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 5 signs your basement is leaking.
Basements are an integral part of any home, especially in Saskatoon, and it’s important to keep them dry and free from leaks. A leaky basement can not only cause damage to your home but can also create a health hazard by promoting mould growth. Here are five signs that your basement is leaky and in need of repair.
WATER STAINS
One of the most obvious signs of a leaky basement is the appearance of water stains on the walls or floor. These stains are usually brown or yellow in colour and can indicate that water is seeping into your basement. In addition, you may also notice discolouration or efflorescence, a powdery substance that forms on the surface of the wall due to water evaporation.
MUSTY ODOUR
A musty odour in your basement can also indicate the presence of water. This odour is caused by mould and mildew growing in damp areas, which can be a sign of a leaky basement. If you notice a musty odour in your basement, it’s important to address the issue as soon as possible, as mould can be harmful to your health.
PEELING PAINT OR WALLPAPER
If you notice that paint or wallpaper in your basement is peeling or blistering, it could be due to exposure to moisture. This can be a sign of a leak, as the water is causing the adhesive to break down and causing the paint or wallpaper to peel away from the wall.
CRACK IN THE WALLS OR FLOOR
Another sign of a leaky basement is the appearance of cracks in the walls or floor. These cracks can be a result of settling or shifting, or they can indicate that water is entering your basement through a weakness in the foundation. Inspecting these cracks by a K & S Contracting professional is important to determine the cause and the best course of action. As this could be 1 of the 5 signs your basement is leaking.
HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS
If you notice that the humidity levels in your basement are consistently high, it can be a sign of a leak. High humidity levels can cause condensation on walls and floors, which can promote mould growth and other health hazards.
In conclusion, if you notice any of these 5 signs in your basement, it’s important to address the issue as soon as possible to prevent further damage and to maintain the overall health and safety of your home. You need to consult with
K & S Contracting owner, Steve Ostapiw to assess the situation and recommend the best course of action. By taking care of your basement, you can ensure that it remains a safe, dry, and healthy living space for years to come.
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 types of basement foundations.
There are 3 main basement foundations found in Saskatoon and the area, they are:
- Full Basement Foundations
- Daylight Basement Foundations
- Crawl Space Foundations
FULL BASEMENT FOUNDATIONS
This type of basement is generally found on a 2 story or a bungalow home. A bungalow is a home in which you walk up to the front door, and generally, there are only 1 or 2 steps to the door. Once you walk into the home you have a full staircase to go into the basement. A full staircase is 13 to 16 steps. For both a 2-storey or a bungalow the windows in these types of homes are smaller, generally the opening about 24 inches at ground level.
Full basements can either be finished or unfinished; finished basements are insulated and installed with drywall and flooring, providing living and storage space. Unfinished basements are not insulated and their walls and floors are left bare.
This type of basement is one of the most expensive foundations to build and can be susceptible to mould and moisture.
DAYLIGHT BASEMENT FOUNDATIONS
This type of home is generally found in a home with a walk-out basement. As their name suggests, daylight basements let in some natural light and aren’t as susceptible to mould or moisture. This type of basement is perfect for a homeowner who wants a patio or access from their basement to outdoors.
CRAWL SPACE FOUNDATIONS
Crawl space foundations are elevated several feet off footings, leaving a small protected space (usually three or four feet) between the ground and the base of the building. The foundation walls are built partially underground and shorter than basement foundation walls, making crawl spaces a happy medium between standard foundations and basement foundations. They are deeper than standard foundations and more shallow than basements.
Though they eliminate the possibility of having a finished basement, crawl spaces provide easier access to piping or plumbing than standard foundations. They also encourage more airflow underneath the building, which helps keep things cool in warmer climates. Crawl spaces are the least expensive type of basement foundation since they don’t require as much excavation.
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.
Our mission continues to be saving you time, money, and stress when choosing locally-owned businesses that serve Saskatoon and the surrounding area. This article is to celebrate and recognize the latest Saskatoon Businesses that have been Trusted Saskatoon partners for at least 5 years!
Founder, Bradley Wiebe has been in the construction industry and installing windows and doors in Saskatoon and the surrounding area since 2004. Bradley grew up outside Saskatoon on a farm and has always known the meaning of hard work. He took pride in helping his dad and mom on the family farm, Wiebe Windows & More Ltd. was founded in 2015 and Bradley welcomed his wife Anna to the business in 2019. Prior to that, Anna used to work at Trusted Saskatoon as an account manager, so she knows what it means to be Trusted! Anna now looks after the day-to-day administrative tasks and helps manage projects from start to finish, even lending a hand on-site when needed.
