Category Archives: concrete repair

Dealing With Leaking Basement Walls

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Why Have A Dry Finished Basement?

A finished basement, clean basement will make your home more appealing as an investment.  A dry basement will be free of any leaking basement walls.  You will enjoy your home more, knowing that it is healthy and safe.

If you have leaking basement walls, your home's value will decrease and that space is both unsafe and wasted space for you and your family.  SKV Construction can help you eliminate the source of moisture problems, and get your home safe and dry.

3 Common Issues That Cause Leaky Basement Walls:

  1. Moisture and Wall Cracks
  2. Leaky Pipes
  3. Wall-Floor Joint Wetness

Leaking Basement Wall Crack Repaired

Issue #1:  Moisture and Wall Cracks

High humidity and moisture will lead to a musty, bad smell. The odor is due to the direct result of mold growth.  To get rid of the mold growth, you will need to install a properly sized dehumidifier.  SKV Construction will help you install a product that will perform effectively.

Issue #2:  Leaky Pipes

Plumbing pipes in a basement often have water dripping off of them, and contribute to excess moisture in the basement.  This condensation is best eliminated by having them insulated.

Overhead Plumbing In Basement; Can Be Source Of Moisture

Issue #3:  Wall-Floor Joint Wetness

Where the basement wall meets the basement floor is often a source of moisture.  Heavy rainstorms, improper slope of the landscape, poorly working gutters, and inefficient sump pump sytems may all be contributing to the moisture buildup.  See our article Tips to Prevent a Flooded Basement.  SKV Construction can inspect your home, and determine what needs to be corrected.  Contact them today!

Interlocking Tiles For Concrete Floors

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Decorative Interlocking Tiles For Residential and Commercial Use

If you are a homeowner consider interlocking floor tiles for your next garage floor. Or if you are a business owner, interlocking tiles are a great solution for your factory floor.

Interlocking floor tiles are a cost effective alternative to replacing your entire floor. Or to investing in major floor renovation. Made from 100% recycled materials, these tiles are easy to maintain and easy to clean.

Before installing interlocking tiles, you should:

  • clean the floor to reveal any cracks or flaws
  • replace any defective concrete
  • make necessary structural repairs to the floor
  • seal major cracks
  • seal the concrete before interlocking tile installation
  • maintain a safe working surface dictated by your floor traffic

You might wonder why sealing the concrete is recommended.  If you live in a northern climate, your garage floor will likely see road salts and deicing fluids from the highways.  Therefore, a good concrete sealer will protect your floor from road salts and will provide a repellent for other liquids.   In addition, it is great insurance against an oil spill.

If you live in a southern climate where there is no salting, you could skip the concrete sealant.  

Don't ignore the beauty, variety, and functionality interlocking tiles offer. They are ideal replacements for old messy concrete floors.  Most of all, they are easy to install and maintain.

Types of Interlocking Tiles

Interlocking floor tiles come in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and applications. Here are a few.

Interlocking Floor Tiles for Resurfacing Concrete Garage Floors and Other Industrial Applications

Concrete Garage Floor with Interlocking Floor Tiles

Concrete Factory Floor Using Interlocking Tiles
Because of the many colors and types, common applications for interlocking floor tiles in commercial floor resurfacing are unlimited. Use these tiles in gyms, warehouses, factories, stores, showrooms, schools, auto garages, mud rooms, and more.

Finally, interlocking tiles are made of plastic.  Because they are hollow underneath, walking on them there may be clicking sound.  Laying down synthetic landscape mesh on top of the concrete will dull the noise, and therefore remedy that situation.  

See a completed project by SKV Construction using Interlocking Tiles on a Garage Floor.

Learn more about how you could be using interlocking floor tiles. Contact Us for a no obligation proposal.

Photo Source and Credit to Elite Xpressions.

Stan Vorgias
Owner SKV Construction

Materials For Foundation Crack Repair

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Foundation Crack Repair Materials

We have been doing foundation crack repair since the late 1960's. The materials used then were not the best. We found out that with slight modifications on my part, we could do a better job for my clients.  Foundation crack materials have greatly improved since then.

