We at Keystone Basement Systems are proud to be a member of the National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors (NAWSRC), which is a professional trade association that caters to the needs of the public and waterproofing, structure and foundation repair industries. Keystone Basement Systems is a basement contractor and specializes in mold removal, foundation structural repair and basement waterproofing. We strictly adhere to the standards of practice and canon of ethics established by NAWSRC. Before we go into the standards of practice and canon of ethics by NAWSRC and how we subscribe to them, let us have a look at what NAWSRC is all about and its responsibilities in the industry.
The credibility of being a member of NAWSRC is that it gives the public the confidence and trust of having the highest degree of knowledge, standards, ethics and quality of workmanship available in the industry. NAWSRC is also dedicated to answering public queries and creating awareness on basement waterproofing, house foundation repair, concrete repair, house leveling, pier and beam and other related issues. They also provide local professional contractors who are NAWSRC members, in case you are looking for one in your area. When it comes to information and services, NAWSRC ensures that its members are updated with the latest developments in waterproofing, structure, foundation repair and industrial tools to benefit the consumer. For more information on NAWSRC and the latest developments in the waterproofing, structure and foundation industries, you can log on to http://www.nawsrc.org/.
Since the NAWSRC is the only recognized trade association in the waterproofing and structural repair industry, the NAWSRC Standards of Practice will help the consumer in locating a NAWSRC contractor in any area. These standards have been used by the Better Business Bureau to promote them in the waterproofing industry and have been successful in states like Indiana, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
Canon of Ethics
As a member of NAWSRC, Keystone Basement Systems ensures that it provides the best of its mold removal, foundation structural repair and basement waterproofing services by professional basement contractors in the Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia areas. Our basement specialists are NAWSRC certified experts, engineers and microbial remediators that will satisfy your individual requirements and budget. We provide free estimates, create public awareness, and educate our customers on the pros and cons of basements. We also believe in taking up projects that would be both structurally and economically sound for our customers. Our services are in accordance with the NAWSRC Standards of Practice, Canon of Ethics and all applicable business codes.
If you are one of those people facing issues with weeping walls, cracks in your foundation or a musty basement, please visit our website at http://www.keystonebasementsystems.com/ and get in touch with us today to cater to your needs!
For more on basement related solutions, click on to www.keystonebasementsystems.com.
“Keystone Basement Systems, Inc. is a foundation repair company. KBS is not, however, an engineering firm and should not be considered as such.”
Masonry construction has always been known for its durability, as it is able to sustain harsh conditions depending on the weather and geographical location. It also gives an attractive appearance and requires relatively low maintenance. The use of materials in masonry construction ranges from stone foundations to brick walls. Since some masonry foundations tend to be susceptible to accelerated deterioration, they were either painted or covered with stucco for protection. In addition to the weather and location, water can be a primary cause for the deterioration of masonry foundations.
Household activities such as cooking, washing and drying clothes are responsible for the excess moisture present in the air within your home. An average family creates around 20 pints of water vapor per day. This can be usually seen in the form of fog, mist, dew or frost in the atmosphere and plays a significant role in the formation of clouds, rain and snow.
(a) Grading: One would wonder as to what the soil has to do with a drainage system. Proper grading of the soil around the house would eliminate the entrance of water into the basement. Creating slopes would drive away water before it reaches the basement walls. In fact, this method would not even require a basement drainage.
Basements are usually recommended in areas that have steep slopes and experience extreme cold climatic conditions with low temperature and deep frost penetration. Deeper excavation comes in a package along with the construction and structure of basements, which of course increases costs, but results in a reliable, cozy and comfortable space.
Basement dehumidifiers are the best solution to reducing the humidity in the basement to normal recommended levels, which is between 40-60%. They are of two types, the portable unit and the installed unit. The portable unit is user-friendly, whereas the installed unit requires a qualified professional for installation. The latter are usually installed with a fan, heating pump and cooling coil. The moisture in the air is drawn by the fan over the heat pump. This water vapor is then condensed into water through the cooling coil and collected into a holding tank and can be removed either manually or through a drain hose installed in the unit. The installed basement dehumidifier is more efficient as compared to the portable one, which also explains why it is more expensive.
