Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Basement Ventilation Basics for Homes and Businesses

Proper basement ventilation is crucial to the health, safety, and comfort of a home or business. Improper ventilation can cause:

- Indoor air pollution
- Asthma and allergies
- Mold and mildew growth
- High humidity levels
- Headaches
- Nasal Irritation
- Respiratory Problems

The air we breathe indoor can be contaminated by a number of things. Among them are:

Airborne bacteria and viruses which can cause many ailments and infections. Bacteria and viruses continue to breed and thrive in moist, damp and stale environments.

Toxic Chemicals that become vapors from paint, household cleaners and solvents, glues and adhesives found in any number of items in the home or business, aerosols, paint, pesticides, and chemicals used in some carpeting and upholstery fabrics.

Allergens including pet dander, dust mites, and pollen.

Mold and Mildew which thrive in damp or moist environments. The spores released by mold can be toxic and mold and mildew, as it grows, slowly destroys anything it grows on.

Moisture is the biggest problem as it causes the growth of mold and mildew, structural damage to the building, feeds bacteria, and creates a health hazard.

Installing a high quality ventilation system such as the EZ Breathe System, will remove excess contaminated air from your home or business and expel mold spores and the gases created by mold. By exchanging the damp stale air with fresh air, indoor air pollution will be reduced and odors will be expelled.

Waterproofing the basement and installing a high quality basement ventilation system which draws air down from the upper levels and out through the lowest point in your home is the best investment you can make to preserve and improve the value of your home or business and safeguard the health of your family.

Contact us for a FREE home inspection by a Vulcan Basement Waterproofing specialist.

Call 1-877-VULCAN8 (1-877-885-2268)

Website: www.VulcanWaterproofing.com

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Top 10 Reasons to Waterproof Your Basement


Even if you have never had a problem with water in the basement, here are 10 reasons to consider waterproofing your basement:

1.       Many items stored in your basement are irreplaceable.

2.       It’s cheaper than replacing your furnace and hot water heater.

3.       Protects the value of your home (Once there is evidence of flooding or water in your basement, the value of your home goes down and may never sell)

4.       Creates more usable living space.

5.       Create more usable closet and storage space.

6.       Protect the health of your family from the adverse effects of mold and mildew spores in the air.

7.       Gets rid of the damp, musty odors.

8.       Protects your belongings and valuables from rust, mold, mildew, and water damage.

9.       Ground water tables in coastal areas and inland waterways are slowly rising due to rising sea levels.

10.   Basement water problems get worse over time and you could eventually face huge bills to repair or replace basement foundations, walls, floors, appliances, and personal items.

If you’ve ever had water in your basement after heavy rains or melting snow, Vulcan Basement Waterproofing offers a free, no obligation basement inspection and a 180 Days Same as Cash Offer if you need basement waterproofing.  A Vulcan Basement Waterproofing expert will inspect for defects, your below-ground foundation walls and floor for causes that could admit subsurface water causing a wet basement, and for all the major signs left by water or excess moisture that are causing your basement and belongings to be damaged.

Vulcan Basement Waterproofing with offices in NY, NJ, CT, PA, and DE.  We’re Not Just in the Basement Waterproofing Business… We Invented It.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

How Vulcan Basement Waterproofing Solves Wet Basement Problems

Vulcan Basement Waterproofing has a proven approach to solving wet basement problems.
 
Whether your basement is flooded or seems free and clear of wet basement problems, invite in a Vulcan Basement Waterproofing specialist for a free home inspection. An expert inspection before investing in basement remodeling is good preventive medicine. And, it provides you the assurance that you will have a dry basement long after the remodeling is completed and the time and money spent.

Vulcan responds promptly and at your convenience; we are on call year-round to answer your basement waterproofing needs. The Vulcan professional will check every inch of your basement. All significant findings will then be discussed in detail. You will be clearly informed of the causes behind all signs of water damage. You will also learn the implications of minor danger signs that normally escape the untrained eye. The outside of your home will also be checked.

Your Vulcan expert will explore for defects in your below-ground foundation walls – for cracks and crevices that admit subsurface water causing a wet basement.

Any of the following conditions could promote decay that might, in time, force you to replace foundation walls and floors:

- Poor soil conditions around walls, caused by construction workers who backfilled the surrounding area with soil containing broken concrete or timber. The result: pockets filled with water that exert pressure against walls.

- Hydrostatic effects from water buildup whose constant pressure eventually leads to water penetration.

- Capillarity within porous walls and floors that absorb water from the surrounding soil.

- High water table, resulting from underground water which rises with rain, snow or the tides.

- Below-grade cracks and voids in building foundations and walls expose your home to yet another peril. They are avenues for invading armies of termites and insects on the attack.

Your free Vulcan Basement Waterproofing survey/analysis offers you an opportunity to find exactly how damaging the water along your foundation has become. You may confidently base your decision on the detailed estimate we leave in your hands.

In choosing Vulcan, you’ll find our techniques remarkably quick and efficient. We control water seepage completely – at the source – without excavating or injuring your plantings, lawn, sidewalk or driveway. Our teams are professional and respectful of you and your home and clean up the area after the work has been completed.

Let Vulcan Basement Waterproofing put an end to your wet basement problems. No job is too large or too small for our teams of trained technicians. And the result is a safe, usable, dry basement.

Call today to schedule a free home inspection by a Vulcan Basement Waterproofing specialist: 1-877-VULCAN8 (1-877-885-2268)

Visit us online to learn more: http://www.VulcanWaterproofing.com

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Rising Sea Levels Poses Future Threat to Homeowners in NY Coastal Areas


August 30, 2012

Rising sea levels and ground water tables are affecting the coastal counties in NY where more than 62% of the state’s population resides.  Rising water tables could affect thousands of families and businesses in New York and Long Island. 

