If you’ve discovered a white, powdery substance along a basement wall and wondered what it is exactly, you are not alone. This white, chalky substance is called efflorescence and is more common in than you may think.
Any time of the year, a wet basement is possible and the problems that come with it: water damage and mould. Basement leaks are usually caused by cracks in your home’s foundation which allows water to seep into your house. But what exactly causes foundation cracks? How can you prevent and fix foundation cracks?
Buying your first home is a milestone, but it can come with unexpected challenges. One of the most common problems that many homeowners will deal with at some point is mould. If you have black and white mould in your basement, you and your family may be at risk for serious health problems.
If you are the proud owner of a new build home in the Greater Toronto Area, then your foundation was made using poured concrete. Poured concrete foundations started in the 1970s and remains to this day one of the most common types of foundation. That’s because it’s easily molded into shape.
The fight against the elements has been a constant battle for homeowners since the dawn of civilization. The history of waterproofing stretches as far back as 13,000 years, and is considered the third oldest trade behind carpentry and masonry. Yet, professional waterproofing contractors are still seeking to innovate.
As Christmas approaches, there will be many families across the GTA stressed out by how they will accommodate so many people in their home. Space is tight, and as much as we adore our loved ones, they can often bring us to our wit’s end. Frankly, none of us want to experience a National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
For many Canadians, winter is their favourite time of the year because of all the skiing, ice skating and holiday cheer! However, it’s also the worst time of the year for your house. Due to the cold, snow and condensation make your home susceptible to damage. They are not only expensive to repair, but can be a danger to your family.
Windsor, Ontario experienced devastating flood damage a month ago (we wrote about the Windsor flood in our previous blog post), leading many Canadians to ask why they are not covered? In Canada, overland flooding is not insured by any private insurer, other than a few available in Alberta.
Windsor, Ontario’s early October “once in a century” flood caught the whole city off-guard. More than 140 mm of rain fell within a 24-hour period, which quickly overwhelmed the drainage systems of the city and its surrounding municipalities. It’s been just under two weeks since the flood devastated homes and businesses, but its victims are still cleaning up.
Your basement can be more than just the foundation of your home. It can also provide you with more space for your family to enjoy. If you want to improve the structural integrity of your house or to make the basement more useable, you might consider underpinning or lowering your basement. Underpinning is conducted primarily to strengthen the structure while lowering the basement increases ceiling room and creating more useable space.
