Basement waterproofing and crawl space repair in IA

Midwest Weather Pushes Hard

Tue, May 21 2013, 00:00:00 -500

May 21st, 2013

Midwest weather is still pushing hard. Last night many parts of the great State of Iowa experienced strong winds, hail and hard rain. Other parts of the Midwest experienced tornados and winds within those tornados exceeding 160 miles per hour.

Here an Midwest Basement Systems our thoughts and prayers go out to the families in the Moore, Oklahoma area as they continue to search, and as the begin to rebuild their communities.

Weekend Weather

Mon, May 20 2013, 00:00:00 -500

May 19th, 2013

Grimes, Iowa

Wow, what a Sunday. We had fantastic weather in the morning and early afternoon, and then about 5pm there was quite a change. Mother Nature brought us a couple of tornado sightings, marble size hail, strong winds in excess of 60 miles per hour, heavy rain, and of course thunder and lightening.

What a day! The Midwest can really have a lot of weather changes, and all in one day. A couple of weather tips to help with your basement:

1. Make sure you gutters are cleaned out, the rain water can drain properly through the down spouts and out away from your property. If your are not sure whether your down spout extensions are sufficient, give us a call and we will be glad to help your figure that out.

2. Make sure your landscaping has the soil banked or angled away from your home.

3. Have your sump/pump system serviced annually. If it has been awhile, call us to schedule a service.

4. Should water be leaking or flooding into your basement, give us a call right away!

Although your basement didn't leak last year, doesn't mean it won't leak this year. As we have stated before, the drought was very hard on basement foundations last year! Structural damage occurred last year at an incredible rate. This is leaving homes at risk of leaking or flooding. Be prepared and pro-active instead of reactive. Give us a call today!

May Storms bring Wet Basements

Fri, May 3 2013, 00:00:00 -500

Well Day two of the May 2013 Winter Storm. Many parts of Iowa are sitting with 4 inches of snow, while our brothers and sisters to the north have 8 inches and more.

The snow storm has a cousin coming to visit. That cousin is "Rain"! Rain is now predicted for all of Saturday, May 4th, 2013 through out the Midwest. The concern is where the water is going to go? As we experienced about two weeks ago, the soil is not quite ready to receive all of this moisture, and tends to be running off into creeks, streams, rivers, and of course, basements. Flooding is the concern again, and with flooding comes leaky basements, wet basements and flooded basements.

In addition, the soil will continue to swell with water pushing on distressed, cracked and structurally fail walls. This additional pressure is damaging, subtle, but nonetheless damaging to the foundations holding both commercial and residential properties. Small cracks will become large cracks, windows and doors will stick or not work properly, and settlement can still occur, and frankly, will occur.

What to do?

1. Call us today! Yes, as sales orientated as that sounds, call us today so we can schedule a time to come out to inspect and evaluate the issues and concerns.

2. Please be patient! We are in our industry's season for heavy spring rains and flooding. There is not a basement repair company in Iowa that will work as hard for its customers as we do!

3. Keep track Leaky Basement! Keep track of the water coming into the basement. It will help our systems designers find the source.

4. Keep track Foundation Wall Cracks! Did small cracks get larger, and did doors and windows that worked before start sticking. One side of the house more than the other?

The photos today are from this May 2013 snow storm. Please enjoy!

To contact us simply click here or call us at [phone].

May 2013 Winter Storm

Fri, May 3 2013, 00:00:00 -500

You know they told us it was coming! Did we believe them? How often do we really believe the weather people? Well, here it is, a winter storm in our area of service of Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri. On May 2, 2013 we all started our day with the big heavy wet snow flakes. Gorgeous, but as beautiful as these snow flakes were, many believed the snow would all be over by noon. Not so, it kept snowing and snowing, and then snowing some more until the evening.

Mother Nature, being the comic that she is, broke her silence for a May snow storm. The last recorded snow storm in May was back in 1957. Fifty Five years ago. Just when you thought it was over the weather people told us it was going to come back around for another day. In fact, a quote from one weather person was, "This storm is going to moonwalk right back over the top of us tomorrow."

