Basement waterproofing and crawl space repair in CO

Heavy Snowfall in Denver May Lead to Foundation Cracking

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Aurora, CO – The Denver area was hit with a massive snowstorm this past weekend. The brunt of the storm began on Thursday night and fell through Saturday.

Over a foot of snow fell in the metro Denver area, which broke an 103-year-old record of the most snowfall, as well as two other Denver snowfall records.

Winters like this are known to cause foundation problems further down the road due to the foundation compacting and expanding with the changing temperature. This can cause foundation cracking, as well as foundation heaving. Foundation heaving occurs when your foundation or slab floor is moving upwards. This could lead to cracks in the walls and floors of your home.

If you are experiencing any foundation cracks in Denver, CO call in the experts at Rod Martin’s Complete Basement Systems. They provide free foundation repair estimates in Colorado.

Complete's Prichard Helps Rows For a Cure

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Anthony Prichard, (inspector and system design specialist at Complete Basement Systems in Denver, CO) and his daughter, Taryn compete in “The Row for the Cure”, an annual indoor rowing competition designed to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.

The indoor regatta competition consisted of several different lengths and age groups. All competing on 8, ‘Concept 2’ rowing machines.

Anthony, placed 2nd in two different categories. With a time of 6:39 in the 2000 meters and a time of 1:26.2 in the 500 meters. Taryn Prichard competed for her second year in a row and placed 2nd among all kids ages 8 – 12. Prichard and Prichard, compete every year and say; “It’s a great way to stay in shape in the winter time when it’s too cold to go outside” We belong to Kinetic Fitness Studio in Cherry Creek and were the trainers always encourage members to row.

Sump Pump Discharge Guidelines

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Sump pump into the sewer line?

That's a big no-NO!

But it's easier and its just water right?

What would happen if everyone discharged their sump pump water into the municipal waste water system?

What would happen every time it rained outside? It would over run the capacity of the treatment plant and raw sewage would run into the local streems and rivers. . . This hurts the environment and that is why it is written into the building code.

Most plumbers take the easy way, and recommend sewer line discharge because they don't want to do the extra work of running the discharge line out of the house and into the yard. The right thing to do, the legal thing to do is to run your discharge line away from the house towards a downward sloping grade.

Last week I encountered a disaster caused by the sump pump discharging into the sewer system. I arrived to the vacant house with water gushing out of the toilette. Every time the sump pump would go on the water would shoot out of the toilette like a geyser. After the sewer snaker un-plugged the drain line this is what he found!

Yet another reason to just do the right thing and properly run the sump pump extraction line out of the house!

Melting Wood Beams

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Sagging wood beams

It looks like the wood is melting over the support columns. Crawl spaces are notoriously damp and humid spaces and are susceptible to excess moisture and dampness which makes a crawl space the perfect environment for mold to grow and wood rot.

According to the University of Illinois Small Homes Council, as much as 18 gallons of water per day can evaporate into a crawl space under a 1000-sq.-ft, house. Even if your dirt crawl space seems dry and dusty, the soil may be pulling in moisture that can rot wood floor joist and can cause beams and joists to weaken.

What’s the best way to fix the problem?

#1. The crawlspace must be converted from a vented crawlspace into an encapsulated, humidity controlled crawlspace. This vapor barrier, traps the water vapors that evaporate from the earth.

#2. In order to control the relative humidity, the vents must be closed off and the air must be supplied with warm dry air just like the rest of the house. Now the wood framing and flooring will dry out and improve the structural integrity of the house.

The permanent solution for structure support are adjustable , steel SmartJack columns.

Why Should I Finish My Colorado Basement?

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Basements are, unfortunately, often the most overlooked and neglected part of a home. In many Denver residences, basements are simply used as a storage space. Yet with a little work, they can be much, much more!

Imagine walking downstairs to your basement and, instead of seeing a dark, damp, musty room, you find a bright, dry, beautiful room that can be used as a children's play area, extra bedroom, man cave, workout room or home theater! The remodeled basement of your dreams is possible. Simply call a basement finishing contractor in Denver to get started!

Why Choose Basement Finishing?

