Category Archives: Concrete Repair

Best Time of Year For A Concrete Restoration Project

Concrete Restoration Project this Spring

According to the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the spring and autumn months are the most effective time to pour concrete and commit to concrete restoration projects. Why is this the case? For starters, temperature plays a huge role in concrete’s capacity to dry effectively. More specifically, hot weather creates problems with the mixing, the placing, and the curing of cement concrete. When temperatures rise above 80%, this can adversely affect the properties and serviceability of the concrete.

In a report researched by an ACI committee, research suggests, “Environmental factors, such as high ambient temperature, low humidity,
high wind, or both low humidity and high wind, affect concrete properties
and the construction operations of mixing, transporting, and placing of the
concrete materials. ” In other words, contacting a professional Concrete Restoration contractor is very important when considering a concrete restoration project. The process of restoring concrete is not something that can be done alone. It is a time consuming job that requires expert knowledge and experienced handlers.

Aesthetic Appeal and Safety Concerns

Aside from the time of year, you should also have a pretty clear understanding of why you need concrete foundational work done on your home or business. Typically, there are two reasons that call for concrete restoration work: 1) Aesthetic Appeal-which means beautifying your home and business or 2) Safety Concerns-cracks, gaps, and un level concrete can be very dangerous. Many times clients will call a professional because they want to fix the safety concerns and get increased image appeal as well. After all, adding more value to your home makes sense since this is the place you live in, work in, and raise a family in. Wanting a more beautiful home makes a lot of sense.

Call A Professional

Call a professional contractor today if you have any questions regarding the right time to complete your concrete restoration project. In the end, concrete work can save you time and money if it is done right the first time. That’s why you should contact Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry to update all of your foundation, concrete, and restoration needs. Give us a call at 804-674-0273 or reach us via Contact Form.

Showers, Storms, and Wall Cracks in Richmond, VA

For many places around the country–including Richmond, Virginia–summer brings storms. If your home or business has even small wall cracks, you may experience leakage from the rain. Larger wall cracks could cause flooding in and around your basement. This can ruin your possessions and devalue your home. If you are not sure if your basement has wall cracks, there are other signs you can look for such as mold and mildew, water stains, wood rot, leakage, and crumbling concrete or brick. Keep an eye out for these signs of wall cracks and water damage.

Wall Crack Solutions for Richmond, VA Homes

If you notices these signs of wall cracks, you may want to consider wall crack repair. We here at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry offer a variety of foundation repair and waterproofing services, including wall crack repair. This service will help seal out water and prevent cracks from widening. We also offer sump pump installation and repair as well as battery backup sump pump installation. Sump pumps divert excess water away from your home and act as an extra defense against water damage for your Richmond, Virginia home or business.

Contact Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry for more information on the services we offer, such as foundation repair, waterproofing, crawl space repair, masonry services, brick re-pointing, and concrete restoration. Our service area covers most of Virginia, so if you live in Virginia and are in need of the services mentioned above, make sure to give us a call! We want to help you have peace of mind when it comes to your home or business and its foundation. Contact us today!

Block Foundation Problems & Repair in Virginia

What is Wrong With Your Foundation and How To Repair It

Out of all of the structural and hydraulic issues that can occur in a home, a majority of them can be attributed to foundation problems.

A major issue that we commonly see is leaning or bowing walls. When a foundation wall is sloped, it can be an incredible cause for concern among Virginia homeowners. Their appearance can lead you to think that they will need to be completely replaced, but the repair of bowing block walls is possible and will leave you with a stronger wall than you had before.

Leaning walls in older Virginia homes can be quite common because walls that were built in the 20th
century were not designed to support the weight of the structure above them for long periods of time. Fortunately, this damage can be reversed with the right tools and equipment with our very skillful team of professionals here at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry.

There are various forces that can work together to cause a bowing block wall and other foundation problems. Water and soil pressure from below combined with the structure weight from above can put pressure on the wall that is more than it can bear. This causes it to bend, crack, and eventually fail. In the earlier stages, bowing walls can be hard to identify. The damage can sometimes hardly be noticed, but there are a few things you should look out for. When doors, cabinets, and windows aren’t shutting properly, it can be an indicator that your foundation walls are losing strength. Some other symptoms to look out for include misaligned doors and windows, separating molding or trim, leaky walls, and garage column cracks.

Other foundation problems that you may have see is wall, floor, and ceiling cracks. Although small and seemingly insignificant cracks may not look like a big deal, they usually mean that something is wrong with your foundation. Cracks that are bigger than even the width of a dime can indicate that your foundation is failing, or that your home is not sufficiently waterproofed.

A failing foundation can also cause sloped and uneven floors. Due to the intense changes of climate that Virginia can experience, the soil underneath your house often fluctuates and can cause the foundation to move as well. When the foundation moves, this can cause the floors that it holds to sink or rise.

Don’t Wait On Foundation Problems for Your Virginia Home

Foundation problems do not fix themselves, and deterioration can quickly come if early warnings are not heeded. It is important to strictly and regularly monitor any suspicious cracks, and get your foundation inspected by a professional as soon as you can.

