How Sump Pumps Work: The Sump Pump Basics

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Your sump pump is the unsung hero of your dry basement, doing a thankless job so well you might forget that it’s there. If that’s the case, you should probably go down to your basement and give it some kudos – and a safety check! The sump pump has become a fairly common fixture in…

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Thawing and Freezing: Your Basement/Foundation

snowy house flooded basement flooded yard

Anywhere there’s local problems with geography, builders have to take them into account. Florida’s notorious  sinkholes and hurricanes have to always be factored in. In places like B.C., where it’s very damp, mould is a very big issue. Warm places like Australia, basements aren’t even needed at all because there’s no freezing and thawing cycle that makes…

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Basement Bugs and Moisture

Earwig Flooded basement flooded yard

Basement Bugs and Moisture   Even to the untrained eye, many signs of a leaky foundation can be pretty obvious: dampness, pooling water, and cracks in the walls are all indicators that something is amiss. But did you know that the presence of bugs in your home is also a bad sign?

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Fall Showers Bring Flooded Basements: What You Can Do About It

coulourful leaves on a branch wet leaves

Whenever the seasons change, many homeowners wince and think about their foundation. Moving from winter to spring means snowmelt that could make its way into your basement; autumn to winter means hydrostatic pressure pushing moisture onto your warm(er) basement walls as they thaw the soil surrounding them. Why can’t the weather be the same all…

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DIY Foundation Drainage Inspection

basement inspection

Foundations need care and attention year-round, but fall might be the most important season in which to take action: it’s your best chance to catch problems that might need a lot of work, problems that will be made much harder by metres of snow, frozen ground, and meltwater. Winter can wreak havoc on your foundation,…

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Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

wight fall home in autumn with colourfull leaves halloween

With summer almost over and fall on the horizon, now is the perfect time to examine your home and get it ready for winter. There are certain things that can save you money on bills and repairs in the future. If you’re looking to get started, here are ten tips for fall to ensure your…

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So You’re Buying A New Home…

Open House

So much work goes into the business of purchasing a new home – the financial arrangements, scoping out the neighbourhood, inspecting the kitchen and bathrooms – that you might forget to do something very, very important: looking at the state of the basement! Before making such a massive commitment, you should know the condition of…

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Waterproofing High-Risk Homes

Waterproofing House on the lake flooding basement flooding yard

Waterproofing can be easy when you’re in a great area. In a place with the right soil, the right gradient, and the right landscaping, waterproofing can be a breeze, because you don’t need more than the basics! But not everyone lives in a home in an optimal area.

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Wet Basements and Summer: What’s Causing That Moisture?

Wet Summer

Spring has come and gone, and you might say a little prayer of thanks for getting through another very wet season. There’s no more melting snow or April showers, and that’s great! Just don’t sit back and wait for another winter to roll through – you can still run into problems this summer.  

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Can Animals Cause Bad Drainage?

tiny animals

You might think you’ve thought of it all. You’ve got great drainage around the foundation, your pipes are far enough away from the house, and your sump pump is working as well as it possibly could! You are prepared for anything! Except… ANIMALS!   Now there’s a strange sound in your basement. A scritch scritch.…

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