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Basement Waterproofing & Crawl Space Repair in Ottawa, Orleans, Nepean, ON | Basement Repair Company
2014-06-02T15:00:00.05Z
Atlantic Basement Systems is a wet basement waterproofing, sump pump, and crawl space repair contractor near Greater Ottawa. Call or click today to schedule a free estimate!
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https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/about-us/news-and-events/3195-home-additions-that-cause-foundation-problems.html
Home Additions That Cause Foundation Problems
2012-02-10T00:00:00.05Z
Tim Snyder
When an addition is built to expand an existing home's living space, it's easy for important foundation details to be overlooked. Foundation repair contractors have the tools, materials and training to correct these foundation problems.
<p><img style="float: right; margin: 10px;" src="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/1213/medium/house-winter-edit.jpg" alt="Home Additions That Cause Foundation Problems - Image 1" width="250" height="167">Between 1950 and 2000, house size in the doubled in the U.S., from 1000sq. ft. to 2000sq. ft. Similar growth occurred in many parts of Canada –not because family size increased, but because our sense of “necessary” space and privacy expanded. Extra bathrooms, separate bedrooms, larger kitchens with breakfast nooks—it’s no wonder so many older houses were expanded with one or more additions. </p>
<p>Building an addition calls for a new foundation, and this important structural element needs to be properly designed, carefully built, and correctly joined to the existing foundation.</p>
<p><strong>Problems Occur When a New Foundation is Added to an Old One</strong></p>
<p>Homes with additions sometimes end up with structural problems, and foundation problems are surprisingly common for several reasons. First of all, the contractor who builds the addition is usually not the same contractor who built the house. The new guy may not be as familiar with local soil conditions as the original contractor. If the property has expansive clay soil and the addition contractor doesn’t take steps to protect the new foundation from soil pressure that can reach over 5000 pounds per sq. ft, there’s a good chance that foundation damage will occur some time in the future.</p>
<p>Foundation damage can also occur because a contractor takes a shortcut or two to build some extra profit into a small addition project. What if footings are placed above the frost line instead of below it, or some steel reinforcement is left out of a foundation wall? Maybe the contractor decided that gravel or drainage tile could be omitted because of an especially dry building season. These are just a few details that can lead to problems in the foundation for a building addition. </p>
<p>Crawl space foundations are often used on home additions, since they’re less expensive than full basement foundations. But if the contractor chooses to build an “old-fashioned” vented crawl space with a dirt floor and fiberglass insulation installed between crawl space ceiling joists, this is a guarantee of future problems. A vented crawl space brings high moisture conditions under the house, encouraging mold growth and accelerated rust on steel ducts and HVAC equipment located there. The moisture also reduces the R-value of fiberglass insulation and usually causes the insulation to fall onto the crawl space floor.</p>
<p><strong>Call in a Foundation Repair Specialist Rather Than a General Contractor</strong></p>
<p>General contractors who build home additions don’t have the training, tools or materials to make foundation repairs. Where a general contractor might recommend demolishing and rebuilding a settled slab or a bowing or tilting wall, a foundation repair specialist has the capability to correct these problems more quickly and less expensively. This is one case where calling in a specialist can save you money. Instead of demolition and replacement, a foundation repair contractor can usually stabilize and restore settled slabs or bowing walls by installing steel piers or wall anchors. These engineered solutions establish anchor points in stable soil outside or under the foundation, enabling the specialist to brace and elevate or pull the displaced element back to its original position.</p>
<p>Atlantic Basement Systems is the superior <a href="https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/">foundation repair company in Ottawa</a>. They have been serving greater Ottawa, ON area since 1993.</p>
2012-02-10T00:00:00.05Z
https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/about-us/news-and-events/3113-first-things-first-in-the-basement.html
First Things First in the Basement
2012-01-27T00:00:00.05Z
Tim Snyder
Before finishing your basement it is very important to take care of any foundation problems or water leakage.
