was awesome of what they done. Cleaned everything as they came and left.

Is Your Foundation Leaking? Look for These Issues | Bloomington, IN

everdry on November 23, 2018

Is Your Foundation Leaking? Look for These Issues | Bloomington, IN

Do You Know

Aside from the obvious signs: smell, moisture and water, what are some of the signs that you may have a leaky foundation?

If asked that question, many homeowners may utter a deafening silence, as they contemplate their answer. Much like our pets, our homes will speak to us if we know how to listen. Typical homeowners have become accustomed to the occasionally needed home repair. As a result, they have become very astute at noticing minor issues, before they become major ones. However, some issues are not always obvious, unless you know what to look for. There are three signs that your foundation may have moisture issues, and you may not even be aware.

Mold and Mildew (without odor)

The smell of dampness is a telltale sign that moisture is present in a basement. Hence, you probably would not be surprised at the discovery of mold and mildew on the walls and floors of your basement. However, mold and mildew can be present without an odor. Often homeowners are not aware a damaging leak is present, if they do not smell moisture. Nevertheless, any signs of mold and mildew could indicate the need to seek a professional.

Cosmetic Damage

It can be particularly difficult to detect the signs of a leaky foundation when the basement is finished. Because the actual foundation wall is not exposed, water and moisture can cause major damage without you realizing it. However, signs of deteriorating wood floors and carpets, as well as the blistering of paint or wallpaper could be a sign that there is an issue.

Efflorescence

That white powdery substance on the walls of your basement, efflorescence, is another sign there may be a problem with your foundation. Typically found on masonry, it can manifest itself in a variety of colors, however, white is most common. Unlike mold, efflorescence has not been proven to pose any health concerns, but it is a revealing sign that a moisture problem is present.

If you notice any of these signs or have concerns about moisture in your basement, contact us today. We would be happy to perform a free inspection of your foundation and answer any questions you may have.

EverDry Solutions

Everdry of Greater Indiana offers multiple solutions so you can be
sure to find the perfect one for your home!

Exterior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Interior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Multistep

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Customer Reviews

Kim Burns
2022-12-14
Mike's crew was professional and quick.
Roger Kidd
2022-11-14
Professional and timely installs from the guys that work here .
Nancy Ellis
2022-11-14
They was awesome of what they done. Cleaned everything as they came and left.

Foundation Repair: Warning Signs and Professional Solutions | Valparaiso, Indiana

everdry on July 9, 2018

Foundation Repair: Warning Signs and Professional Solutions | Valparaiso, Indiana

Foundation Repair: Warning Signs and Professional Solutions

According to the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA), 60% of all homes built on expansive soils experience foundation distress.

But that is not all. The National Realtors Association® (NRA) reckons that over 59% of houses built today will experience foundation weakness within 6 years of completion.

Frightening Findings for Homeowners

As a homeowner, such findings are devastating considering the sacrifice you have made in order to move in to your own space. However, timely foundation repair, according to NRA, can resolve these issues and avert loss of value for your property.

Other dangers associated with such damage including collapse of your home, water leakage, mold growth, bowing and bulging walls, among others, which can also be avoided with such early repairs. Other issues that may arise, including liability claims if your new home damages property in the area, are also avoided.

Identifying the Warning Signs

In order to call in a professional foundation repair expert, you need to be on the lookout for these warning signs:

Cracks in the foundation.
Basement water leakage.
Bulging and bowing walls.
Misaligned doors and windows.
Interior wall cracks.
Displacement of the moldings.
Uneven and cracked floors.

Once any of these signs, or other suspicious structural defects, are identified, you need to call a professional contractor who will carry out diagnostic tests using sophisticated equipment before formulating foundation repair solutions.

These experts have the expertise, exposure and personnel to carry out the project both effectively and efficiently while sticking to all safety regulations and standards. They also have insurance and licensing, meaning their services can be relied on.