The Columbia University Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR) report on rising sea levels for the New York City Panel on Climate Change notes there are a number of factors contributing to rising sea levels globally, including warmer than normal water temperatures and the melting icecaps. 

The report explains how the NY coastal area rise in sea levels is intensified by “… ocean currents, gravitational forces, prevailing winds, and rise and fall of the land mass”.  While the many geological forces are a major cause, the report includes the impacts of human development and activity as well as the “… potential increases in extreme precipitation and storms associated with climate change”. 

For homeowners in the affected areas of New York, the issue is the resultant rising water table.  As the water table rises, it exerts extreme pressure on the foundation, and over time, causes structural damage including cracks in the basement walls and floor, buckling of walls, and eventually water being forced into basements.  Vulcan Basement Waterproofing has a patented method for relieving the water pressure called a hydrostatic pressure relief system. 

Vulcan Basement Waterproofing offers free basement inspections and consultations to homeowners and businesses in NY, Long Island, CT, NJ, PA, and DE.  You can also learn how to check for basement water damage on the Vulcan Basement Waterproofing website.  You can also download a handbook on basement waterproofing as well as a DIY Guide. 

Please visit our website to learn more, and to request our Free Basement Inspection: http://www.VulcanWaterproofing.com


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

It’s Hurricane Season Again


It’s Hurricane Season again.  Our Atlantic hurricane season runs from the beginning of June through the end of November, and it reaches its peak between August and the end of October.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) originally forecasted a normal season for 2012, but recently upped its prediction because of wind patterns and water temperatures that are warmer than usual.

Between five and eight hurricanes are now predicted and it is expected that two or three of them could turn into major hurricanes.  This is the time to set in a few supplies and make sure you have a waterproof basement.  Have you ever had it professionally inspected by an experienced basement waterproofer?

Any one rainstorm can add enough pressure to force water into a basement.  Years of moisture and basement dampness slowly cause structural damage.  Mold and mildew can also cause structural damage over time.

You can learn how to check for basement moisture or water damage at http://www.vulcanwaterproofing.com/how_to_check_for_basement_water_damage.htm .  Here you can learn about the early warning signs of water problems in your basement.  Vulcan Basement Waterproofing has a downloadable handbook about basement waterproofing and a downloadable Do-It Yourself Guide (DIY) Guide.

On the Vulcan Basement Waterproofing site you will find lots of helpful information on basement ventilation, mold and mildew, sump pump installation, French drains, and a host of things you can do to protect your investment in your home.

Vulcan Basement Waterproofing in NY, NJ, CT, Philadelphia, and the Delaware Valley even offers a free home inspection and consultation.

Visit our website to learn more: www.VulcanWaterproofing.com

It pays to be prepared.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Remodeling Your Basement?

Make sure you get an inspection from an experienced and professional waterproofer before you spend money remodeling your basement. Even if you have never had water in the basement before, understand that any number of years can pass before a rainstorm might add just enough pressure to force water into your basement. Simply having excess moisture in your basement can slowly cause structural damage or lead to mold or mildew which also can cause structural damage over time. You can learn how to check for basement water damage at http://www.vulcanwaterproofing.com/how_to_check_for_basement_water_damage.htm on the Vulcan Basement Waterproofing website. Here you can read about the early warning signs of basement water problems.

Vulcan Basement Waterproofing has a downloadable handbook on the subject of basement waterproofing and a downloadable DIY Guide. On the Vulcan Waterproofing site you will find endless information on basement ventilation, mold and mildew, sump pumps and sump pump installation, French drains, and a host of things you can do to protect your biggest investment — your home. Vulcan even offers a free home inspection if you live in New York, Connecticut, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, PA and the surrounding counties, and northern Delaware that would be wise to take advantage of before you remodel.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

How to Check for Basement Water Damage

How To Check For Basement Water Damage

Leaking basements or basement water seepage is a condition that must be arrested as soon as possible, or you could eventually face huge bills for repairing or replacing foundations, walls and floors. What’s more, water in your basement poses health and electrical hazards. It needn’t happen if you stay alert.

Obvious danger signs of basement water damage

Check carefully for the appearance of any of these 8 major danger signs that suggest your basement is being damaged by water.
  • Wet spots on the basement walls
  • Cracked walls in basement or crawl spaces
  • Cracked floors
  • Efflorescence
  • Peeling paint
  • Warped paneling
  • Fungus, rot, mold and mildew
  • Insects and bugs

 

A More Detailed Inspection for Basement Water Damage

Even if none of the above problems seem to exist, continue with a more detailed inspection of your basement walls.
  • Poured concrete walls
    efflorescence (a whitish powder) could indicate seepage and porosity that tend to worsen.

  • Wall surfaces
    Search for vertical or horizontal cracks. Some may have fully penetrated the wall, opening routes for water entry – depending on local water table and soil conditions.

  • Construction joints
    Explore for openings where basement walls and floors meet. Such gaps can admit water and insects, as well as lead to cracked floors.

  • Mortar joints
    Inspect mortar joints especially around below-grade piping and conduits when leakage appears, your floor space could be rendered unsafe for storage, carpeting or laundering use.

  • Structural points
    Examine corners where frames butt against foundation walls. These junctures are often uneven, resulting in gaps.

  • Efflorescence
    The appearance of efflorescence warns that basement water seepage is threatening your foundations and that cracks will endanger your basement floors.

  • Water pipes
    Check your pipes for excessive condensation.

  • Masonry block walls
    Look for signs of staining in the block closest to the basement floor. This could mean water is building up inside the wall and deteriorating the block’s integrity.

Click Here to Download the Vulcan Basement Waterproofing Handbook

Visit out website to learn more: http://www.VulcanWaterproofing.com