Cracked, Bowing Foundation Walls in Springfield, IL
Long, horizontal cracks in foundation walls, like the one seen in the basement of this Springfield, IL home, are usually signs of a bigger underlying issue that will continue to get worse if ignored. Unstable soil conditions on exterior of the foundation can cause an extreme amount of pressure that damages walls. Soil is heavy, sometimes too heavy for walls which causes damage. Clay soil expands immensely when wet which adds to the pressure. When the soil is saturated around the foundation walls, hydrostatic pressure, or water pressure, puts even more force on the walls. Bowing, tilting and cracking are all signs that the walls are failing to hold up against all this pressure. This damage can ward off potential buyers for a home as well. Woods recommends installing a wall support system to restore the value of the home and prevent walls from failing.
Leaky Foundation Walls in Basement of Springfield, IL home
Hydrostatic pressure, or water pressure, is the major cause of leaks in the basement. Pressure builds against the foundation of the home as the soil surrounding it become saturated with water. Water weighs a little more than 60 pounds per square foot which means there can potentially be thousands of pounds of pressure on the foundation! Water will find any weakness in the foundation to get in and, with so much pressure on the outside, an alarming amount can flood in through even small cracks. This Springfield home had leaks coming from long cracks in their foundation walls as well as ones between the cement bricks. They also had leaks coming from the joint where the foundation walls met the foundation floors, the place most susceptible to leaks. Woods recommends an interior drainage system to relieve the hydrostatic pressure in these areas as well as a sump system that can remove the water away from the basement.
PowerBraces Support Foundation Walls of Springfield, IL home.
Woods installed PowerBraces in this Springfield, IL home to permanently stabilize the foundation walls. PowerBraces are adjustable steel beams that are custom fit to the height of the basement. They are held snugly against the walls with steel brackets attached to the cement floors and floor joists above. They prevent future damage to the walls and halt further progression caused by external soil pressure. The entire PowerBrace wall support system is zinc-plated to prevent it from rusting as well. PowerBraces also offer the opportunity to improve the walls by tightening them during dry months.
WaterGuard Drainage System Relieves Hydrostatic Pressure in Basement in Springfield, IL
Woods installed the WaterGuard drainage system in this Springfield, IL home to reduce hydrostatic pressure against the foundation walls. WaterGuard is installed under the cement floors along the perimeter of the basement in the area that's most susceptible to water leaks. Unlike other systems that are notorious for clogging because they are alongside the concrete footing or on the exterior of the foundation, WaterGuard is situated on top of the footing and won't become clogged with mud or other debris. It has special wall flanges and channel holes that catch intruding water before it can enter the basement and then it guides the water to the sump system for removal.
TripleSafe Protects Basement Against Leaks in Springfield, IL
The TripleSafe Sump System was installed in the basement of this Springfield, IL home. The TripleSafe contains a three pumps. The primary pump easily handles regular volumes of water from light to moderate rainy weather. The secondary pump, which sits at a higher level within the sump liner, is even more powerful than the primary pump and will immediately switch into action if there is a larger volume of water getting into the basement during severe weather that the primary pump can't keep with. The third pump, which sits the highest within the sump liner, is the battery back up pump. On a fully charged battery, this pump can remove up to 11,000 gallons of water from the basement to keep it dry during a power outage. It automatically begins recharging when power is restored. The TripleSafe also features a WaterWatch alarm system and airtight drain in its lid to alert the homeowners to plumbing leaks in their basement.