With all the bad weather we have had around Boston, we tend to see all kinds of de-icing products for safety purposes. It is great that these products are being used to stop people from falling. But, you are really damaging the concrete with de-icing products? If you think about it, the de-icing products melt that ice and turn it back into water. The water goes into the concrete. The concrete is cold, and the...

Here in New England we have been hit hard with snow this winter. We have had more than 4 feet of snow in the past 3 weeks alone. Some people are reporting issues with ice dams forming on the edges of their roofs. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind...

We have received more than 3 feet of snow over past two weeks across many cities/towns across the state of Massachusetts. The forecast is even predicting almost another 2 feet of snow this week (2/9/15). If you have read some of our previous A-1 Foundation Crack Repair blog posts, or listened to a few of our Crackman podcasts, you know that when the temperature rises during the day (when the sun is out) and falls...

Concrete shows wear and tear. This is because, here in New England we have very cold weather. Concrete is like a sponge and it will absorb water. Then we have cold weather and the water in the concrete freezes. Concrete is tough to a point, but when the water freezes, little bits of the concrete expand and break. Similar to a popcorn in a microwave, the concrete pieces get bigger and they pop. This is...

Let's start with the environment. Cement plants have been notorious polluters. With the EPA getting more aggressive with them, they have really cleaned up and now are considered clean manufacturing facilities. Transporting cement used to be challenging. You used to have to mix it at the build site. Now there are cement trucks that turn while transporting, the mixer turns so the cement can be mixed at the plant. As a result of the mixer,...

It is cold outside. But what is the definition of cold weather when it comes to pouring concrete. In our field, the definition is three-pronged. The temperature is less than 50 degrees F for more than 12 hours in any 24 hour period. When the temperature is less than 40 degrees from midnight to midnight. For a period of three consecutive days when the average temperature is below 40 degrees F and not above 50...

Recently we got a call from a homeowner on Cape Cod with a leaking pipe penetration. The homeowner had been fighting this abandoned pipe for years. Years ago the pipe was discontinued from the sewer line. unfortunately, the pipe has been leaking for years. The homeowner told us that he has tried stuffing rags inside it to try to stop water, he has attempted to add about 8" of hydraulic cement into the pipe. He...

It is very cold out. The hazards of freezing pipes is widely known and most-likely precautions should have been taken months ago. But sub-zero temperatures affect your foundation as well. In these temperatures, the soil around your foundation freezes, and when it freezes it pushes up against your foundation walls and can cause additional foundation cracks and movement. Especially in winters like this where there is no snow. Snow actually insulates the soil so it...

The topic of this blog will be a case study on repairing pipe penetration leaks in a basement of a home in Newton, MA. The caretaker of a 4.2 million dollar home in Newton, MA called A1 Foundation Crack Repair. We arrived to a beautiful home, went inside and they had exposed some of the pipes that had been leaking. They had to cut some walls down and open up a finished book shelf. This...

Boxelder bugs, commonly known as “stink bugs”, can become a nuisance to homeowners throughout New England (MA, RI, NH & CT) during late Fall into winter months. When the cold weather hits, boxelder females search for a warm and dry place, and they somehow find a way into your home! How do Stink Bugs Enter the Home? Foundation Cracks (Both floor and wall) Gaps around windows and doors Beneath Siding Why are they called Stink...