There are several reasons to remodel your basement. Many Denver homeowners choose basement finishing in order to increase usable square footage in their home. If your family is expanding, you may need an extra bedroom. If you've picked up a freelance job or are starting your own business, a quiet and private home office may be needed. Perhaps your New Year's resolution to get in shape could be made much easier with an easily-accessible home gym. Whatever your reason for basement finishing, remodeling a musty unused basement into a dry, up-to-date space always pays off!

When you finish your basement you are using the space you already have wisely. Building an addition can be very expensive, so why pay more to add space to your home when you already have space in your basement? Finishing your basement will cost you a fraction of what an addition will cost. Transforming that dark, damp space will do wonders for your heath and your homes value.

A common motive behind Denver basement finishing is health reasons. Basements are often damp, humid spaces where mold and mildew quickly spread. Due to health concerns, this is a problem that should be taken care of immediately by a certified Denver basement contractor. Sealing basement cracks, replacing leaky windows, ensuring a proper drainage system, installing a self-draining dehumidifier, and/or waterproofing basement walls and floors can do wonders for a basement, as well as the indoor air you breathe.

Many homeowners consider basement finishing a simple way to increase a home's value. If you're looking to sell your home in the near future (or right now), you'll probably have a difficult time doing so if the basement is moldy, damp, and generally unpleasant or unusable. A finished basement, on the other hand, can drastically increase a home's resale value and quicken the often frustrating process of selling a home.

An Investment that will Last a Lifetime

Basement finishing has become very popular in recent years. This may be due to the many different finishing options and warranties. The best contractors will provide long term warranties on the products they install as well as eco-friendly options. When finishing your basement be sure to use products that are water proof and non-organic. Organic products, like wood and many kinds of carpet, will support mold and mildew growth. The best contractors will use products that are waterproof, durable, and easy to install.

Complete Basement Systems of CO specializes in basement finishing in Denver and other surrounding areas including Aurora, Boulder, or Fort Collins. Create a dry, healthy, and usable basement that you and your family can enjoy for decades to come. If you're planning to put your home on the market, get an excellent return on investment by remodeling the lower level of your home. Whatever your reason, contact a Denver basement finishing contractor to receive your free estimate and design consultation today.

Galvanized Steel

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Galvanization = Applying protective zinc to steel to prevent rusting.

For a century, zinc has enhances the longevity & performance of steel.

Zinc coatings provide the most effective and economical way of protecting steel against corrosion.

Corrosion must have two things to occur:

1.) There must be two points (anode & cathode) ona metal structure with different electrical potential and these two points must be electrically connected to complete the circuit.

2.) There must be an electrolyte to carry the current, and for the below ground pier applications, moisture in the soil serves this purpose. In crawlspaces, high humidity and condensation serves this purpose. Zinc protects with both a physical barrier and a cathodic action.

Barrier Protection

Zinc coatings provide a continuous, impervious metallic barrier that does not allow moisture to contact steel. Without direct moisture contact, there is no corrosion. Barrier life is proportional to coating thickness.

Cathodic Protection

Another outstanding protection mechanism is zinc’s remarkable ability to galvanically protect steel. When bare steel is exposed to moisture, such as at a cut edge or surface scratch, steel is protected by the sacrificial loss of zinc in the vicinity of the exposed steel. In the immediate presence of zinc, steel will not corrode until all the zinc has been sacrificed. This is particularly important in comparison to coated steel since corrosion will continually undercut both aluminum or paint barrier coatings Zinc is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Because its ion is of similar size and its only oxidation state is at a +2, it is easily oxidized when connected to the cathode minerals in the earth

Free One-Hour CEU Course next month!

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Basement Systems of Colorado is Offering a FREE 1-hour 1-credit CEU Course on Helical Pier Installations!

When: February 1st, 12:30 p.m.

Where: 3250 Quentin Street Ste. 104, Aurora, CO 80011

Jeff Kortan will be joining us live from Omaha to discuss important 'need-to-know' aspects when recommending helical pier applications. Lunch will be served by Basement Systems of Colorado, so get there early to grab some food!

There will be limited seating (for 16) so please call the office to reserve your place: (303) 805-8751, ask for Nola or Brandy.

Weather Patterns a concern for Metro Denver & surrounding areas

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Colorado Deals with Wild Weather and Aftermath

Aurora, CO

– Recap of 2011 weather patterns a concern for metro Denver residents for 2012

This year fast mountain snowmelt, and rising river waters including wild May weather made for a wet month in the metro Denver area.