What Wiebe Windows & More clients say:
"We did a lot of renovations this past year. We got to experience the challenges of dealing with poor trades in Saskatoon. Wiebe Windows & More is NOT one of those. Brad and Anna were great. Installation was done properly, and the finished work was great. Brad has gone way beyond with after-sales support and service. These are great honest people doing a great job." - Dan Canfield, Saskatoon
K & S Contracting inc are Saskatoon General Contractors. Originally founded in 1998. At that time they operated part-time. They constructed decks and managed other small residential renovation projects. In 2007 they incorporated, it was at that time that Steve Ostapiw decided to expand the construction/ renovation business to a full-time operation specializing in foundations.K & S are a small-town company, with small-town values working in the big city and they are committed to ensuring that they will never be too big to do the small jobs. They believe that every person and every project, no matter the size, deserves their time and attention.
At K & S Contracting, they take care of all of the paperwork, and that means as a customer you can be assured that the job is done right, according to all current codes and regulations.
- They apply for all building permits
- They follow all building codes
- All projects are structurally engineered
Steve, the founder, and lead coordinator is living his passion and he clearly enjoys working with clients on their projects. Steve manages his team by leading from the front and is a hands-on leader who delivers and demands a high quality of work and ethics.
What K & S Contracting clients say:
"We hired Steve to demolish our attached screened in porch and deck and repair the roof where it attached to the house. Once we were quoted the price and we accepted it, work began less than 5 days later. All the work was done very professionally and efficiently. We were impressed with the prompt service and are very happy with the finished product. There was some urgency to the job in order to not damage the existing house roof and we were appreciative of Steve responding to us in a timely manner. We would definitely use K&S again and would recommend them and would not hesitate to use them in the future." - Terry Ullman, Saskatoon
Born and raised in Saskatoon, Clark Dziadyk's tagline is "The Realtor in Your Neighbourhood"! Clark was taught what hard work meant at an early age while working for the family excavating business and he has carried that work ethic into his real estate practice. He has been involved in the building process of many homes, this experience afforded him a good knowledge about residential construction which he believes is a unique selling proposition as a Saskatoon Realtor®. He prides himself on the ability to be able to educate his clients and provide the highest level of service possible. His goal with each and every client is to gain their trust so they feel comfortable referring his name to their family and friends. What Clark's clients say:
"If you’re looking for a realtor that will listen to you and work WITH you then Clark is your guy! He is not only incredibly experienced and knowledgeable but also relatable, real and instantly trustworthy. He took a great deal of time at the beginning of the search process to discover exactly what it was I was looking for and brought me all the right options. I felt completely comfortable talking to him and bringing up any concerns I had and felt that he always had my best interests at heart. Clark is professional, genuine, resilient, efficient and a great communicator (and always quick to respond!). My family has used him for multiple deals over the last number of years and are grateful to call him a friend.
I cannot recommend Clark enough and would not hesitate for a second to call him if you need help buying or selling a home. He is without a doubt Saskatoon’s BEST! THANK YOU, CLARK!
As a side note, he works with an incredibly responsive and professional team which made the process even more smooth.." - Laura Schraeder , Saskatoon
Clark's exceptionally hard work ethic, ability to solve issues that arise, patience, and passion for helping people are the qualities that contribute to his success in the industry. We are exceptionally proud to promote and support Clark Dziadyz a Trusted Saskatoon Realtor
Trustedsaskatoon.com will save you time, save you hassle and save you money. Our local Trusted Saskatoon team is committed to finding outstanding businesses like the five we have highlighted above. Be assured, ALL the businesses featured on our Saskatoon directory have been checked, and verified and are annually contracted to uphold the 5 TRUSTED GUARANTEES of service!
5 Trusted Guarantees
Provide the service and quality promised.
Complete the job on time.
Charge the price quoted with NO surprises.
Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs.
Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind.
Trusted Saskatoon was founded on the principle that great local businesses deserve promotion. We know they are out there, we have found many already, and we work hard to find more. Please help us by nominating your favorite Saskatoon businesses here.
Magnus Construction Services offers quality you can feel! They offer you the best specialists from demolition to complete renovations. You can trust Magnus for your residential or commercial projects, including spray foam, insulation, roofing, asbestos abatement, basement renovations, attics drywall and finishing. Magnus Construction is a Trusted Saskatoon Contractor Specializing in Insulation and Fireproofing. In their first Trusted Saskatoon contracting tip, discuss the dangers of asbestos during home remodels.
