Remodeling Features: Structural – Foundation Cracking and Separating

After nearly 50 years, this foundation just had ‘enough.’ The foundation wall was showing serious signs of stress but the owner didn’t know exactly what the problem was, or how it could be repaired. First thing: assess the damage and get the structural engineer involved. After he looked at it, we talked through the options for repair and came up … Read More

My Floor Was Soft!!! (a follow up post)

(continued from My Floor Is Soft) What we found . . . Here’s a follow-up on the post I did recently (see link above) showing a floor that was in real need of repair.  We found damage within the floor system and in the head wall of the tub/shower, plus in the wall adjacent to the toilet. Now, here’s what … Read More

My Floor Is Soft!!!

So, now what?  Have you been aware of this situation at your own home?  It’s not uncommon, particularly in bathrooms.  It occurs usually from moisture where it’s not supposed to be: around the base of the toilet bowl, and along the front edge or corners of a tub or shower.  There can be other places also, like below window’s sills, … Read More

The Forgotten Crawl Space (Part 2 of 2)

(Continued from: Part 1) A bit more about the crawl space . . . We got a call a few years ago about a property that had a “moisture vapor” problem in the crawl space.  That’s what an inspection report listed it as.  So, I went to look; sure enough plenty of water (probably two to four inches at the … Read More

The Forgotten Crawl Space (Part 1 of 2)

We’d like to just forget about all crawl spaces . . . but, we can’t.  You see that is where some of our best work occurs.  It’s also where some of the worst problems in your home can come from: moisture (in various forms), pests (big and small, and very small, ones), leaking water and sewer pipes, electrical wires hanging … Read More