American Basement Solutions

Basement Egress Windows

2009-11-25T14:19:00.001-05:00

I recently completed an inspection on a local basement home where the homeowner had real concerns about the possibility of a "fire escape" for his children, all of which had bedrooms in the basement. Even in a walk-out basement there can be a real need for additional exits and egress to the outside. Anyone locked in a basement during a fire or other disaster face situations that could be

The Stinky Basement Guy

2009-11-24T02:05:00.001-05:00

Upon arrival at a recent home, the door was answered by a young man who appeared all of the 5 years old that he said he was. His name was Shane. Shane called for his mother and yelled out that the "stinky basement" guy was here. Shortly with another child on her hip, Shane's mother came to the door and gave me the "rest of the story". Apparently, Shane has a fear of the space his parents call

Do not spray foam your crawlspace foundation walls

2009-11-19T12:52:00.004-05:00

One of the fastest growing crawlspace industries is spraying open cell or closed cell foam on crawlspace foundation walls. While I agree that foam is the most effecient type of insulation, it is rarely applicable in below-grade crawlspace environments. WHY, you might ask?. In the Midwest, crawlspaces are usually a below-grade foundation type. The foundation of a below-grade crawlspace is

Insulating above-grade crawlspaces - spray foam the walls

2009-11-19T11:55:00.006-05:00

For those who do not know, a crawlspace above grade refers to a crawlspace with a ground floor that is level with the outside ground level. In many instances, these crawlspaces can be considerably dry. Since many crawlspace above grade are somewhat dry, the best method of insulating is to encapsulate with plastic and apply spray foam to the walls and exterior wood framing. I am a large

Do not use fiberglass insulation in a crawl space

2009-11-19T11:18:00.006-05:00

Insulating a crawlspace with fiberglass has been the most common insulation approach in crawl spaces for decades. The floors or the walls of the crawlspace were insulated because the crawl is cold in the winter due to the open or closed vents. This cold air causes cold floors, freezing water pipes, and higher heating costs. While it does assist in insulating, it is not effecient at all.

Cold Floors above my Crawl Space

2009-11-05T09:27:00.009-05:00

Have you ever wondered why your feet freeze to your bathroom floor? If you live in an older home, have you ever felt a cold draft come up through you hardwood flooring? Did you install carpet over your hardwood floors because they were too cold in the winter? Ever wonder why your floors above your crawlspace are so cold in the winter? At this point you are probably expecting an answer on how

7 steps to a Dry a Damp, Wet Crawlspace

2009-10-19T17:04:00.006-04:00

A wet or damp crawlspace is never an easy situation. Luckily, we have compiled some steps to help the average homeowner bring your home environment into comfort, security and compliance. The steps are a general rule, but your crawlspace may require only some or all of the steps to achieve a dry, healthy crawl space.1. Downspout Extensions2. Sump Pit and Pump Installed3. Internal Perimeter

5 Great Home Repair Tutorial Sites

2009-10-14T14:35:00.003-04:00

Guest post by Mary E. WardCompleting home repair and remodeling projects yourself is a great way to save money. And, though most of us don’t have a lot of home repair knowledge when we purchase our first home, there are many ways to gain that knowledge over the years. Tackling a project for the first time can be a little overwhelming. But, luckily, in the last few years we’ve seen a great jump in

Sagging Floors above a crawl space

2009-09-01T10:20:00.006-04:00

While the only true way to know why the floors above your crawlspace are sagging or sinking is to have it professionally inspected, I am going to outline a couple of the most common problems I see out in the field.Floors are bouncy - This usually is noticed when walking across a floor, you feel the floor shake or you see cabinets start to shake or make noise as you walk. This is usually a sign

In the Johnson County Fair in Indiana

2009-07-17T20:49:00.002-04:00

From July 19th-25th, come visit us at our booth at Johnson County Fair in Indiana. Stop by the American Basement Solution's booth with any of your basement, crawlspace, and foundation questions. Our booth is educating the public on how we can help them have a drier, cleaner, healthier, more energy efficient home. For maps to the Johnson County Fairgrounds, click here. Visit the fairgrounds

Visit us at the Hendricks County Fair in Indiana

2009-07-17T20:41:00.003-04:00

From July 18th-25th, come visit us at our booth at the fairgrounds of Hendricks County Fair in Indiana. Stop by the American Basement Solution's booth with any of your basement, crawlspace, and foundation questions. Our booth is educating the public on how we can help them have a drier, cleaner, healthier, more energy efficient home. The Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds is located at the

Chimney Leaning away from house

2009-07-06T11:28:00.006-04:00

If your chimney is pulling away from your home, there are things you should consider before deciding on how to repair your leaning chimney. Your chimney is most likely the heaviest portion per square foot of your home. The depth, width, and type of footing that the chimney sits on will vary based upon location and the builder. Most footings should be connected into the home's foundation, but

How to have a dry basement

2009-06-16T13:22:00.002-04:00

Are you tired of waking up at night during the rain and worrying about your wet basement? Do you panic when you are on vacation and you hear that back home there was a storm? Are you tired of squeegeeing water over to your sump at 3 in the morning? Is your back in pain from emptying all of those buckets of water from the dehumidifier? Are you embarrassed to bring anyone into your basement

