The big box stores are full of home remedies for leaky concrete cracks. Products like Drylock, Fast Plug, and the ubiquitous Flex Seal tout their amazing abilities to solve water leaks fast. If that's the case, and if it's so easy, why do we need professionals like the Crackman?
In this episode, we start with what a beam pocket is. Then we discuss whether beam pockets should be inspected on a regular basis. Finally, Crack Daddy explains that as basement water and lally column experts, where A1 Foundation Crack Repair come into play when structural issues are found around these beam pockets.
One can imagine how frustrating it would be if you go down to your man cave in the basement right after finishing the walls and flooring, only to discover a suspected water leak behind the wall. After issuing a few carefully chosen vulgarities, it's time to figure out what to do about it, so....what's next after discovery?
In this episode, we are joined again by foundation crack repair expert, Adam Tracy, who shares a very interesting case study about a mysteriously soaked carpet in a finished basement. Once again, A1 epitomizes their "Service Before Self" attitude when helping homeowners with their basement water dilemmas.
A1 Foundation Crack Repair is getting a lot of calls this time of year for mysterious water spots in basements. Adam Tracy discusses why that happens and what can be done to reduce the amount of humidity in the basement.
It's Crackman case study time again and in this episode, the Crackman explains a troubleshooting method that involves a ping pong ball.
In this episode, the Crackman shares a creative DIY project that looks like someone is using a big Rubbermaid container to catch water and then pipe it down to a drain.
It's another interesting Crackman case study, this time with a family of snakes camping out in a prized shoe collection.
It's toasty outside, which means summer is here. In this episode, the Crackman explains some of the things homeowners should be doing to make sure their house is ready for the summer heat and thunderstorm activity.
Termites seem to find their way into all sorts of small spaces but foundation cracks? They're WAY to small and tight for a termite to get through, no? Well, it's hard to believe that termites can squeeze through those tight basement cracks but yes they do. This episode is a call to action for anyone with foundation cracks to seek out a professional like the Crackman to inspect them and avoid the agony and expense of a termite infestation.
It's the Crackman's 200th episode and in this podcast, Rich has a case study that explains how he helped a person isolate the source of a basement water leak, even though he wasn't the right contractor to solve the problem.
In this episode, the Crackman clarifies the difference between a rising water table and excess rain when it comes to a wet basement.
In this episode, the Crackman talks about what Radon is, where it comes from, and what you can do about it. He also talks about a common call he receives about a gurgling sound coming from the Radon mitigation system in homes. Great episode packed with concise, useful info!
As a man with your infinite wisdom, the Crackman has a wealth of knowledge on a wide array of topics, especially when it comes to matters of real estate. In this episode, we pick his massive brain on the subject of grass. When is the best time to plant grass seed in the Northeast?
In addition to fixing wall and floor cracks, the Crackman also fixes damaged concrete. What if a home has surface pits, chips, and other kinds of blemishes that really make it look bad. What is that called and can it be fixed?
If you are in the market to sell your house, consider how your foundation can impact the sale of your house. Listen in as the Crackman reveals some of the ways he has seen that foundations can affect the prospect of a sale.
There you are...living in your dream home and after emerging from your winter slumber on a beautiful Spring day, you notice new cracks on your foundation walls. Why would that happen? The Crackman answers this intriguing question.
Homeowners typically try to fix things on their own before calling a pro to come in and laugh at their handiwork. In this episode, Rich shares some amusing stories he's come across during his tenure as the Crackman.
As sure as death and taxes, concrete will eventually crack at some point. It's fairly normal to have cracks in foundation walls that aren't leaking and don't pose any structural concerns...so why, then, would a crack suddenly start leaking after 20 years? The Crackman explains.
The term "repointing" isn't something us commoners use in our everyday vocabulary so in this episode, the Crackman starts with what repointing is. Then, he explains when it's time to repoint a stone foundation.
If your sump pump suddenly isn't working properly during a hard freeze, consider the Crackman's 6 common reasons why it could fail. You just might save some money.
Northeast winters can be quite schizophrenic. For instance, in the last 2 weeks, we've had temps well below freezing with snow and ice. Today, the temps are in the 40s with heavy rain. How does that affect a foundation?
A man with the Crackman's considerable, shall we say, tenure in this industry has certainly seen some weird things and strange coincidences. In this episode, he shares some interesting vignettes on the history of lally columns along with some weird stuff he runs into as he inspects, repairs, and replaces them.
Basement wall cracks are somewhat common and they don't always mean you need to panic when you see them, but is there a concern that cracks that are wide enough can allow wood chewing critters like termites to infest your home? The Crackman answers.......
The Crackman has been fixing basement floor cracks for more than 2 decades, so who better to talk about basement floor cracks than him, right? In this episode, Rich covers everything from how and why basement floor cracks happen to begin with, whether or not every crack should be fixed, and when you know it's time to fix a crack.
Every utility company that runs a pipe through a stone foundation knows how to seal it properly, right? So, why this is an issue? Well guess what? They don't.
It's case study time again and this time the Crackman helped talk a new homeowner down from the rafters after they came home and found water in their basement coming from the chimney.
In this episode, the Crackman recounts an interesting story about a firefighter with a basement water problem in who wanted to tear down his Sheetrock with a pickax.
As we were perusing Facebook we saw A1 Foundation Crack Repair was highly recommended for fixing a basement water problem in the Hudson Mass area. The Crackman reflects on recent accolades.
We're smack dab in the middle of Fall and during this tumultuous time of year, every day seems to bring its own exciting conditions from heavy rain, to freezing conditions, and even snow. And as we all know, whacky weather can play havoc on a basement. In this episode, the Crackman explains how he goes about troubleshooting the calls he gets over the phone?