<p><em><img style="float: right; margin: 10px;" src="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/1213/medium/house-winter2-edit.jpg" alt="First Things First in the Basement - Image 1" width="250" height="167">Barbara Green was getting impatient with her husband. “Remember our New Year’s resolution to remodel the basement?” </em></p>
<p><em>Bernie Green nodded, and tried to look apologetic. “I do. And I’ve been meaning to call John’s contractor friend who has does some basement remodeling jobs.”</em></p>
<p><em>“Well, what’s keeping you?” Barbara asked.</em></p>
<p><em>Bernie sighed and looked up from his laptop. “You know we get some wet spots in the back corner of the basement, where the slab floor is cracked. I’ve noticed that the crack is getting a little bigger, and I’m worried about more water coming in during the wet weather this spring.”</em></p>
<p><em>Barbara was undeterred. “Yes, I know about the crack,” she replied. “But that’s at the opposite end of the basement from where our new room will be. Why can’t we just get the contractor to patch the crack before he begins to build the new room?”</em></p>
<p>Discussions like this are fairly common, and could easily occur wherever basements are found. Many homeowners are interested in turning unfinished basement space into extra living space because they know it’s a very cost-effective way to gain extra living space.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, many basements have water problems. And even if the problem is minimal and located in a remote corner of the basement –like at the Green’s house—it’s important to solve the water problem before beginning a basement finishing project.</p>
<p>In the Green’s basement, a slab crack that changes size indicates more than a water problem. It’s a sign of unstable soil. Simply patching the crack, as Barbara Green suggests, will not stop the soil movement or subsequent foundation damage.</p>
<p>Unstable soil is surprisingly common. It can be due to natural conditions such as high clay content that causes soil to expand when wet and exert extreme pressure on foundation walls and slabs. It can be due to soil that wasn’t properly compacted and stabilized before footings and slaps were poured. It can also be due to a high water table that puts pressure on foundation walls. The average home remodeling contractor often has the skills to fill cracks or seal damp foundation walls. But he won’t be able to recognize soil problems or structural foundation problems and make permanent repairs using specialized products like wall anchors, helical piers and polymer injection. This work must be done by a foundation repair specialist.</p>
<p>The lesson here is that it’s important to do first things first in the basement. Stabilize the soil in the area where the crack is located so that a permanent repair can be made to the foundation. Complete waterproofing work to ensure that the basement will stay dry. Then proceed to finish the basement.</p>
<p>To complete this sequence of work, you need the expertise and resources that are only available from a full-service foundation specialist like Basement Systems. Basement Systems and its sister company, Foundation SupportWorks, offer the advantages of specialized training, engineering support to solve foundation problems, and a wide range of products designed for foundation repair, soil stabilization, waterproofing and basement finishing.</p>
<p>Atlantic Basement Systems specializes in <a href="https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/ottawa-on-sump-pump-installation.html">foundation repair in Ottawa</a>, and other surrounding areas. Visit them online for a free foundation repair estimate!</p>
2012-01-27T00:00:00.05Z
https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/about-us/news-and-events/2947-winter-weather-can-mean-trouble-for-your-foundation.html
Winter Weather Can Mean Trouble for your Foundation
2012-01-13T00:00:00.05Z
Francine Maglione
The foundation repair experts at Atlantic Basement Systems want to warn all homeowners about the effects cold temperatures and ice can have on foundations.