Well this storm will go down in the history books. Take a look at a couple of photos we have of the area.

Where is all of this heavy wet snow going to go? It has to melt at some point. If you have had a leaky basement in the past, this heavy and very wet snow most likely will expose your basement to moisture leaking into the area again.

Concerns with moisture or a leaky basement because of the snowfall? Call us at [phone] and schedule a time for us to come out and inspect or evaluate the issue. It's at no cost to you and we will gladly leave an estimate for repair. Click here for more information!

Dry Basement turns Wet Basement Part 1 of 3

Wed, April 24 2013, 00:00:00 -500

Living in the Midwest provides us with a variety of weather and soil conditions. One day it's hot, the next it is cold. One day the concrete is level, and the next day it's not. One day your basement is dry, and without warning, the next day your basement is wet. How can this be? Well...there are several contributing factors, however today let's talk about drainage tile.

Depending on the era the home was built and of course the builder, will determine either the type of drainage tile, or if any tile exists at all.

History of Tile Drainage

The existence of tile drainage systems have been recorded, in 200 BC and the first century AD, respectively. Tile drainage was first introduced to the United States in 1838, when John Johnston brought the practice from his native Scotland to his farm in Seneca County, New York. Johnston labored to lay 72 miles (116 km) worth of clay tile on 320 acres (1.3 km2). The effort paid off by increasing his wheat yield from 12 bushels per acre to 60 bu/acre. Johnston, "Father of American Tile Drainage", continued to advocate tile drainage throughout his life, attributing his success as a farmer to the formula "D,C, and D" (dung, credit, and drainage).

The expansion of drainage networks was an important technical aspect of Westward Expansion in the 19th century. Although land in the United States was parceled out in accordance with the Public Land Survey System as established by the Land Ordinance of 1785, development, especially of agricultural land, was often limited by the rate at which it was made capable for cultivation. For example, although Iowa was made a state in 1846, maps depicting land ownership show below-average population densities in the northwestern region as late as the 1870s, a corner of the state that today is still noted for its high water table and numerous lakes, marshes, and wetlands.

States throughout the region faced similar limits to agricultural intensification. Many states offered government incentives to improve land for farming. For example, legislation in Indiana prompted an Act of Congress in 1850 that provided for swamplands to be sold at a discount to farmers on the condition that they drain the land and bring it into agricultural productivity. To facilitate this process, most states set up government agencies to oversee and regulate the installation of tile drainage systems. Even today, ballots for elections in rural America often include candidates for local drainage supervisory boards.

The decades following the American Civil War saw rapid expansion of drainage systems. For example, historical literature from Ohio notes that in the year of 1882, the number of acres drained was about equal to the area of land drained in all previous years. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps contributed to the tile network throughout the Midwest, much of which is still in use.

Interestingly, it appears clay drainage tile or orangeburg drainage tile wasn't introduced to homes as a source for water drainage and pressure relief until the 1950's. Since that time the drainage tile materials have changed and most commonly are the four inch corrugated flexible drainage tile.

Orangeburg

Orangeburg pipe (also known as "fiber conduit") is bituminized fiber pipe made from layers of wood pulp and pitch pressed together. It was used from the 1860s through the 1970s, when it was replaced by PVC pipe for water delivery and ABS pipe for drain-waste-vent (DWV) applications. The name comes from Orangeburg, New York, the town in which most Orangeburg pipe was manufactured. It was manufactured largely by the Fiber Conduit Company, which changed its name to the Orangeburg Manufacturing Company in 1948.

Orangeburg pipe was made in inside diameters from 2 inches to 18 inches out of wood pulp sealed with hot pitch. Joints were made in a similar fashion and, due to the materials involved, were able to be sealed without the usage of adhesives. Orangeburg was lightweight, albeit brittle, and soft enough to be cut with a handsaw. Orangeburg was a low cost alternative to metal for sewer lines in particular. Lack of strength causes pipes made of Orangeburg to fail more frequently than pipes made with other materials. The useful life for an Orangeburg pipe is about 50 years under ideal conditions, but has been known to fail in as little as 10 years. It has been taken off the list of acceptable materials by most building codes.