Memorial Day marked a high-point in water levels as a rapid snowmelt began to come off area mountains. The week was followed with hard rains that taxed area rivers and started flooding lowlands. Denver's International Airport saw a funnel cloud with hail form while planes were landing nearby.

By mid-June many of Colorado's rivers, including Cherry Creek and the Cache La Poudre rivers, were flowing at 2 to 3 times their normal capacity for the month with more rain on the way. Metro Denver residents were on the look-out for flash flooding.

Currently there has been more snow to date this year 2011 than all of last year combined! This translates to more water in your basement and or crawl space come spring. Water tables in Colorado have been rising over the past 3 years marking record water levels.

Like the deep end of a pool, Hydrostatic pressure pushes water through what is called the cold joint in your basement. This is where the concrete walls and concrete floor meet, or in a crawl space situation hydrostatic pressure pushes ground water table up and it comes in underneath the house.

Water can bi-pass your exterior or interior French drain system because they tend to clog after only 1-2 years time.

For residents with basement seepage problems, Complete Basement Systems can help. They waterproof basements, crawl spaces, and repair foundations in metro Denver, Boulder, Arvada, Highland Park, and Ft. Collins, CO areas.

Complete Basement Systems works to gain the trust of customers and continues to make positive, healthy contributions to homes through their basement waterproofing and crawl space repair and encapsulation services.

For many years they have honed their skills and employ technicians which are certified through the

Basement Systems, Inc. has been awarded 25 patents for the many unique products developed specifically to prevent basement flooding and to repair crawl spaces from damaging moisture problems. The company has won many awards and patents for their innovative products and services, including being a finalist for the Better Business Bureau's prestigious National Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

For more information about Complete Basement Systems or for a free crawl space encapsulation, basement waterproofing, or

Complete Basement Systems

3250 Quentin St, Suite 104
Aurora, CO 80011

800-606-6859

http://www.basementsystemscolorado.com

Created: 12/28/2011

January is National Radon Month

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Aurora, CO – With radon being one of the leading causes of lung cancer today, it’s vital to bring attention to this often-overlooked danger. January is National Radon Month, making it a good time to purchase a home radon test kit or hire a professional radon mitigation contractor. Complete Basement Systems of CO is an expert on radon mitigation and has made a number of recommendations for homeowners during National Radon Month.

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that is released from soil. Because it is a radioactive carcinogen gas, it can be dangerous to people if it travels up into their homes. Radon is responsible for 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year, making it the second-leading cause of lung cancer (behind smoking). Luckily, there are ways to lessen the amount of radon in a home, thereby preventing the contraction of lung cancer. Radon mitigation is becoming a common service that a number of contractors can provide.

Complete Basement Systems of CO is encouraging homeowners to test their homes for radon this New Year. Because radon gas is colorless and odorless, it is not detected unless a specific test for the gas is performed. It’s important that each homeowner tests their home for radon before it’s too late.

Radon in a building is measured by picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends mitigating any building with a radon measurement at or above 4.0 picocuries per liter. When a building’s radon levels are found to be unhealthy, a radon mitigation system is specially designed to effectively reduce the levels to a healthier amount. Radon abatement methods can keep radon from entering a house, including soil suction, which draw the radon from below the basement or crawl space floor and push it outside. Some other radon mitigation techniques include sealing, house/room pressurization, heat recovery ventilation, and natural ventilation.

Complete Basement Systems of CO is Colorado’s expert basement waterproofing, crawl space, sump pump installation and foundation repair contractor. Their radon mitigation systems use sub-slab depressurization to reduce radon levels. A PVC pipe collects soil gasses, radon is piped upwards in the building, and then a radon depressurization vent forces radon out of the house.

Complete Basement Systems of CO serves Colorado, including Denver, Fort Collins, Aurora, Englewood, Parker, Broomfield, Longmont and surrounding areas. They have years of experience building and drying basements, and they are members of the Basement Systems international network of basement waterproofing specialists. For more information about this radon mitigation company in Denver or a free estimate contact them today.

Complete Basement Systems Wins AGC Silver Award

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

AURORA, CO – Complete Basement Systems is proud to announce that they been honored with an Association of General Contractors ACE award. The foundation repair company in Denver, CO, was given the silver award for “Meeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job” from their work installing helical piles on the Alta Vista Charter School in southeast Colorado.

