Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Developing Your Basement With Trusted Saskatoon Contractors K & S Contracting - Part 2 of 2

K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan. In addition, they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and the surrounding area. In their latest Trusted Saskatoon tip, K & S Contracting, Trusted Saskatoon General Contractors, and foundation specialists, they continue last month's blog on Developing your Basement. This is Part 2.

DEVELOPING YOUR BASEMENT - PART 2

Many basements are little more than a place to collect cobwebs and store stuff. However, fixing a full-height basement can increase the usable living space in your home at a lower cost than adding on. Basements can be turned into any one of several living areas: bedrooms, rec room, or office space. 


Changing a concrete dungeon into an inviting living area can be a challenge, and not every basement is a good candidate for finishing. And this time, we are going to review the key considerations for conversion including lighting, ventilation, and dressing up those window wells.  Although you can do some of the work yourself, hiring K & S Contracting can save money and headaches. 



WHERE IS THE LIGHT? 

Basements that walk out usually have an abundance of light; however, when the only light is from small, ground-level windows, the basements can be dark and uninviting. The first step is to clear away shrubbery from existing window wells to make the most of what natural light there is available. If the basement is served by a steel bulkhead, a door with glass lights can be installed at the bottom of the steps and the bulkhead doors left open when the weather is nice. 

The options listed above, don’t always do the trick, so lighting needs to be added to the ceiling. Depending on the area you have to work with, you will have different options. Some of them include track lighting, recessed lighting or “can” lights can be added as spot or flood lamps. These lights allow you to add a dimmer switch which gives you more lighting flexibility. 


VENTILATION ISSUES

If you only go down to the basement occasionally, musty, damp air may be something that you can tolerate. But once the basement becomes a true living space, some form of ventilation is crucial in controlling air quality. Using reverse fans work, in winter they draw in fresh dry air from outdoors, and in summer moist air can be pumped out of the house. If the home already has a forced air heating system then the basement can become another area. 


HOW TO DRESS UP THE WINDOW WELL

It’s hard to enjoy the view out of a basement window if all you see is a when all you see is corrugated steel. Changing that dreary scenery may be easier than you think. You can add a view of the seashore, mountains, woodlands, desert or golf course with Scenic Window Wells’ WELL liner. These are weather-resistant polystyrene liner that slips into a standard window well. The window well liners will allow you to imagine you are on vacation to the ocean or on the golf course. 

There’s a lot to think about when you convert your basement into a bright, welcoming living area, when trying to make the decision to develop your basement, we recommend you call Steve and ask him to provide you with your options and costs. Once the work is done, you won’t be sorry about the decision. 

Developing Your Basement With Trusted Saskatoon Contractors K & S Contracting - Part 1 of 2

K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan. In addition, they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and the surrounding area. In their latest Trusted Saskatoon tip, K & S Contracting, Trusted Saskatoon General Contractors, and foundation specialists, discuss what you should consider when developing your basement. This will be a 2 part article.

DEVELOPING YOUR BASEMENT - PART 1

Many basements are little more than a place to collect cobwebs and store stuff. However, fixing a full-height basement can increase the usable living space in your home at a lower cost than adding on. Basements can be turned into any one of several living areas: bedrooms, rec room, or office space. 


Changing a concrete dungeon into an inviting living area can be a challenge, and not every basement is great for finishing. Some of the things you need to think about are building codes, moisture, low-hanging drain lines, ductwork and wiring, and your walls and floors. Although you can do some of the work yourself, it will save you time, money and headaches, if you contact K & S Contracting to help you with the project.



MEETING BUILDING CODES 

Building codes vary, but generally, a basement must be 7 feet tall. Codes can permit lower obstructions if you have structural beams that can’t be moved. Connect with a local home inspector while you are in the planning stages and they can help you determine what you need to be within the National Building Codes. Once you determined what your basement will be used for, you must make sure it includes doors and windows for emergency escape.
 

MOISTURE

If your home has a history of flooding, you need to fix that problem before developing the basement. 2 inches of rain falling on a 2,000 sq ft home produces approximately 2,600 gallons of water.  Repairing cracks in the foundation, making sure that gutters are clear of clogs and sloping the ground away from the house can solve some of these flooding problems.  


LOW-HANGING UTILITY LINES

When you are building a new home, the basement ceiling height and utilities can be planned accordingly. However, when renovating an older area, water lines, air ducts, bathroom and kitchen drains etc are generally smack in the middle of where the renovations are happening. There are a few choices. Move them, box them in or leave them as is. If you decide to tuck water and drain lines out of sight, don’t block access to water shutoffs and drain clean-outs. 


FINISHED WALLS AND FLOORS 

Hiding concrete or block behind new walls is the easy part. Building walls that won’t encourage mold and mildew, or be damaged by condensation, is a lot harder. Because concrete in contact with the ground is always cool, it can become a condensing surface for water vapour in the warm air escaping from a finished basement. The result? Damp building materials, mildew and, eventually, rot. Air will be musty, finished surfaces ruined. 

When it comes to flooring, just about any material will work — tile, carpet, vinyl or laminate. Few contractors recommend traditional hardwood flooring because the moisture in the concrete can cause the wood to swell and buckle. 