The best thing to do to prevent further damage is to get your foundation problems repaired and your basement waterproofed as soon as possible. For foundation repair in Virginia, products such as steel piers, tieback anchors, and hydraulic lift slab piers can be used. For waterproofing, consider a sump pump or an interior or exterior drainage system. These products will help to get the water away from your foundation and prevent destruction, while maintaining its strength for years to come. Call Reliable for assistance with all your foundation repair needs in Virginia!

Brick, Stone, & Masonry Problems in Virginia

Common Problems with Brick, Stone, & Masonry in Richmond, VA

It is hard to escape the masonry problems that affect older homes in Richmond, VA. At one time or another, you are likely to encounter these issues. Nothing is indestructible, especially when it is constantly exposed to rain, snow, hail, wind, heat, and freezing temperatures. Your brick, stone, and masonry will get old and broken down, just like a roof, or any other part of your home or business. That is why you need to take care of it as you would any other part of your home or business. Some common problems that can affect brick, stone, and masonry are:

Crumbling – created through water damage, foundation failure, and/or age.
Chipping – caused by age, water damage, foundation failure, and a variety of other problems.
Flaking – caused by water seeping into bricks through pores, and heat making the brick expand and flake.
Cracking – floor, ceiling, wall, stair step, and foundation cracks are all things that you should watch out for.
Efflorescence – a white, crusty calcium residue left over when water evaporates and leaves a salt covering behind.

Masonry Problems & Repair Solutions by Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry in Virginia

These issues are all common problems that affect brick, stone, and masonry, so if you notice these problems around your Virginia home, make sure to contact us here at Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry as soon as possible. These could be signs of more urgent problems, especially if you are noticing more than one. Luckily, we have a variety of solutions such as brick re-pointing, concrete restoration, masonry repair, foundation repair, and waterproofing.

So, no matter what your problem may be, we can help. Our team of professionals is experienced and knowledgeable in all areas of repair, and many of our repair tools and products are supplied by Earth Contact Products–also known as “the Very Best” in foundation repair and waterproofing products–so you can rest easy knowing you area receiving top quality repairs, products, and service. Contact us today to learn more about our foundation repair, waterproofing, and masonry problems and repair services. Our service area includes Richmond, Virginia and all of Northern Virginia. Give us a call today!

Enjoy Your Patio Again with Concrete Restoration in Virginia

Beautiful Concrete Repair for Your Virginia Home

Summer, a time to enjoy the outdoors. The problem might be that you won’t enjoy it because your patio space is run down, cracked, and uneven. These types of concrete repair problems are very common in our area. Reliable Waterproofing and Masonry is a local expert in concrete repair and restoration, and we can help you enjoy your outdoor space again. We offer the following concrete repair services:

Because of changing soil conditions beneath concrete, or even animals that burrow under your concrete, concrete can sink and settle. This can cause cracking and breaking of concrete. Concrete stairs can pull away from patios as well. With our services listed above we can lift and level concrete in patios, driveways, sidewalks, pool decks and more. We can also resurface concrete for a smooth finish for a beautiful patio space. If your patio is beyond repair, we also can help with concrete replacement. Start fresh with a new patio.

Add Value to Your Virginia Home with Expert Concrete Repair Services

When you repair or replace the concrete for your patio or pool deck, sidewalks or driveways you add a lot of value to your home. You add curb value for sure. The most important thing however is the fact that you will have a beautiful space that your familiy can enjoy for years to come. We also do brick re-pointing. If your outdoor space has brick, we can repair and re-point the brick for your space as well.

So if your are a Virginia homeowner and you have stopped enjoying your outdoor space because of concrete problems, call the team at Reliable Waterproofing and Masonry. We would be happy to provide you with a free quote so that you can start thinking about cookouts and family get-togethers in your outdoor space once again. We can’t wait to help. Happy Summer for Reliable Waterproofing and Masonry!

Foundation Repair for Virginia

Do you have floor or wall cracks? How about bowing or leaning walls? Does your chimney look like its leaning? Do you ever worry about foundation failure for your Virginia home or business? Then call Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry. We have the solutions for all your foundation failure, masonry, and concrete problems. While our name may suggest that we only offer waterproofing and masonry services, we offer a variety of foundation repair, waterproofing, masonry, and concrete repair options for your specific needs.

If you notice things like floor or wall cracks, bowing or leaning walls, or a leaning chimney while walking around your Virginia home or business, you may be in need of foundation repairs. Not sure whether or not your home or business is being affected by foundation failure? Well we have a list of common problems that may pop up around your home or business. These can help you identify foundation failure easily, and early so that you can promptly receive foundation repairs. Some of these common problems include:

These are all signs of foundation failure. Now, you should not panic if you see these signs. They do not mean your house will collapse any second, but you should also not ignore them either. If they do mean foundation failure, ignoring them will leave the problem to get worse and worse. This could not only create more common problems around your home or business, but it could also mean more complex, time-consuming, and expensive repairs when you get them.

If you notice these signs of foundation failure, call Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry. We can help you identify for sure if your Virginia home or business is experiencing foundation failure. We can help repair your foundation failure with our variety of foundation repair options such as:

Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry has the tools to help you fix your foundation. Give us a call today to learn more about our foundation repair, waterproofing, masonry, or concrete repair services. We want to help you feel safe and secure in your Virginia home or business, and with the help of our foundation repair services, we can help you get there. Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry has your back, no matter the problem. Contact us today!