Peeling, Bubbling paint on basement walls

2009-06-16T10:20:00.005-04:00

Bubbling or peeling paint on basement foundation walls is usually a sign of a drainage problem in the home. The bubbling means that the vapor pressure of the moisture is exceeding the adhesion strength of the paint/sealer you applied. Basically, built up moisture in the wall is trying to push out of the foundation wall and bubbling the paint or sealer. The basement wall could be experiencing "

Puddles of water in crawl space

2009-06-10T14:37:00.008-04:00

Many homeowners are unaware of the amount of water that puddles or floods their crawl space after heavy rains. Before many crawlspace inspections, I seem to get the same response, "I've never seen any water standing down there, only dampness". When I explain to them that I saw pooling and puddling of water or signs of water in their crawlspace, they seem to remember an occasion when it might

Center Beam Rot Damage in Crawlspace

2009-06-03T10:10:00.004-04:00

This is a picture of a center beam "girder" that is rotting and sinking down over the block pier columns. This is about an 1 1/2" drop over the pier and closer to a 2 1/2" settlement in between the piers where the beam is sagging. The homeowner first noticed the problem several years ago when the baseboard trim started to separate from the floor. The problem gradually worsened as the doors

Subwoofer speakers in crawlspace - Infinite Baffle system

2009-06-01T10:15:00.005-04:00

I've seen alot of different things in crawlspaces over the years, but this would have to be a first. Suprisingly after doing a little research, these infinite baffle subwoofer systems are becoming quite popular. Many people are utilizing their attics, cellars, basements, and crawlspaces to install these subwoofer systems.The homeowner gave me some informational links on the system. Here are

Rust on Ducts, Pipes, & Beams in Crawlspace

2009-05-29T16:17:00.006-04:00

Humid and wet crawlspace environments results in rust on ducts, pipes, post jacks, and beams made of metal. The moisture in the wet crawlspace will evaporate in to the atmosphere causing the relative humidity to increase. This humidity increase will rust the ducts and pipes over a period of time. Ironically, even a dry crawlspace floor can have potential problems with rust as well. Most

We fix wet basements in Indianapolis, Dayton, Cincinnati, and Louisville.

2009-05-22T11:37:00.005-04:00

Nothing is more frustrating than dealing with a wet basement. If your basement is finished, any kind of moisture can ruin carpeting, drywall, and framing. Even if you use your basement for storage, a simple case of condensation can buckle hardwood flooring on the level above and cause mold growth.There are several ways water can enter your basement. Water in basements can enter through floor

Water entering basement through window wells

2009-05-21T11:47:00.004-04:00

I recently ran a call where the homeowner didn't have any problems with water entering his basement via the floor or walls, only through his 3 window wells. I find that this is a common problem with basement windows so I decided to give some advice to homeowners on different methods to help stop leaking basement window wells.First, you need to make sure that there is positive grade sloping away

Crawlspace Sump Pump in 5 gallon bucket

2009-05-11T15:10:00.006-04:00

Before every inspection, I like to speak with the homeowner about what they know about their basement or crawlspace. Somewhere in that conversation, I nearly always ask, "Do you have a sump pump". I'll hear back, "Yes, but it doesn't work; or Yes, but the crawlspace or basement is still wet". I'm always amazed by some that consider a sump pump in a 5 gallon bucket a viable option as a "sump

EZ Breathe cannot pump water

2009-05-04T13:57:00.004-04:00

I recently was on a call where I ran into an EZ Breathe Ventilation System in a crawlspace. This is not a review of that ventilation system. I just wanted to show the ignorance of installing this system without addressing the water problems occurring in the home.I do not know who installed this EZ Breathe Ventilator in this crawlspace, but they did a poor job of securing the system, and

Plumbing Leaks in crawlspace

2009-04-29T15:43:00.004-04:00

Plumbing leaks can wreak havoc on a floor structure. Water pipe breaks and sewage drain leaks are likely to occur in a home's lifetime. It isn't always the case, but homes with crawlspaces seem to be the largest culprit for plumbing leaks. I mainly see 2 problem sources for leaks, environment conditions of the crawlspace, and installation errors.The crawlspace environment in most cases is very

Recent Basement and Crawlspace Repair Testimonials

2009-04-23T13:40:00.003-04:00

Below are some of the recent testimonials that were hanging on the crew's wall. We like to proudly display these recommendations to the crews to make them feel proud in the "extra mile" service they perform.“The crew spent all of a Friday and Monday at the house. They were all very nice and the work performed was fantastic.” Denny S., Greenwood, IN“I would like to thank the crew of Daniel,

Water in duct work under slabs and crawlspaces

2009-04-21T13:18:00.005-04:00

From time to time, we receive calls about homeowners hearing gurgling noises coming from their ductwork. Sometimes they see the water in the duct under their registers, or their ducts completely stop working because they are completely under water. Water flooding the ductwork is most likely to occur in slab foundations, but I have seen it happen in crawlspaces as well.In the 50s and 60s, some