<p><strong><img class="right" src="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/1213/medium/Push%20Piers%20Step%204.jpg" alt="Winter Weather Can Mean Trouble for your Foundation - Image 1" width="172" height="231">OTTAWA, ONT</strong> – Winter is here, which means freezing temperatures, snow and ice. While soil contracts in the summer because of lack of moisture, the soil expands in the winter due to cold temperatures keeping more water and ice in the soil and causing the volume to increase. And when soil expands, it can push a foundation upward, which is also known as heave. Atlantic Basement Systems, a foundation repair company in Ottawa, has some information to share on fixing foundations in the winter or any season.</p>
<p>Heaving can cause cracks and bowing in foundation floors and walls. If these foundation problems are not repaired they can cause more damage to a structure over time. The good news is that skilled professional foundation repair contractors can repair a foundation in any season.</p>
<p>The experts at the national foundation repair network Foundation Supportworks write, “It is possible to excavate soil and install piers in winter conditions so damaged foundations can be repaired. Thanks to special admixtures, heating equipment and insulating materials, it’s even possible to pour concrete and make mortar repairs during cold weather.”</p>
<p>Foundation problems happen when the soil around your home changes. When a house is built on virgin soil, the soil that is dug out is later refilled around the foundation. This soil is loose and can settle over time. Water can pass through loose soil pretty easily and seep through a basement’s walls and floor through joists and cracks. Pressure from the earth can cause foundation walls to crack and bow.</p>
<p>Wall anchor systems are a good alternative to removing and rebuilding basement walls. With an interior wall plate, exterior anchor and a connecting steel wall, pressure is counteracted and the foundation walls are stabilized. Cracks in foundation or basement walls, a tilting chimney, interior wall cracking, and gaps in window or door frames can be solved using push piers. Hydraulically driven steel tubes and rugged steel brackets placed beneath existing footings can transfer a building’s weight from unstable soil to load-bearing piers.</p>
<p>Atlantic Basement Systems provides expert basement waterproofing, crawl space, and <a href="https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/">foundation repair in Ottawa</a> and its many surrounding areas since 1993. Atlantic has repaired thousands of basement leaks and other basement water problems in <em>Nepean, Ottawa, Orleans, Gloucester, Pembroke, Brockville, Kanata, Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, Vanier, and the surrounding areas. They are members of </em>the Basement Systems international network of highly trained "Certified Waterproofing Specialists" and "Crawl Space Environmental Specialists," as well as the nationally known Foundation Supportworks dealer network.For more information or for a free estimate, visit www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca.</p>
2012-01-13T00:00:00.05Z
https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/about-us/news-and-events/2388-ottawa-gatineau-canadian-breast-cancer-foundation-cibc-run-for-the-cure-sunday-october-2nd.html
Ottawa-Gatineau Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure - Sunday October 2nd
2011-09-27T00:00:00.05Z
Gary Walkling
Atlantic Basement Systems was proud to sponsor our Office Manager, Karen Walkling who participated in the 2011 Ottawa-Gatineau Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure .
Thank you Karen !!
The ABS Team
<p><img src="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/1213/medium/Run_for_the_Cure_Logo.jpg" alt="OttawaGatineau Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure Sunday October 2nd - Image 1" width="400" height="125"></p>
<p>Atlantic Basement Systems was proud to sponsor our Office Manager, Karen Walkling, who participated on Sunday 02 October 2011 in the Ottawa-Gatineau Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run. Karen completed the run successfully and with the support of the ABS Team this will be an annual event. <br>Thank you Karen !! </p>
<p>The ABS Team</p>
2011-09-27T00:00:00.05Z
https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/about-us/news-and-events/2387-ottawa-terry-fox-run-sunday-september-18-2011.html
Ottawa Terry Fox Run, Sunday September 18, 2011
2011-09-27T00:00:00.05Z
Gary Walkling
Atlantic Basement Systems this year as in past years supported the 2011 Terry Fox Run. We remain focused on staying involved with the Ottawa and area community.