In the mid 80's epoxies arrived on the market. Some where not very good. In the late 1990's, as we were approaching the next century, we discovered the best foundation crack repair materials to use. Urethane and carbon fiber repair proved to be the most effective for foundation crack repair. These epoxies were highly effective in concrete block walls.

Example Crack Repair Materials From Emecole

Flexible materials for horizontal foundation cracks and joint maintenance have surfaced recently. As a concrete contractor, we're always looking to find the best solutions for solving foundation crack repair problems. We have the knowledge, experience, tools, and materials to do your foundation crack repair. From a simple non active crack to a major problem in a concrete block wall or floor, we can help.

If you have a major foundation crack or foundation structural repair issue that could lead to damage in your finished rooms or costly repairs, give us a call at 815-245-6098. We will share our expertise with you and repair your foundation cracks!

Or Contact Us for a no obligation proposal. Don't wait until the damage elevates and you'll need major foundation structural repair!

Stan Vorgias Signature
Stan Vorgias
Owner SKV Construction

Types Of Foundation Crack Repair

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Types of Foundation Problems to Fix

If you own a home or business in the Chicago area, you must be concerned about fixing foundation problems. Fixing foundation problems prevents small issues from becoming costly problems. Foundation cracks and problems develop over time.  Inspect your foundation often, and you will have time to make the necessary repairs.

Here are the types of foundation problems to look for in your inspections.

Do You Have Any of the Types of Problems Listed Below?  We Can Help!

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Small Cracks Less Than 1/4" Wide

Most likely these are caused by the curing of concrete. During the curing process, concrete undergoes plastic shrinkage.  Hence, hairline cracks occur.  Sometimes there is efflorescence and sediment on the concrete wall.  Many are harmless, but if you do see water seepage - have them sealed by a professional.

Wide Cracks more than 1/4" or Pattern Cracks in Block or Brick

Wide structural cracks develop due to settlement of footings.  Possibly the footing was poured over soil that had not been compacted enough.  The concrete wall itself, being on more compacted soil, did not settle.

When the foundation wall settles with the footings, then wide diagonal cracks develop. The soil beneath the footings was eroded by poor water management from the roof water runoff.

Wide concrete cracks should be sealed by a reputable concrete contractor like SKV Construction. Usually an epoxy type sealer is used as explained in our foundation crack repair article. You won't correct what caused the problem, so keep doing the periodic inspections to look for other, serious clues.  Wide cracks are best repaired using carbon fiber repair.

Wide Cracks Repaired With Carbon Fiber

Water Accumulation Leading to Foundation Problems

With water accumulation around the basement walls allows the soil to expand leading to major problems.  Wide cracks are likely to develop.  Water will accumulate due to:

  • ineffective gutters
  • improper grading
  • lack of lawn or landscaping to absorb the water
  • blocked drains
  • lack of sealant on the outside walls

Basement Wall Being Sealed To Prevent Water Leakage

Make sure your water management system is working properly. Clean your gutters, repair downspouts, and fix grading problems around your house.  If your grade is sloping away from the house, your gutters and downspouts are working properly,  and you still have water accumulating - then you may need waterproof sealing on the outside walls.

Severe Cracks and Bowed Walls

If your basement wall is bowed at least 3", repair this problem right away. Some bracing can be done from the inside, but there is a likelihood that excavation from the outside will be needed. Call SKV Construction for an assessment and proposal. Fixes for foundations from the outside are common, but can be costly.  See one tilted wall project successfully completed by SKV Construction.

You may have driveways, patios, or sidewalks that slope towards the house or building. Concrete leveling by mudjacking or polyurethane injection will be needed to level those surfaces. Concrete leveling is much less expensive than concrete replacement.

As you can see, a foundation repair can range from doing simple things to a complex repair requiring a skilled contractor.  Get multiple opinions on the repair needed to correct your foundation problems.  Our experience and expertise have served Chicago customers for over 50 years. But it doesn't hurt to get another perspective.

Ignoring foundation crack repairs is NOT A GOOD IDEA! Over time, the continual presence of water will erode the concrete to the point where it becomes loose and crumbling.  Therefore, the foundation will be severely weakened.

If you have a foundation problem and need our help, Contact Us for a no obligation proposal.

Stan Vorgias
Owner SKV Construction