Contemporary Foundation Repair Systems

Some of the modern solutions to your home’s foundation issues include:

Piering: If the problem is structural, then your contractor will have to go to the core of the foundation and stabilize it using either helical or push piers. These are most effective in a sinking foundation which poses danger to the rest of the structure. These piers repair walls damaged by settling while also averting further settling of the foundation.
Carbon fiber reinforcement: This material has been found to be more versatile than steel in dealing with foundation cracks and the process is done internally. It avoids lateral movement of your foundation walls. The cracks cannot widen once these fiber strips are set in place.
Wall anchors: Used to stabilize walls which have cracked, bulged or bowed due to pressure from saturated soil. Different metals are used to create these anchors though steel is the most common one.
Slab-jacking: One of the most unique solutions involving pumping of grout moisture underneath a settling foundation to help it back to its original position, and support it there permanently.

Well, you don’t have to worry about the foundation repair system to use because your expert contractor will have carried tests to ascertain the best solution.

EverDry Solutions

Everdry of Greater Indiana offers multiple solutions so you can be
sure to find the perfect one for your home!

Exterior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Interior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Multistep

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Customer Reviews

Kim Burns
2022-12-14
Mike's crew was professional and quick.
Roger Kidd
2022-11-14
Professional and timely installs from the guys that work here .
Nancy Ellis
2022-11-14
They was awesome of what they done. Cleaned everything as they came and left.

Dealing with Water Seepage in Cinder Block Foundation Walls Andersonville, IN

everdry on June 8, 2018

Dealing with Water Seepage in Cinder Block Foundation Walls Andersonville, IN

Water Seepage

Many modern homes today feature poured concrete foundations. It is therefore not surprising that there is a lot of information on how to repair and maintain these types of foundations.

However, there are still many homes that feature cinder block foundations and homeowners searching for information on their repair and maintenance.

Like other foundations, cinder block foundations can succumb to water seepage. This is a problem that no homeowner should ignore. The problem only gets worse over time. It is therefore important to deal with the seepage as soon as you notice it.

Why Cinderblock Foundations Leak

Cinderblock foundations are sometimes referred to as concrete block foundations. They are constructed in a similar fashion as brick foundations. These types of foundations are especially prone to leakage for the following main reasons:

The concrete blocks used to build the foundations are hollow. These spaces permit water to seep through and collect within the walls.
The concrete blocks are joined together using mortar. These joints are weak points in the wall. The rate of expansion and contraction of the mortar and the blocks differs. This results in the formation of cracks and spaces between the blocks and the mortar. This gives water the space it needs to seep through the foundation walls.

Resolving a Water Seepage Problem in a Cinderblock Foundation

When it comes to addressing water seepage in cinderblock foundations, professional waterproofing contractors will suggest two main methods as permanent solutions.

Excavation and waterproofing from the exterior of the foundation wall.

This involves excavating the soil around the basement wall. A waterproof barrier is installed to prevent water from penetrating the cinderblock walls. Weeping tile is also installed to guide water away from the foundation wall.

Installing drain tile along the inside of the foundation wall

This involves the installation of a French drain on the interior perimeter of the basement. Water that seeps into the cinderblock walls collects in the drain instead of the walls. The water flows by gravity to a well where it is pumped out of the basement. This prevents flooding of the basement. This system also takes care of water collecting beneath the floor of the basement.

Both of the approaches are effective in dealing with leakage through cinderblock foundation walls. Excavation and installation of a drain tile is the most effective method of waterproofing, but it is also the most destructive.

EverDry Solutions

Everdry of Greater Indiana offers multiple solutions so you can be
sure to find the perfect one for your home!

Exterior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Interior

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Multistep

Put an end to dampness, cracks, bowing walls, mildew and musty smells with the Everdry Solution.

Customer Reviews

Kim Burns
2022-12-14
Mike's crew was professional and quick.
Roger Kidd
2022-11-14
Professional and timely installs from the guys that work here .
Nancy Ellis
2022-11-14
They was awesome of what they done. Cleaned everything as they came and left.

Cinder Block Foundation Repair – Carmel, IN

everdry on April 8, 2018