Click on the link below to learn more about the Atlas Resistance Pier or to schedule your free foundation inspection and evaluation.

http://atlasrestoration.com/foundationsettlement.html

Shrinkage cracks are easy to recognize and to distinguish from cracks that occur later in the life of a foundation because [usually] the cracks are not continuous and tend to extend in a very irregular line through the concrete range in length from a few inches to the entire height of the concrete wall, extending from wall top to bottom.

Concrete shrinkage cracks virtually always extend through the full thickness of the foundation wall, which means they can provide a ready path for water entry into the building.

Common areas for a shrinkage concrete crack to develop are under a basement window, above a doorway in the middle of a long wall or where the foundation “steps down.” Shrinkage cracks also often occur near the middle of a large poured concrete wall [or floor] if no control joints were used. [Concrete control joints are very often omitted in residential construction.

Once concrete cracks in a basement or crawl space wall or floor slab, it is possible for water to leak into a building through the crack. There are several ways to repair a basement crack leak. An easy, quick, and effective measure to stop basement or crawl space water entry through a foundation crack is to perform an injection of polyurethane foam into the basement crack.

Polyurethane foams are injected into the basement crack in a liquid form. This allows a gentle and slow filling process of the basement crack that will completely fill the crack. After a few minutes the polyurethane will begin to react with the water in the crack to begin foaming. Water is actually the catalyst that converts the liquid polyurethane into foam. This foaming action increases the volume of the polyurethane up to 30 times its liquid form.

As the polyurethane foam expands it fills the basement crack from bottom to top and front to back. The finished foam will be a closed cell structure that will not allow water to leak into the basement crack. In fact, if there are any voids in the soil outside of the basement- such as under a rock or if the foundation is backfilled with gravel-the polyurethane foam will expand and extend out into the void.

The polyurethane foam forms a strong bond to the concrete. This bond will be able to withstand the hydrostatic pressure that may develop from high subsurface water levels. High underground or "subsurface" water levels are typically caused by heavy rains and most-often by failure to direct roof runoff or nearby surface runoff away from the building.

This concrete crack repair process using polyurethane injection is likely to be more successful and more durable than other crack patching methods. Surface patching of the crack is just that. Only the inside of the basement wall is covered by a repair. Chiseling out the crack and filling it with hydraulic cement only fills a portion of the crack.

Water can still enter the basement crack and will eventually force out the patch or hydraulic cement. [Forces that tend to cause separation of poorly-bonded concrete surface patches include the molecular action of crystallizing mineral salts left behind as moisture passes through the masonry wall.]

Basement crack injection is a quick repair process that stops water leaks. The technician will attach ports to the surface of the basement crack that allow the liquid polyurethane to enter the basement wall and stop the leak.

Once the basement wall crack is completed, water will not be able to leak into the basement. Now the homeowner’s possessions will be safe. As will any insulation on the basement walls, the drywall or the framing used to finish the basement.

To learn more about polyurethane crack injection please click on the link below and visit the Atlas Restoration, LLC. web site:

www.atlasrestoration.com

Keeping the backup pumps and floats out of the water avoids continuous exposure to dirty water, mud, and debris. No clogging, mineral deposits, corrosion, or deterioration means maximum reliability and longevity of the backup system.

Our back-up sump pumps do not interfere with the primary pump or its float. Most residential sump pits are just too small for two full-size pumps. Installing a second pump inside a small pit makes it likely that the primary or secondary floats will get stuck or even entangled, taking both pumps out of action.

The discharge pipe connects to the main discharge pipe high above the primary check valve (2-4 feet). Other backup pumps are placed inside the pit right above the main pump. Consequently, the primary check valve is just inches above the main pump, where it is exposed to strong turbulence and constant pressure fluctuations. Such a stressed check valve tends to break or develop a hole. Once that happens, the back-up sump pump will just recycle water through the primary pump down into the sump pit and flood the basement.

The Atlas pumps feature a slim-line vertical float switch instead of a tethered float, which practically eliminates the risk of a stuck float inside a busy sump pit.

The suction pipe of our back-up pumps reaches to the bottom of the sump pit, so that it can fully empty the pit in each cycle. Other back-up sump pumps are installed above the main pump and do not have a suction pipe. They drain the pit only partially, resulting in short pumping cycles, more frequent starts, and a shorter service life.

Click on the link below to schedule your free sump pump inspection today

http://www.atlasrestoration.com/waterproofing.html

To learn more about basement waterproofing benefits or to schedule your free inspection and evaluation click on the link below:

www.atlasrestoration.com

http://atlasrestoration.com/crawlconversion.html