It was observed in early usage that Orangeburg was susceptible to deformation from pressure. Thus, manufacturers urged "bedding" the pipes in sand or pea gravel to prevent rupture.

What Does ALL of this Mean to Us?

Well unfortunately all of the low cost conduit called "orangeburg" has a very measurable failure rate, and a tendency to clog. So, dry basements in the state of Iowa last year can easily become wet basements this year. The drought has caused so much shifting in soil and foundations many of these drainage tiles have broken. Some have clogged over the years, and suddenly the water is looking for a new place to go since the drainage tile is now unable to complete its intended job. End result, water in your basement. So, dry basements can turn wet without notice.

Water in the basement is never fun and usually leads to additional repairs. Please give us a call today to set an appointment for a no cost estimate on drying out your basement with modern up to date basement waterproofing technology. Call us at [phone] or click here for more information.

Deck, Sun Room and Pergolas Supports Des Moines, Iowa

Thu, April 11 2013, 00:00:00 -500

Every year Midwest Basement systems exhibits at a variety of Home Shows around Central Iowa. During these shows the participants have arms full of brochures, fliers, information regarding their upcoming home improvement projects. Some of the projects are on the need list, and other projects are on the dream and wish list. In any event, there is an outdoor deck, sun room and patio pergolas that fall on to the project list.

Outdoor decks are great fun for the family, and a fantastic place to entertain friends. Sun Rooms are a beautiful addition to your home and quickly become a place to sit and relax, and the pergolas are great places to sit and chat while waiting for the food to come off of the grill. Before any of these structures can be built the supports must be installed. Traditionally, the supports are a combination of shallow cylindrical hole, a concrete forming tube, 4"x4" or larger support legs, and time added on to the project for digging and allowing the concrete to set up.

Common Draw Back of Traditional Supports

1. Supports are typically installed during the warmer months

2. The bearing depth is at the frost line

3. Longer installation times

4. Supports tend to sit in expanding and shifting soils

Let me show you an alternative to digging holes for supports. We call it the EZ Post Helical Support System. This state of the art helical support system can provide support to a wide variety of structures like decks, sun rooms, pergolas, solar panels, storage buildings, and more.

Whether you have a existing structure that is settling, and we all know how hard mother-nature has been on structures last year, or if you are building something new, EZ Posts are the ideal solution for providing long-term stabilization.

The EZ Post offers many Benefits over traditional concrete footings:

1. Can be installed year-round

2. The bearing depth is well below the frost line - making them less susceptible to change moisture content in soils

3. Quick installation - no waiting for concrete to cure

4. Portable equipment can be used to install in tight places

5. Long lifespan - galvanized steel resists corrosion

6. Clean installation with very little disturbance to the installation area

This is a fantastic product with lots of applications. For a free estimate, click here today to register. We will be happy to help you in any way we can.

Sidewalk Repair Clive Iowa

Tue, April 9 2013, 00:00:00 -500

During the spring May of 2010, the City of Clive approved a new Sidewalk Inspection and Repair Policy. This policy places the responsibility for the maintenance and repair, of public sidewalks on the abutting property owner as recorded by the county auditor. In short, if you own the property it is your responsibility to maintain and repair the public sidewalks around your house.

The above statement is very similar to many of the other Des Moines metro areas. Each of these Des Moines metro areas have their own take or spin on the problem, but for the most part its the same common thread of information. Which is, we are all responsible for the sinking sidewalks around our properties. So to that end here are a couple of items specific to the City of Clive.

