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, share the advantages of a walkout basement.
Walkout Basements are designed so you can walk out the main floor of your home. Quite often, this basement design incorporates a wall with windows and a door that you can walk out of on the ground level, and it may have a raised patio or covered roof from the upper floor of the house to cover this entrance.
Some of the advantages of a walk-out basement include full-size windows in your basement. Full-size windows allow more natural light into your space. If you are looking to grow plants or use a portion of this space as a workspace, it is always well lit naturally.
MORE LIVING SPACE
Generally, a walk-out basement is the same square footage as your upper living space, based on this, you have more living space. Walkout basements can be transformed into mudrooms that neatly hold shoes, backpacks and other items for coming in and out of the house. When put to its best use, a walkout basement provides endless ways to gain square footage in your home without enlarging its footprint.
ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS
Because you have built your home with a walk-out basement, you literally have access to the outdoors from this level. Typically you will have a door that allows you to walk right into your backyard creating a hosting space or second living room that leads into the backyard for seamless entertaining; or as an indoor/outdoor playroom for the kids.
SEPARATE APARTMENT FROM YOUR WALKOUT BASEMENT
Based on the amount of space you have in your walkout basement, many people use this space to create a separate apartment. A private door to the outdoors makes a walkout basement ideal for a standalone apartment where older children can live or as a complete in-law suite for flexible multi-generational living. If you’re looking to supplement your income, you might consider turning your walkout basement into a rental apartment where the tenants can come and go as they please without needing access to your home from the side door.
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 you should see your home vs foundation repair work.
Trying to make the decision if you should sell your home versus foundation repair can be quite a decision. If you decide to sell your home with a faulty foundation you have four options:
Option 1: Do nothing and list as-is for a lesser amount.
Option 2: Complete the repair before putting it on the market.
Option 3: Offer credit to buyers to be used towards repairs after closing.
Option 4: Negotiate repair terms once an interested buyer has had an inspection.
However, if you should decide you want to keep your home and do the foundation repair. Then you need to review what is causing the problem. Below is a short list of typical foundation repairs:
SINKING
Excess water around a home’s foundation from rain or flooding can saturate the soil, causing it to sink. That effect will vary at different places around the foundation, causing not only sinking but uneven sinking, including breaking up the foundation.
SETTLING
Drought can have just as big an impact on the foundation. The soil will dry up and shrink. This causes the foundation to settle into a reduced level of the soil. And of course, that settlement will be uneven across the foundation, causing cracks and breaks.
TREE AND SHRUB ROOTS
When planted close to the home’s foundation, roots can cause significant damage. In dry conditions, they pull out moisture, causing the soil to settle. In wet conditions, the cracks created can lead to excess moisture and even flooding in basements or crawl spaces.
FROST HEAVE
In typical Saskatoon freezing conditions, the top layer of soil freezes quickly, followed by the lower levels. Unfortunately, that top frozen layer doesn’t allow the lower levels to expand as they freeze. This, in turn, pushes the top layer upward and puts pressure on the home’s foundation. Cracks and bulges are the inevitable consequences.
POOR WORKMANSHIP
A home’s foundation could also suffer from poor workmanship in the original construction. For example, the concrete mix could have too much water, leaving weak cement. It could also be improperly levelled, leading to big problems over time.
At the end of the day, deciding to sell your home vs foundation repair work depends on what you want to live with. When trying to make that decision, we recommend you
call Steve immediately and ask him to provide you
with your options and costs.
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.
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.
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 your home foundation.
Pay Attention to Your Foundation While Living in Saskatchewan
As a homeowner, you probably tend to prioritize home repairs based on how soon they need to be addressed. If your kitchen faucet is spraying water all over the room, for example, that’s something you’ll try to fix as soon as possible. If a tree branch falls and punches a hole through your roof, that’s something else you’ll probably work on right away.
On the other hand, if you start to notice tiny cracks developing in your foundation, you might not jump to fix them immediately. After all, all homes are expected to move a little from our adverse weather conditions to clay expanding or contracting up six inches with the fluctuation of moisture content. What’s more, a tiny crack that appears in your concrete doesn’t mean your house is in danger of falling anytime soon, does it? Basement crack repair may be one of those things you’d file under “keep an eye on it” rather than “call someone tomorrow,” but that can be the wrong idea.
Why Pay Attention to Your Foundation Living in Saskatchewan
With the weather extremes that we experience in Saskatchewan, from a 40-degree temperature swing in a matter of days to expanding clay that is affected by moisture in ways we never thought possible, home foundation repair is critical for your house. It should be taken care of as soon as possible. Although a few cracks in the foundation might not seem like a big deal, think of them as warning signs of something much more serious to come. Your home’s foundation may not be in any danger of crumbling to dust in the immediate future, but any signs that you may need foundation crack repair should be acted upon immediately if you want to avoid major foundation problems later.
Here are some of the best reasons why you always need to make foundation repair a high priority:
It Saves You Time and Money
Perhaps the most important reason to have your foundation repairs made sooner rather than later is cost. Although foundation repair may cost more than you’re expecting, it only gets worse when you wait. In addition to labour and material costs continuing to rise, the longer you wait to fix cracks in your foundation, the worse they will get. This is especially true if you’re planning on selling your home or making any significant home improvements. Ignoring the need for foundation repairs now will only make those projects much harder and result in more-expensive work to be done.
If you suspect you may need a foundation in Saskatchewan or wherever you are, it’s not a good idea to hesitate. The longer you wait for foundation repair, the more complicated and expensive those repairs are likely to be. Even if you think you have time to get that work done, don’t wait.
K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan, but they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and surrounding area.
In this Trusted Saskatoon Tip, K & S Contracting discusses preparing your basement for renovation.
Preparing Your Basement for Renovation
A finished basement is a great space to entertain, relax, or pursue hobbies. Turning a cold, empty, concrete basement into an enjoyable living space takes work and planning. There are a lot of design and functionality options which are up to personal choice, but there are some basic considerations to keep in mind for anyone planning a basement renovation. Before you start, take these tips into consideration for a smooth and successful Renovation.
Start with the Layout
Plan how the room(s) in the basement will be laid out. Any bedrooms must have windows for safety. Put the main socializing area in a spot with good natural light to draw people in. If you are planning on having a TV viewing room it can be in the darker area away from the windows to reduce glare.
What to Fix Before You Start Renovations
Check for moisture by taping some squares of plastic over the walls and floors. If moisture forms underneath, your basement foundation is likely not sealed. If moisture forms on top, the basement needs dehumidifying.
Small leaks in the foundation can be dealt with yourself using some concrete-patching compound. Landscaping considerations such as sloping away from the foundation and installing gutters that send the water far from the foundation will also help. Any cracks in the foundation wider than a pencil should be checked by a professional structural engineer.
Insulate any exposed water pipes with foam insulation sleeves, and insulate any exposed wiring with high-temperature grade red silicone. If you feel uncomfortable working around electrical wires, have a professional take over this part. Have a professional check the integrity of floor joists, and inspect any fuel burning equipment and the ventilation system to ensure you won’t have carbon monoxide buildup.
Now You are Ready to Start the Renovations
Now that the basement is ready to go, you can start the actual work! If you would rather not DIY a major project like a basement renovation, the Trusted Contractors at K & S Contracting are ready to help!
Their services include: