We all Fall Down

We all know that without a good foundation, a house will not stand the test of time. In fact, it could begin to crack inside and out, both in the foundation, walls, and ceiling. It could go so far as to eventually have the house cave in. A good foundation also very much depends on the type of soil that it is built upon and how well it can withstand the weather. A good example of this is the foolish man, in the Bible, who built his house upon the sand. The rain came down and the house came down as well. It has to be built upon the rock made of good soil.

How can we make sure that we have a good foundation? First, you need to educate yourself on what makes a good foundation and then interview a few companies to see who knows their stuff.
Kansas City home foundation issues can be determined and repaired by CPS Foundation Repair Company out of Overland Park, Ks. As a Company, we’d like to first share with you what we look for in building a good foundation and how we can apply our knowledge to make sure your home is set firm and unshakeable. If the original process isn’t done correctly, then it would have to be followed up by repairs.

Here are some tips we’ve put together for you of how to, from the beginning, make sure you are building a good foundation:
1. As mentioned above, soil is very important. In fact, it holds great importance. If your soil is not strong or able to hold weight, then there can be serious issues arise.
2. Next, you need to have your land surveyed. This way you know exactly where are the corners of your foundation will lie and how far out it can be positioned.
3. You will then have an excavation contractor start digging up the spot where the foundation will be laid.
4. Install the footings. Footings are created either by pouring concrete directly into the trenches in the ground or into the wooden forms.
5. Next, you need a high quality sealer to seal the footings and protect them from moisture. Seek advice on this from experienced home builders.
6. Once the concrete has cured, use concrete block to create the stem walls if you’re building a basement. Usually your masons will start with your block wall in the corner of the foundation. They do this with what are called “leads,” which give masons two endpoints from which to string a line — allowing them to build a plumb and level wall between the two points. The result is a straight and level wall that’s crucial to keeping all of the basement walls consistent.
7. Last, but not least, treat your foundation walls with another coat of sealant to keep the moisture out.

If you already own a finished home and you are beginning to see signs of needing foundation repairs, let us come out and take a look. We can give you a free estimate while providing you with the best service possible. We are experts at Kansas City home foundation issues and we want to make your Kansas City home foundation issues non-existent.

Check us out online at http://cpsfoundationrepair.com/  and give us a call, today!

Stop Water Foundation Issues

Control Water, Stop Kansas City Foundation Cracks

By MikeDement

 Posted June 25, 2014 

In Foundation Repair

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A cracked foundation is a serious problem that’s usually obvious to the naked eye. But did you know these serious problems can start from something as innocuous as a backed up gutter that you hadn’t noticed?

In fact, gutter problems are one of the biggest causes of foundation problems necessitating Kansas City foundation repair. The moisture level of the ground under your home needs to stay in balance, and in KC that means when it does rain, if the water is pooling in the wrong places, it can easily start the unleveling process that will eventually lead to foundation cracking. On the bright side, before you ever have a foundation crack, there are signs to watch for that may mean you need help.

1. Sticking Doors and Windows – These are an indication that that you might soon have foundation cracks and need repairs. The reason they stick is because the building is slightly higher on one side than the other. Often times sticking doors and windows will be accompanied by cracks in drywall. If the root problem, the foundation, is not fixed first, then repairing these cracks will prove a futile effort.

2. Water leaking into or puddling near your basement or crawlspace – While usually caused by a problem above ground (like faulty guttering), water pooling near your home will mean more shifting than is safe for your foundation. Usually such problems can be addressed fairly easily and inexpensively if you notice them. Make sure that the ground contours away from your home so as to direct the water away from your foundation, that your gutters are clear and that your downspouts are also directing water away from your home.

3. Only watering one part of your lawn or landscape – By only watering one part of a lawn or landscape feature you can unknowingly cause your own foundation to become unbalanced. During droughts be sure that you’re not putting too much water on only one part of your yard and not on the other. Remember, it’s about keeping the moisture level of the soil balanced.

Keep in mind too that voids under driveways, walkways and other concrete structures can cause puddling near your foundation and thus cause damage. It’s important that if you think you have a problem with water near your foundation to get it corrected as soon as possible. If you think you might have damage or aren’t sure, don’t hesitate to contact Commercial Piering Systems – we’ve got the pros and the experience to help you identify problems and correct them before they become more serious.

More Than Foundation

CPS installs egress windows increasing your homes value and safety

By MichaelPersaud

 Posted August 30, 2013 

In Egress Windows, Foundation Repair

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In Kansas City where basements are common, egress windows can save your family’s life in case of a fire. In fact, building codes now require egress windows in basements where there are living quarters.

An egress window is an easy-to-open window also serves as an emergency exit for below-ground living spaces.

Let’s be honest – during a fire, stairs could be blocked or damaged. To avoid such dangerous situations, the International Residential Code requires an egress window or the equivalent in all basements used partially or entirely as a living space.

