Keep Your Basement Intact with Foundation Repair Services in Sudbury
PCC Contracting Inc. has been providing foundation repair services for homes and businesses throughout the Greater Sudbury region for over 25 years. Our knowledgeable team can build a foundation from scratch or repair existing foundations. We are the area’s foundation experts for a reason!
Basement leaks are one of the most common house repairs that homeowners face. In fact, nearly 98% of homes must deal with a basement leak at some point. It’s an inevitable fact. Often, when it comes to leaking basements, people assume the cause is a problem with the weeping tile. However, this is not always the case. The most common cause of a basement leak is a crack in the foundations.
In fact, based on our experience, the cause of basement leaks from most to least likely is:
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Foundation cracks
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Leaking tie rod holes
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Leaking at the wall floor joint
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Leaking window wells
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Leaking cinder block or construction block
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Leaking sill plate
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Leaking stone foundations
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Incorrectly calibrated sump pump
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Weeping tile
Professional Affiliations
Putting Work in Good Hands! Done Right the First Time.
We provide a range of foundation repair services:
Trust in the experts – call PCC Contracting Inc. today to schedule a free estimate.
Repair and Replacement of Existing Foundations
You will notice a few warning signs that are typical of a foundation that needs to be partly or even completely replaced. Cracks in the foundation, crumbling concrete, signs of water damage – all these are indications that you should call us for an assessment.
One of the most common causes is aging concrete that cracks or crumbles. Whether it is old, low-quality, or simply not well protected, the foundation must be replaced.
Structural Reinforcements
How can you tell if your home has structural problems?
Some of the warning signs include:
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Sloping or crooked floors
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Sagging beams
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Cracks on the interior walls
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Rot, mildew, or mould appearing
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Cramped space in the crawlspace
These structural issues can be caused by rotten beams, rusty steel, low-quality concrete, inadequate load-bearing beams, or inappropriate initial design. The solution to the problems is to reinforce the existing foundation and make any repairs and replacements where necessary.
Stabilization and Alignment of Foundations
Over time, your foundation may settle into new and unexpected positions due to soil compression. This is a problem for your building.
Signs that your foundation has been settling:
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Large cracks in the foundation and exterior walls
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Cracks in brick walls
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Doors and windows are more difficult to open and close
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Uneven floors
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Gaps appear between ceilings and walls with cracks on interior walls
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Structural buckling
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Cracks in the concrete slab
The solution to settling and shifting foundations is to drive steel piles into the bedrock, which helps to distribute the load. They stabilize your building and reinforce the foundation and structure.
Foundation Waterproofing
When your basement is leaking water, you may notice a few telltale signs:
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Traces of white powdery deposits on the concrete (known as efflorescence)
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Moisture appearing on the basement walls
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Water or wet concrete spots on the basement floor
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Persistent humidity and bad odours
During periods of heavy rain or snowmelt, water will exert hydrostatic pressure on your foundations. This will lead to water infiltration or absorption into the concrete. It can be a result of a few different problems, including poor drainage, clogged drains due to iron ochre, or even a lack of drainage in older buildings.
If your building is showing any signs of water damage, you should immediately think about waterproofing the foundations and draining the soil. Installation of a drainage system can be done from the inside or the outside of the building.
Pyrite Removal
Pyrite is a mineral that, when present in backfill under a concrete slab or in the concrete, can produce sulfuric acid that weakens and eventually shatters the concrete and cause the backfill to swell.
The following signs are indications of pyrite presence:
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Cracks appearing in the garage or basement foundation
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Cracks and uplift of the garage or basement slab
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Traces of white powdery deposits near the cracks
A lab test will show whether pyrite is present and if the backfill has a high potential to swell. If this is the case, the backfill needs to be excavated and replaced with crushed stone that does not have swelling potential.