When trying to make the decision to develop your basement, we recommend you call Steve and ask him to provide you with your options and costs. Check out Developing Your Basement – Part 2 in next month’s blog and Steve will talk about lighting, windows and ventilation. 

How Permanent Concrete Foundation Repairs Are From Trusted Saskatoon Contractors K & S Contracting

K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan. In addition, they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and the surrounding area. In their latest Trusted Saskatoon tip, K & S Contracting, Trusted Saskatoon General Contractors, and foundation specialists, discuss if concrete foundation repairs are permanent. 


Are Concrete Foundation Repairs Permanent?

Remember that not every crack, chip, or spalling is the same, and there is never such a thing as a “permanent” solution to any foundation damage! Changing soil conditions, extreme weather conditions, and a new construction project near your home can result in future foundation damage. Adding to your home’s weight, such as an attached sunroom without underpinning or otherwise strengthening a foundation can also mean eventual damage.


However, some foundation repair methods are more durable than others and should last for several decades. To better understand your foundation repair choices and their overall longevity, review below: 


CONCRETE PIERS

Concrete piers are often installed during the pre-construction phase of homebuilding, and these help support a foundation as it’s being poured and then setting and curing. These piers are also used for sinking foundations, lifting them up and providing added support. Concrete piers are durable and last for decades.

STEEL PIERS

Steel piers are similar to concrete piers but are easier to work with and can be installed more readily; concrete requires pouring while fresh, which can require disturbing far more landscaping and lawn than simple steel piers. Steel is also more impervious to moisture and added weight than concrete piers.

HELICAL PIERS

Helical piers look somewhat like giant screws and are screwed deeply into the earth, section by section if necessary. They are screwed into the ground until it’s proven that the area can properly hold the required bearing capacity of the structure. Helical piles are a relatively quick, economical foundational solution that provides stability and strength to foundations. They especially come in handy when there is structural damage to a foundation. 

POLY LIFT

A poly lift is also a popular way of repairing a sinking foundation; this includes injecting special polyurethane foam into the ground, under the broken foundation section. As the foam dries and hardens, it lifts the foundation into place and restores it to a level and even position. This poly foam doesn’t deteriorate or weaken over time, so it’s typically considered a permanent foundation repair solution.

CONCRETE SEALANTS AND EPOXY

Foundation crack sealants and epoxies help fill in cracks and holes that may appear in the foundation of a home. These cracks can result from many factors, including shifting soil, settling foundations, or even water erosion. Foundation crack sealant lasts for approximately 5-7 years.

While Steve has discussed are concrete foundation repairs permanent, it really depends on what is going on around your home and its foundation. We recommend if you have any concerns, call Steve.

Trusted Saskatoon Contractors K & S Contracting Discuss Concrete Foundation Cracks

K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan. In addition, they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and the surrounding area. In their latest Trusted Saskatoon tip, K & S Contracting, Trusted Saskatoon General Contractors, and foundation specialists, discuss concrete foundation cracks, and what they mean.


Concreate Foundation Cracks, What Do They Mean?

When you see a crack in your concrete slab or wall, generally your first assumption is something has been done wrong–but that’s not always the case. Concrete cracks are very common, some are even inevitable, but let’s review them:


BASEMENT FLOOR CRACKS

Floor cracks in concrete slabs are relatively common and usually not worrisome on a structural level. They should be repaired to prevent common issues like moisture, insects, and damage from seeping through. When floor cracks leak, it is usually caused by hydrostatic pressure or a high water table. Therefore, sealing the crack will redirect those issues elsewhere.

VERTICAL AND DIAGONAL FOUNDATION CRACKS

Usually, a diagonal or vertical crack in the foundation wall is the result of settling in the concrete foundation and is quite common in new construction, especially if your home is built on a hill or your home has rapidly deteriorating soil conditions because of drought or heavy rainfalls. They usually run vertically or diagonally, are often located in the middle section of walls and are less than 1/8 in wide.

Frequently you will find vertical cracks in block foundations. If the crack is located closer to a corner and is wider than 1/8 in, it is probably not due to shrinkage but indicates a more serious foundation issue. It is recommended you call K & S Contracting to get it inspected as it may be a cause for concern.

HORIZONTAL FOUNDATION CRACKS

Horizontal cracks that run across your foundation and/or walls are some of the most serious types your home can suffer. They indicate a severe issue with your foundation’s integrity that must be looked into.

Most horizontal cracks are caused by excessive water pressure from outside. In addition to other sources of pressure such as soil movement, it has the potential to impact your foundation’s integrity. They tend to expand and ruin the slab itself, possibly even causing it to collapse.

STAIR STEP CRACKS

Stair step cracks are among the most common foundation cracks. These cracks are a clear sign of a problematic foundation. Typically, stair step cracks in a block foundation are a result of bowing walls. These cracks will be found toward the corners of the foundation, and are often found with a horizontal crack. In a block foundation, stair step cracks may also be found on the outside of the home. Stair step cracks always require further investigation in order to keep your home safe and supported.

Curious about the myths and facts of foundation repairs, check out the following post from Steve. 

Questions or concerns, about your concrete foundation cracks, and what they mean, please contact K & S Contracting. 

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