Just as important, an egress window totally eliminates the “dungeon feeling” that many, if not most, basements have.
With egress windows, you can have fresh air in your basement, which improves your home’s overall ventilation.

These windows increase the value of your house by adding your basement as a living space when selling or refinancing.

Give CPS a call to get your egress window install done right.

Save Later Foundation

Spend Now and Save Later

By cpsf_admin

 Posted June 30, 2016 

In Foundation Repair

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Weather is a huge factor in causing our home’s foundation to shift. Whether it shifts up or down, it can cause a small issue to become a very large and expensive one, very fast. Hot weather can causes cracks to form in your foundation, whereas, cold weather can cause cracks to accelerate and become bigger cracks. Then, it snowballs. Damage causes more damage, causes more damage, and so on and so forth.

The soil also can contribute to the foundation moving around. For example, clay can expand or shrink depending on the weather. If your soil is clay beneath your home then your home’s foundation is going to be moving around during certain seasons. Expanding and then shrinking can take you and your home for an unwanted ride.

I’m not trying to be negative here. I want to be factual and equip you with information that will help you build a better home and also save you in the financial department. A foundation is important for the well-being of your home. Most homeowners do not even realize how their foundations are set up, what affects them and causes issues for them, and how much it costs to repair them. That’s where we come in and that is where this information is important.

Usually, if a repair is needed, as a human race, we tend to put things off so that we do not have to spend the money right away. We see how long we can wait before we have to squeeze the fixes into our budget. However, the whole point of writing about these issues in our blogs and educating each homeowner on what to look for is that we want to let you know how delaying spending money to make repairs will cost you more in the long run.

As a Kansas City based Company, we also want to be able to offer you affordable Kansas City foundation repair for those buildings and homes based here in Kansas City and encourage you to not delay on getting your foundation repaired. Whether you are needing an estimate or just an examination, we are the affordable Kansas City foundation repair Company. IF YOU SUPPORT LOCAL, WE SUPPORT YOU, so check out our affordable Kansas City foundation repair today!

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How do you know if you have a good contractor?

HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD CONTRACTOR FOR YOUR FOUNDATION REPAIR

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How to choose a good contractor for your foundation repair

When you need to decide on a foundation repair company there are several factors you should inquire about to be sure the company is able to deliver a great product. Choosing the wrong company can be very expensive.

The questions below will give you the necessary information to make a good decision on your contractor.

1. How are you and the employees of your company trained?Listen closely – is there a real ongoing training program going on. Are there tests given and are they certified?

2. How is pile/pier tested? Do they have ICC-ES (International Code Council – Evaluation Services)? Do they do pile load test for engineering firms?If they can’t meet these code requirements I would not use them.

3. How long have they been manufacturing their piles / piers?There should be a good history.

4. What is their failure rate and how often do they have to re-adjust a pile /pier?A good contractor should rarely have to repair or replace his materials.

5. Do their materials hold any patents?There answer should be yes and be able to prove with patent numbers.

6. How do they warranty their work and products?There should be a limited lifetime warranty that is transferable.

How to Avoid Home Foundation Issues

Like most people you probably don’t think about your home foundation until you’ve experience cracks or leaks.  When cracks and leaks show up, you’ve already ignored problems that can be costly and serious.  CPS Foundation Repair we wanted to provide you 4 mistakes that can cause home foundation frustrations if unresolved.

1. Water Woes – always avoid letting the soil around your house completely dry out and shrink during a long dry season.  When you are in Missouri/Kansas area the soil is clay and majority of times during your next big rain it soaks the soil and makes it expand dramatically and causes stress on your home foundation walls.  Our suggestion is to soak the soil around your house at least 6 inches from your home foundation and 3 inches under the soil during dry season.
2. Root Riots – keep in mind your trees and shrub roots can complete with your soil for moisture during dry seasons.  This will cause your home foundation to settle and sink unevenly.  If that happens your drywall can crack and windows/doors will stick in frames.  Here is what we recommend:  plant deep-rooted trees and shrubs away from your home foundation.  If the branches touch your house, than it is way too close.
3. Grading Gaffes – most the time poor soil excavation can direct water toward the base of you home foundation walls.  If you like to prevent this from happening, you can ensure your yard is graded at least 6 inches in 10 feet so soil slopes away from your home.  You may need to build up a berm, dig trench, or install a French drain to funnel rainwater and runoff away from your home.
4. Downspout Downer – remember downspouts should direct rain and roof runoff away from your home.  If it is not extended 5 – 10 feet away from the house, you’ll dump water on your home foundation.  Easily resolve this issue by buying extenders at your local hardware store or bury a long downspout diverted underground and drain the water to the curb, storm drain, or a spot in your yard where water will will go into the soil.