The ABS Team
<p><img src="https://cdn.treehouseinternetgroup.com/uploads/blog/1213/medium/The%20Terry%20Fox%20Run.jpg" alt="Ottawa Terry Fox Run Sunday September 18 2011 - Image 1" width="180" height="118"></p>
<p>Atlantic Basement Systems this year as in past years supported the 2011 <a title="Terry Fox Run" href="http://terryfox.org/Run/">Terry Fox Run</a>. We remain focused on staying involved with the Ottawa and area community.</p>
<p>The ABS Team</p>
2011-09-27T00:00:00.05Z
https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/about-us/news-and-events/2366-rcmp-veteransdenniston-bone-marrow-society-annual-golf-classic-2018.html
RCMP Veterans/Denniston Bone Marrow Society Annual Golf Classic 2018
2012-06-06T00:00:00.05Z
Gary Walkling
The RCMP Veterans Ottawa Division and the Ottawa Chapter -Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society hold an annual golf classic. Atlantic Basement Systems has had the pleasure to be one of the Corporate Sponsors providing a donation for a hole sponsorship. We look forward to supporting this event in years to come.
It is a pleasure and privilege to support the community at these events.
The ABS Team
<p>The <a onclick="window.open('http://www.dennistonsocietyottawa.com/home.htm','','');return false;" href="http://www.dennistonsocietyottawa.com/home.htm">Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society Ottawa Chapter</a> held its 20th Annual Golf Tournament on the 9th September 2017 at the Hylands Golf Club. Atlantic Basement Systems was pleased to be one of the Corporate Sponsors for this event providing a donation for a hole sponsorship. We look forward to supporting this event in years to come.</p>
2012-06-06T00:00:00.05Z
https://www.atlanticbasementsystems.ca/about-us/news-and-events/1708-local-ontario-basement-waterproofing-contractor-earns-better-business-bureau-rating.html
Local Ontario Basement Waterproofing Contractor Earns Better Business Bureau Rating
2011-08-25T00:00:00.05Z
Stephanie Hayes
Ottawa, ON - Ontario company Atlantic Basement Systems earns A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
<p align="left"><strong>Ottawa</strong><strong>, ON </strong>- <em>Ontario</em><em> company Atlantic Basement Systems earns A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.</em></p>
<p align="left">Atlantic Basement Systems is focused on satisfying customers and their specific needs on each basement waterproofing project in the Ottawa, Pembroke, Cornwall, Brockville areas of Ontario. As a result of a culture of quality service and workmanship, <a href="http://www.bbb.org/ottawa/business-reviews/foundation-contractors/atlantic-basement-systems-in-ottawa-on-4111">Atlantic Basement Systems has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau</a>.</p>
<p align="left">This A+ rating gives consumers evidence that Atlantic Basement Systems abides by all eight BBB tenets including: a willingness to, <em>“<strong>Approach all business dealings, marketplace transactions and</strong><strong> </strong><strong>commitments with integrity</strong>.”</em></p>
<p align="left">Atlantic<strong> </strong>Basement Systems of Ontario works to gain the trust of customers and continues to make positive, healthy contributions to homes through their services.</p>
<p align="left">Atlantic Basement Systems is a basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, foundation repair, and mold remediation company that was founded over 16 years ago. They have honed their skills using only certified contractors and technicians as well as quality Basement Systems products.</p>
<p align="left">With more than 20 years in the basement waterproofing industry, Atlantic Basement Systems hopes to make a lasting, quality contribution to their customers’ lives.</p>
<p align="left">Atlantic Basement Systems is a Basement Systems, Inc. dealer. Basement Systems, Inc. has been awarded 25 patents for the many unique waterproofing products developed specifically to prevent basement water damage and repair crawl spaces from damaging moisture problems. The company has won many awards and patents for their innovative products and services, including being a finalist for the national Better Business Bureau's prestigious National Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. Basement Systems has also won 22 quality and innovation prizes for products and services.</p>
<p align="left">For more information about Atlantic Basement Systems or a free basement waterproofing or crawl space encapsulation quote in the Ottawa, Pembroke, Brockville, Ontario areas, <a href="http://www.bbb.org/ottawa/business-reviews/foundation-contractors/atlantic-basement-systems-in-ottawa-on-4111">contact us by phone or online. </a></p>
2011-08-25T00:00:00.05Z