1. Stop any water from coming in through the foundation. This could mean cracks in the foundation, leakage around water and sewage pipes, tie-rod leaks, leaking bulkhead, and floor wall seams and cracks in the floor. This can all let water in. 2. Make sure the landscaping and soil around your home are pitched away from your house. You don't want your home sitting in water. 3. Take a look at the close dryer if...

This no joke, concrete can heal itself. A Dutch Scientist that a very specialized lime producing bacteria, when put on concrete, can heal itself. In fact, this scientist is a finalist in the European Inventors Award 2015. This specialized bacteria, which forms naturally in high-alkaline lakes can survive up to 200 years without any water or food. The bacteria can be activated when it comes into contact with water and it uses the calcium that...

This week we did a job at a commercial building in Lowell, MA. The business owner has water coming into the building in two separate spots. What was puzzling was that there has been very little rain. We recommended to the business owner that they have the water tested. As it turned out, the water was not rain water but city water. There was a slow leaking pipe underground that was causing water to enter...

An ICF stands for "Insulated Concrete Form". If you think of a large lego blog, made out of styrofoam that is 8" x 18". The styrofoam is on the outside of the lego block, and you can stack them one on top of the other.  You can make corners or build whatever you want. There is space between the styrofoam where you can pour concrete when they are stacked up. You can build foundations with...

Recently we ran into a situation where a real estate broker gave us a call about a situation in which she didn't know what to do. In a home in Newton, MA with garage cracks, had rooms built above. The buyer was antsy. The buyer and the seller both had structural engineers, licensed by the state of MA, come to the home. One of the engineers said it was a structural issue, but didn't know...

Just wanted to let you know, Paul did a fantastic job on my basement this morning. He was extremely helpful in explaining the issues and how he addressed them. Hopefully I won't have to be in contact with you again..but will definitely recommend your company and Paul,and if I do have another basement water issue, will be asking for Paul. A-1 Foundation Crack Repair takes great pride in providing excellent customer service. We thank Jack...

The first things a homeowner should check in the spring in order to keep the basement dry are the gutters and downspouts. You want to be sure that the gutters are clean and that the gutters and downspouts are not ripped away from the house after all the ice we had this winter. This is what keeps the water flowing away from the house. You also want to check the soil around the foundation. You...

A few weeks ago, before the snow was really melting, and there had been no rain, an insurance company in the town of Hudson, MA called us because there was water in the basement. That didn't make much sense, so the first thing we had to do was find out where the water was coming from. There were no signs outside, so we went downstairs and found a finished basement with finished walls against the...

We got a call about a week ago from a gentleman who had a handyman come and try to repair a leaking tie-rod. A tie-rod is a little metal rod that goes through the concrete that holds together the pieces of wood that creates the forms for the foundation as it is poured. After the foundation is poured, those tie rods are broken in order to remove the wood, but the metal tie rods stay...

Radon is a radioactive gas that cannot be smelled, seen or tasted. Many times this gas can enter a home through tiny cracks between the floor and the wall in a basement. These tiny cracks can also allow water in the home. Unlike the nuisance of water in the basement, radon is dangerous to your family’s health. In fact, untreated, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States according to...