On November 4, hundreds of contractors and industry leaders attended the 2011 AGC Colorado ACE Awards banquet at the Hyatt Convention Center to recognize and celebrate the outstanding commercial construction projects completed since September 2010. The 36 entries in 14 categories, submitted by 27 AGC/C member companies, demonstrate the outstanding creativity, skill and excellence of Colorado’s builders, architects, engineers and subcontractors.

“Everyone at Complete Basement Systems is honored to have won the AGC award,” said Rod Martin, owner of Complete Basement Systems Colorado. “It meant a lot to us to be able to help out a local school.”

The Alta Vista Charter School was constructed in 1917. In 2011, the school planned a renovation to 6,240 square feet of the existing building and a new addition of 18,000 square feet. Helical piles were selected as the ideal deep foundation support option for this site given the subsurface conditions, groundwater levels, ease of installation and ability to efficiently size the piles for the design working loads ranging from 18.5 to 45 kips.

The AGC Colorado presented a total of thirty-one awards at the ceremony, including 14 ACE Awards. There were 36 entries in 14 categories, representing 27 firms and more than 550 attendees at the banquet. ACE honors the companies that are leaders in the Colorado construction industry. There were 14 ACE first place winners, followed by 8 Silver Awards (second place) and 7 Bronze Awards (third place), as well as two Jack Mincher People’s Choice Awards (one subcontractor and one general contractor).

Complete Basement Systems of CO is dedicated to fixing basement, foundation, and crawl space problems including structural integrity, mold infestation, water intrusion, and wet basement. For a reliable foundation repair company in Denver, CO, contact Complete today at www.basementsystemscolorado.com.

Brick Foundation Repair in Denver

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Brick houses have long been valued for their solid, stately appearance. Many homeowners prefer a home with a brick exterior over one sided with wood or vinyl because of brick’s inherent durability. A brick wall can stand up to snow, sleet, rain, gale-force winds and errant baseballs without even breathing hard. Immune to fire and insect damage, brick demands little in the way of maintenance (occasional repointing), outlasting other siding treatments that require periodic painting, sealing and spot repairs.

Brick is Beautiful, but Also Brittle

A brick house built before 1900 or so will probably have double or solid brick walls. Interior brick is likely to be covered with plaster, while the exterior brick will be exposed. Newer brick houses are typically built with a brick veneer –a single layer of brick that is laid up outside a wood-framed wall.

Regardless of which method of construction was used, a brick house has one principle weakness that is often apparent in the greater Denver area and in many parts of the western U.S: It’s inflexible. So if soil movement causes its foundation to shift, a brick house is almost certain to crack due to the brittle nature of the material.

Structural cracks in brick don’t look the same as cracks caused by normal mortar shrinkage or weathering. Structural cracks are larger than nonstructural cracks; they’re also uneven –often larger at the top than at the bottom.

Soil Movement is Surprisingly Common

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, about 25% of all homes in the U.S. have some sort of damage caused by unstable soils. In fact, soil movement causes more property damage than earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes combined.

The reason that soil movement damage goes unnoticed is that it often occurs gradually. Cracks start out small and are easy to overlook until they grow larger over time. In many parts of the western U.S., soils have a high content of clay and silt. When this type of soil gets wet, water doesn’t drain through the soil. Instead, it’s absorbed by clay and silt particles. Adding the water volume to the soil causes the soil to expand in a very powerful way.

Soil Settlement is a Common Cause of Cracks in Brick Walls

Many masonry foundations can withstand expanding clay soil without sustaining damage. But when the soil dries out and shrinks, a more stressful situation can occur. The soil beneath a footing and/or foundation wall can shrink away from the masonry, creating an empty area, or void, where solid, load-bearing soil is absent. Unable to bridge the gap over this void because of the weight of the house, the footing cracks and settles down. A wood-framed wall located over this settled foundation section can often bend slightly to accommodate the change. But a brick wall doesn’t have the same flexible characteristics. So it cracks.

Foundation Repair Specialists Can Fix Structural Cracks in Masonry Walls

Structural cracks in a masonry wall should never be ignored. It’s certain that the same conditions that caused the crack will continue to affect the foundation. This will cause the crack to enlarge; or it may cause displacement, with one part of the wall sliding or tilting inwards or outwards. While the home’s inhabitants won’t be affected initially, a house with this type of damage is almost impossible to sell or provide collateral for a second mortgage.

Fortunately, foundation repair specialists have engineered solutions to this type of foundation problem, and many other foundation problems as well. When the soil immediately below a foundation can’t support the structure, these contractors can drive steel piers down to stable soil at greater depth. A steel bracket connects each pier to the foundation, enabling the contractor to raise the settled wall or footing back to its original level. In most cases, this causes cracks to close up and restores the building’s structural integrity. By correcting the problem rather than simply treating the symptom, foundation repair contractors help ensure that settlement and cracking won’t recur in the future.

Complete Basement Systems of CO a trusted foundation repair contractor in Denver, and also specialize in crawl space and basement waterproofing and repair. They proudly serve in and around Denver.

Expanding Business Ready to Protect Denver Area Homeowners from Radon Gas

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Aurora, CO – Homeowners in Colorado are exposed to some of the most dangerous levels of radon in the country and an expanding business is ready to keep people safe from this toxic gas. Employees of Complete Basement Systems have just completed expert-level training and are ready to take care of all of the area’s radon problems - a problem which kills more than 20,000 people every year.

A study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that Coloradoans are at a high risk when it comes to radon exposure. Radon is an invisible, odorless gas that comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water. The danger occurs when high levels of radon become concentrated in a home. When radon is inhaled, radioactive particles become trapped in lungs and decay, damaging lung cells. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

That’s why Rod Martin, owner of Complete Basement Systems in Aurora, CO decided to add radon mitigation to his already basement systems business. Martin says, “Keeping families safe in their own homes isn’t just a business for me, it’s my passion. We are excited to be able to give homeowners some peace of mind and clean air to breathe.”

Complete Basement Systems offers a full range of radon services, including testing and radon mitigation systems in greater Denver.

View the study by the Environmental Protection Agency online for more information.

It's National Radon Awareness Week!

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

We at Complete Basement Systems of CO understand the importance of helping homeowners understand radon, and we hope you’ll join us this week in raising awareness to the effects of radon exposure!

In recognition of the estimated 21,000 victims of the fatal effects of radon exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Surgeon General have declared this week as National Radon Awareness Week.

Radon testing can be done at home where test results are then sent and diagnosed at a lab. There are short-term and long-term tests available. We also offer radon testing in Colorado.

Radon is the number one in-home killer in the United States claiming 21,000 lives of unsuspecting homeowners to lung cancer—most of whom have never even smoked. Though unnoticeable to human senses, we perform radon testing and mitigation to reduce homes to levels below the action level of 4.0 picocuries per liter. Read more about National Radon Awareness Week from National Radon Defense.

The Jack Mincher People's Choice Award

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Complete Structural Systems, a division of Complete Basement Systems, has been nominated for an AGC ACE Award under the category Meeting The Challenge of a Difficult Job (Subcontractor). Please follow THIS LINK and vote in Section 2) for Complete Structural Systems, Alta Vista Charter School! Thank you for your support!

Preventing Heat Loss

Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

If you are having difficulty locating leaks, you may want to conduct a basic building pressurization test:

First, close all doors to the outside, windows, and fireplace flues.
Turn off all combustion appliances such as gas burning furnaces and water heaters.
Then turn on all exhaust fans (generally located in the kitchen and bathrooms) or use a large window fan to suck the air out of the rooms.

This test increases infiltration through cracks and leaks, making them easier to detect. You can use incense sticks or your damp hand to locate these leaks. If you use incense sticks, moving air will cause the smoke to waver, and if you use your damp hand, any drafts will feel cool to your hand.

The Rim-Joist is often a place homes suffer from large amounts of heat loss. There is only 1.5” of lumber covered by siding that separates you from the elements outside.

A thermal imaging sensor can be used as well, to help locate places in your home where thethermal envelope is not fully enclosed and sealed.

SilverGlo Rim-Joist Insulation

Can fix the problems associated with excessive heat loss through the rim-joist. Since SilverGlo is a proprietary product, you can't just buy it off the shelf. Your local Basement Systems dealer will send someone out to give you a free estimate.