Healthy Spaces Before & After Photos

If you looked outside your home right now and saw a big tree near it, would foundation problems be the first thought that popped into your head? A home in Dixon, KY, had a giant, old oak tree next to their home, causing the tree roots to reach the foundation. Tree roots grow in search of water and t will grow near the foundation since the pipes in your basement or crawl space consist of water. As the roots begin to grow, it pushes on the foundation, creating bowing walls and more issue. In this family's basement, their walls began to bow, creating long cracks on the green wall. Another problem the basement had was water leakage that needed to be repaired. The family was ready to create a useful and safe place for them to additionally use. 

To repair the issue of the bowing walls, a GeoLock Wall Anchor system was set in place. It is engineered to stop wall failure permanently and performs in any soil type. It utilizes plates buried in the soil outside your wall that has up to 480 square inches of bearing surface. Once that was completed. CleanSpace was put on the walls to provide a vapor barrier to drain water behind and lead it to the WaterGuard system below that was installed in the ground. The WaterGuard system directs water to the SuperSump pump. The SuperSump pump will then empty the water outside. Once the bowing walls were straightened and the space was waterproofed, the family was thrilled to begin using the space for personal use. 

In Dixon, KY, under the concrete floors of the basement, there was water pressure and in return, it created a crack on the floor. Whenever it rained, the homeowner noticed that it would get worse and start to puddle on the floor. The crack was located in the middle of the room, so it was caused by hydrostatic pressure. Hydrostatic pressure is pressure from a body of water at rest. The weight of the water itself is what causes the pressure. If the void space in the soil outside your foundation is filled with water, it will cause hydrostatic pressure to push the water into your basement. 

To repair the gnarly crack, a lateral line drainage system is created. Starting at the crack, a drainage channel is installed. After removing a section of the basement floor, a PVC is run underneath that leads to the sump pump. After the drain is installed, it is backfilled with stone and fresh concrete is pushed over. After three days of allowing the concrete to cure, the homeowner was pleased to know that their basement would not be an issue the next time it rained. 

A basement in Evansville, IN needed waterproofing, done to their basement when the homeowner began to have aggravated allergies and found that it could be from the basement. The bottoms of the basement walls consisted of mold spores and small water puddles on the ground. The humidity and dampness of the basement had created a thriving environment for the mold to grow, but a nightmare for the homeowner. Some mold spores produce a chemical byproduct called mycotoxins. This is a type species of mold that will compete for space with other species and in return, create chemical warfare on other molds. Having mycotoxins exist in your own home can affect your respiratory system.

Although you can not see the spores, they will leave a musty smell. To remove any mold from the basement, it has to go through mold remediation. Any mold spots are scrubbed and sprayed thoroughly. After mold remediation is completed, the homeowners have a choice as to whether or not they want annual maintenance done to monitor the area. The basement was waterproofed using CleanSpace, which will protect the vapor barrier. A WaterGuard system and TripleSafe sump pump are put in to guarantee that no water would be entering the basement. With a mold-free, water-free basement, it thrilled the homeowner to know that their health would not be at risk. 

A homeowner in Madisonville, KY, had concerns about their foundation due to their walls beginning to crack and unstable floors. In Kentucky, the soil contains clay. Whenever moisture enters the clay, it expands, but when it escapes due to the dry climate, it will shrink. As the soil began to shrink, it caused strain on the walls, causing them to crack. Repairing the foundation of the home would also fix the unstable floors from above. 

Since the foundation was unstable, it needed to be stabilized using the heavy-duty SmartJack system. To address weak foundation soils, a two-foot cube of soil is excavated at each SmartJack location. The hole is then positioned on top of another base to hold the SmartJack in place and properly distribute loads. A high-strength, galvanized steel tubing is cut to the appropriate height. The steel column and components are assembled and connected to the support beam, and the SmartJack system is tightened into place, The support beam and floor joists are immediately stabilized and the above floor and walls can be lifted back toward level. It relieved the homeowner to know that the foundation of their home will be safe for years to come. 

A homeowner had someone inspect their crawl space located in Evansville, IN, and had the air quality tested. When the air quality resulted lower than expected, the homeowners were encouraged to reach out to us regarding mold remediation. There was visible mold throughout the wooden beams of the crawl space. Mold is a fungus that eats organic matter. It likes temperatures between 32 and 100 degrees F and relative humidity between 70% and 99%. Mold is typically found in places that are damp or humid for an extended amount of time, just like the crawl space!

Only through proper mold remediation will banish mold for good. Replacing wooden beams that were affected by mold may help the appearance of a space, but the problem will occur again if the root of the cause is not dealt with. Installing a SaniDry Sedona will create a dry airflow throughout the crawl space, preventing mold from growing. Any openings of the crawl are closed tightly. All wooden beams are treated for mold and visible mold is scrubbed off. Treating and preventing mold ensures that the homeowner and their home will be safe.