According to Dr. Sarah Kirby, housing specialist at the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Raleigh, sagging upper floors and those caused by insect or water damage should be checked by a contractor. Although it is possible to correct minor sags on a first floor with a pair of screw-type jack posts and a wood or steel beam to bridge the jacks, it is a difficult and somewhat risky task. An important thing to remember while dealing with sagging or sloping floors is that the posts need a very firm foundation. Even if you have a 4-inch concrete slab, you still need to create a concrete pier pad for the jack that is 18 to 24 inches square and at least 12 inches deep. Once these pier pads have cured and the jacks are in place, begin by raising the floor slowly, as little as a quarter turn per week. Jacking slowly allows for settling without serious disruptions or sudden stress. On the other hand, lifting might create additional wall cracks and change door and window margins.
If your sloping floor is due to a deteriorated sill, you’ll have a difficult time finding crews who specialize in this kind of work. Foundation repair companies would not probably take the work, so you may have to resort to hiring a general contractor who may know of someone who does this kind of work. A good carpenter who possesses house jacks or one who is willing to rent them will certainly be able to do this work too, but you need to make certain that he has experience with this type of work. There are chances that carpenters with lack of experience may be tempted to take on the job because of the high fees involved. It is not possible to jack up a house in a day. It has to be jacked up slowly over weeks or even longer to avoid cracking wallboard, plaster, windows, and even structural elements.
ou trust 100% to identify the problem, you might consider hiring a structural engineer for the diagnosis. By hiring a structural engineer who will not have any part in the repair process to evaluate your sagging or sloping floor, you can be sure that the conclusion will be unaffected by the prospect of a profitable contract. He or she will also be able to advise you on the type of contractor your should hire to do the job, which can be confusing as some of the root causes of sagging and sloping floors fall under different categories.
JACKING UP SLOPING FLOORS 
For an ordinary home buyer, you might find some of the problems enumerated in the home inspector’s report a bit difficult to understand. For instance, what does sagging floors mean? Does it mean you have to replace it immediately? Spend a lot of money? Or will it last for a few more years before you absolutely have to do something about its repairs? The cost for repairs is not getting any cheaper. As a home buyer, it is only natural that you would strive to protect yourself from spending more than you have to. In an effort to aid you on these issues, we have provided some answers to questions that you might have during or after the home inspection. If you have ever been in a building where you feel like you are getting pushed to one side and you cannot seem to stand up, you have either been drinking too much alcohol or the floor could be sloping. I was just in a store the other day that was full of antiques and glass, but I could hardly stand up because the floor was sloping enough to create what I would consider a liability issue to the store owner.
Having shared the relevant information about the construction costs, we will now share our thoughts on how one can pull down the construction cost by paying attention to the important aspects of constructing a building The Structure Outline
There can’t be a cheap and effective measure to ensure longevity of basement walls than proper Air -Sealing in basements. Besides, it also helps conserve energy. Basement air sealing prevents warm heated air from escaping and cold winter air from entering the heated space. By this method minor cracks or openings of the building are sealed using weather stripping, foam, caulk and other materials. According to the American Department of study, basement air sealing lowers space heating consumption by 18 to 30 percent.
Polyethylene plastic: These inexpensive materials, when used for air sealing purposes, stop the diffusion of vapor. For effective air barrier, all penetrations and edges need to be completely sealed off. As poly tears easily, it has to be well placed to prevent the warm inside air from penetrating out through the ceilings or walls.
On some occasions, the joints between floors and walls permit easy passage of air between the outdoor attic area and the heated part of the house. You can easily search for these joints in the space over porch ceiling or in the attic.
As compensation, homeowners simply turn the thermostat up, to receive the heat they require, which unnecessarily raise their heating bills. A highly effective conservation measure would be to seal all the duct leaks. While sealing the ducts, you can ensure that you use proper foil tape or mastic tape. The fabric type duct tape turns out to be highly ineffective as the adhesive dries after six months.