The Dangers of Asbestos During Home Remodels
When
you want to renovate your home, your focus is often on the design and scope of
the project, the
cost of the upgrades, and the eventual impact of the renovation on your
home’s value. Your mind rarely goes to the presence of potentially toxic materials
inside the structures of the building. But this
is a real risk during home improvement projects, especially when dealing with
homes that were built in the 1980s. Homes from this era often have materials
that contain asbestos and those hazardous building materials may still be in the
home to the present day.
What
is asbestos and why is it dangerous?
Asbestos
used to be considered a revolutionary material for building construction. It is
a natural silicate mineral that is resistant to chemicals and able to withstand
high temperatures. It was widely used in the building industry all the way from
the 1920s to well after the 1980s. In
1960, it was conclusively linked to a range of long-term illnesses and many
forms of cancer. After it was identified as the number one cause of
occupational cancer, asbestos has been heavily regulated and its use is no
longer as widespread as it used to be.
But, it
still remains a problem today, particularly in homes built 40 or more years
ago. Asbestos becomes dangerous when materials with asbestos in them are worn
down or damaged. Sanding, sawing, grinding, and any physical impact on such
materials will make them unsafe.
These
are the kinds of actions that typically happen during a home renovation. This
is why asbestos exposure is a high possibility when renovating your home and you
may be exposed to asbestos even if your home is less than 40 years old.
Health
impact of asbestos exposure
The
following diseases are known to be linked to asbestos exposure:
Asbestosis
When inhaled, asbestos can cause scarring
in lung tissues. This prevents the passage of oxygen and carbon dioxide, making
breathing harder. Asbestosis is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. It is
more common with people who work in the building industry.
Pleural Disease
Asbestos can damage the surrounding
membranes of the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). The membrane can become
thicker, hardened, or experience fluid buildup. This is not a cancerous
condition but it can cause difficulty with breathing and lung malfunction.
Lung Cancer
Asbestos can cause lung cancer or increase
the chances of lung cancer in individuals. The risk of lung cancer is greater
for smokers who are also exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma
This cancer affects the membrane around the
lungs and chest cavity. It can also affect the abdominal lining and membranes
surrounding other organs of the body.
Building
materials that may contain asbestos
Common building
materials that may contain asbestos include roof shingles, sheet vinyl,
pipe wrap, plaster mud and texture, vermiculite insulation, glazing on older
windows, door gaskets, duct seam tape, electrical wiring, fireproof products, boiler
wrap, popcorn ceilings, joint compounds, and cement asbestos board siding.
The
threat of asbestos exposure becomes even higher when the asbestos is friable,
easily crushed, or crumbled by hand. Examples of products with friable asbestos
include older types of spray-on insulation and spray-on ceiling textures. Newer
products may not have this issue.
How
to tell if your home has asbestos
There
is no straightforward way to detect the presence of asbestos in your home. Generally,
you can assume the presence of the material if the building is more than 40
years old. But you cannot completely rule out its presence in more recent
homes.
Asbestos
is used in a wide range of building products. This makes its presence hard to
identify. Knowing products with a history of containing asbestos can help. But
to be completely sure that your home is asbestos-free, you need a certified building
inspector to check the home.
If your
home is older and there are visible signs of aging on the property, this
inspection is absolutely vital. Aging and damage will increase the chances of
exposure to asbestos in a building. You should also get a professional
asbestos abatement contractor if you are about to renovate that building.
There
are three important things to note about the presence of asbestos in the home
and how to deal with this problem:
· In most
provinces, testing for asbestos is not a requirement when selling a home. As
long as a seller does not knowingly sell you a home with asbestos, they are not
liable. This means your new home can have asbestos in it.
· Home
inspections do not include inspecting the home for asbestos. Just because a
home got a good inspection report, it doesn’t mean there is no asbestos in it.
But you may order an asbestos inspection as an add-on if your home inspector is also
certified for asbestos inspections.
· If you
suspect the presence of asbestos in your home, do not attempt to remove it by
sweeping, vacuuming, or other similar actions. This will only make the asbestos
airborne and more dangerous.
We encourage you to visit Magnus' listing on Trusted Saskatoon to see all their services and to find their contact details. Questions? Simply reach out to Conrad or Eduardo in person about your situation. They are here to help, they don’t speak construction language on technical concepts, they are very knowledgeable and will offer you a free consultation!
“Your One Partner Solution for Healthy, Efficient, and Durable Buildings!”