Serving Hamilton, Oakville, Burlington and Southern Ontario
Omni Basement Systems Q&A
How do I fix a settling foundation
Settling foundation is caused by poor soil under the footing when the house was built or some settlement changes that may have occured.
The best way to fix or raise the settling foundation is to have Push Piers or helical piers installed under your footing and then the house can be raised.
How do I find where a wall crack is in a finished basement
Most wall cracks are visible outside at the part of the foundation that is exposed above the ground. Also, one of the most common places for wall cracks to develop are bottom corners of windows and where the main beams sit in the foundation called beam pockets.
Should I have a backup on my sump pump?
Back up systems are very important. In the event that your power is out or your main pump fails, a back up maybe the only thing that saves you from a flood in your basement. A high water alarm is also very important to let you know if the water is about to reach the top of your sump system.
What does cracks in my bricks mean.
Cracking in the bricks above a foundation is usually a sign that the foundation has settled from unstable soil conditions. Thsi can happen in any area. Have a professional foundation expert such as Omni Baement Systems inspect your foundation for these signs of settling. This can be repaired with Push Piers.
Why are sump pumps needed?
Can a bowing wall be straightened?
Yes. A bowing wall can be straightened by applying Power Braces or Geo-wall anchors and tightening over time.
How does interior drainage systems affect my block wall long term?
When an interior drainage system is installed properly by trained professionals, the Blocks are all drained permantly by drilling holes into the cavity aloowing water trapped inside the block cavity to drain out into the system. Thse weep holes are then covered by some kind of attached wall membrane that guides the water down to the drainage system. This will preserve the blocks by not allowing water to sit in the cavity. Also the blocks themselves dry out, stopping the transer of moisture to the finished wall in front.
How does slope of grade affect your foundation?
grade sloped toward the house can drain water next to your foundation and when the ground freezes, so does the water held in the ground. When the water freezes, it expands and this could push your wall in.
What's the best way to stud a basement wall after interior waterproofing is in place.
After an interior waterproofing has been installed, it's alays good to wait a minimum of one week before starting any construction project. We don't recomend screwing the baseplate down through the floor could you could potentially pierce the drainage system and cause water to come up. The method that we recommend is to glue the baseplate down with construction adhesive such P.L Premium which can be found at home building centers.
Why does my basement smell musty in the summer
When the weather gets warmer in the summer, the warm air can hold more moisture than cooler air. During the hotter season it is more important to use a quality dehumidifier to keep humidity level below the 60% relative humidity so not allow mold to grow which will give off an odour. Omni Basement sysytems offers a quality dehumidification system that is energy star rated and has a great in home warantee.
Do you have to fix a leaking foundation?
What is a sump pump?
A sump pump is pump that sits in a container under your basement floor. It is designed to pump water from under your floor out to the outside. Some houses have the weeping tiles that collect water from the foundation of your home come in to the sump via a pipe from outside and others are connected to an interior drainage system. The pump only operates when there is enough water in the liner to turn on the pump via a float mechanism. A battery back-up system is suggested as an ass-on to make sure you have a pump running even if there is a power failure.