The City is divided into four zones, so the public sidewalk inspection cycle will come around to your property every four years. However, as you may guess, there are exceptions. There are two ways to you can take care of the settled, sinking or broken concrete sidewalk. The first is to simply replace it, and the second it to repair the existing concrete to safe levels and the satisfaction of the City of Clive repair codes. There are 5 codes labeled A - E. The codes talk about the rise or fall of the concrete and general condition of the concrete slab. In the City of Clive it appears you will need to repair the sidewalk if there is the following

1. A crack with a vertical edge of 1 inch or more (Repair code "A")

2. The sidewalk has raised or settled more than two inches. (Repair code "B")

3. The sidewalk has cracked into more than three pieces per 4' x 4' square of sections. (Repair code "C")

4. The sidewalk surface has deteriorated and has loose materials on its surface. (Repair code "D")

5. The sidewalk has settled more that one inch per foot toward either side. (Repair code "E")

Again, although these quantifiable repair codes are specific to Clive, the other communities like Urbandale, West Des Moines, Johnston, Grimes, Ankeny, and Altoona have similar requirements and regulations.

In our experience, a lot of these scenarios can be repaired. The term most of us are familiar with is mudjacking. This is a process by which a mud or concrete mixture is injected underneath the settled concrete slab and raises the slab back up to a level or original position. Common problems with this mixture are:

1. The mixture itself. If not done correctly it can be to wet or to dry. Either way it will not set up properly and can potentially wash out/

2. The weight. The weight of the mud mixture can continue to sink resulting in the uneven and settled concrete sidewalk to reappear.

Alternatives to the mud mixture is our use of a structural high density polymer. This material is really light weight, does not wash out, and the affected area, once repair can be used in approximately 20 minutes. This repair is a fraction of the cost of replacing the slab of concrete. More detailed information can be found by clicking here.

Other applications for this high density structural polymer are:

-Garage Floors

-Patios that have settled

-Parking pads for boats, RV's, and other vehicles

-Basement Floors

-Driveways

-Driveway Approaches

Getting estimates, and second opinions is a smart course of action. To set up an appointment for an estimate simply call us today at [phone].

Iowa Falls Business Expo

Tue, April 9 2013, 00:00:00 -500

In just a few days we will be exhibiting at the Iowa Falls Business Expo, to be held on April 13th, 2013 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the fire station. This is a great opportunity to visit will local and area businesses, ask questions, get answers and solutions, and get great ideas for your spring, summer and fall home improvement projects.

Please let me take a moment to make a list of the ideas and solutions Midwest Basement Systems will be offering at the Iowa Falls Business Expo:

Foundation Repair in Iowa
Keeping a Dry Basement
Basement Wall Bracing
Sinking Basement Floors
Sinking Garage Floors
Concrete Settlement
Sidewalk Settlement
Patio Settlement
and More!

We always look forward to our visits to the scenic city of Iowa Falls. What a beautiful place. Stop in a see us, we look forward to visiting with you. For a quick reference of date and time, just click here.

Marshalltown Home and Garden Show

Thu, April 4 2013, 00:00:00 -500

The Times-Republican presents the Home and Garden Show on Saturday April 6th, 2013 from 10:00am - 5:00pm, at the Marshalltown Center. Midwest Basement Systems will be exhibiting at this show. This will be great opportunity to come talk to us about "All Things Basementy" in your home.

As we all know the drought last year helped to keep basements dry. Having said that, the shriveled soil due to lack of moisture has caused basement walls, commercial foundations, residential foundations, basement floors, sidewalks and driveways to shift, sink, and heave all over Central Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri. These issues will not fix or repair themselves. In addition, the shifting and shriveled soils causing basement walls and foundations to shift will expose more basement to water issues. What is meant by that is this, basements that did not leak or flood in the past may in fact leak or flood here in the present during the spring rains. Although the prediction for rain in 2013 is still rated at below normal, compared to last year it will still be a lot of water, and simply put, lots of basements are going to leak and flood in 2013.

Let me take a quick moment to list a number of the topics you will have the opportunity to talk about with our staff at the Times Republic Marshalltown Home and Garden Show:

Wet Basements
Dry Basements
Humidity Control in the Basement
Odors and Mold
Crawl Spaces
Dirt Crawl Spaces
Cracked and Bowing Walls
Basement Foundations
Foundation Settlement
Basement Floors
Sidewalk and Driveway Settlement
Patio and Garage Floor Settlement
Basement Windows

Just to name a few!

We have a number of solutions to help you fix and repair your home, and we are happy to help in any way we can. Please join us at the Marshalltown Center on Saturday April 6th, 2013 between 10 and 5. We will look forward to seeing you there!

Beaverdale Neighborhood Association Home Improvement Fair

Tue, April 2 2013, 00:00:00 -500

The winter is coming to an end with the birth of the 2013 spring. Spring is in the air with song birds, warmer weather, snow melt in some areas, and the high probability of spring rains. Last year we didn't get much rain, and there were lots of dry basements. But having said that, there were a number of wet basements occurring from the rain we had, and the fact the soil was shriveled up absent of moisture. With that said, even if we get a below average amount of rain, the rain will expose properties with wet basements. In addition to the people who already know the basement of their home is prone to leaking, mother nature is going to expose even more wet basements this year 2013.

We will be available to talk about wet basements and how to turn your wet basement into a dry basement tonight at the Beaverdale Neighborhood Association Home Improvement show. This event will be held at the Northwest Community Center next to the library at 5110 Franklin Ave, Des Moines Iowa 50310. It will be from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

Talking about wet basements in the Beaverdale area is pretty common place, but we will have a number of other topics to discuss with you. Let me make a short list including a leaky basement.

Wet Basement
Dry Basement
Bowing Wall
Cracked Walls
Foundation Settlement
Concrete Settlement
Sidewalk Settlement
Mudjacking
Mold and Odor Control
Humidity Control
Crawl Spaces

If for some reason you were unable to attend, just click here, and you can get additional information. To have one of our staff come and look at your property, and give you a no cost estimate, just click here.

Fix or Replace your Sidewalk and Concrete Slabs in Des Moines and Norwalk, IA

Thu, March 28 2013, 00:00:00 -500

As we head into spring the respective cities we live in will be requiring us to fix or replace our sidewalks. And...the question is, Can a sidewalk area be fixed or repaired or should the entire section be replaced? Some of the answer lies with in the Iowa Code 364.12 Responsibility of Public Places, and some of the answer lies in the Code of the City you live in.

Most of the time the common theme is the same. What I mean by that is the following, and I will present this in list form:

--Most of the time you will receive a notice from the City indicating you have to take an action to repair or replace your sidewalk or the concrete in a public use area of your property. Since the weather has been terribly hard on concrete, soil settlement causing sinking and uneven sidewalks, patios, garage floors, we can rest assured the notices to repair of replace the sidewalks will be in the mail soon.

--The time you have to take the action varies, but generally you will have an allotted amount of time to take action and make the repair.

--In a lot of instances there are subsidies to assist in the repair of the sidewalk. You will need to check with your specific city and determine if they have a subsidy to offer you and how you might qualify for the subsidy.

--Again, and in most cases, you are responsible, "as the property owner", for the sidewalk in front of your house or on your property that has public access. As we all know, this includes the removal of snow, and of course our topic the repair or replacement of sidewalks.

--Non-compliance resulting in fines and penalties is common, and is true in most of the cities we have reseached.

--Guidelines and repair guides are available from most of the cities.

Now, back to the question of Repair or Replace?

There are going to be times the section of concrete, whether it be a sidewalk, driveway, patio, garage floor or simply the parking pad next to the garage is so beat up it needs to be replaced. However, and having said that, there are numerous times, to many to count, that mudjacking and concrete leveling will repair the area. Usually at a lessor cost. So let's talk about the newer technology, although a cousin to mudjacking, still a newer and greatly improved process we call PolyLEVEL.

PolyLEVEL, uses a high density polyurathane structural polymer. That is a mouth full, but it is the best thing on the market. this polymer is light weight, flows easily into the voids and the restrictions under the concrete slab, sets up and is ready to use in 15 to 20 minutes, environmentally friendly, and doesn't wash out. In addition, it is applied or injected through a hole that is only 5/8 of an inch, instead of the unsightly 2 inch hole of traditional mudjacking. These smaller holes are easily sealed, and cosmetically more appealing for the property.

Recommendations are simple, give us a call. The season is upon us, and we all know the notices are coming out, so give us a call and get on the schedule. We are happy to come out and throughly evaluate the uneven concrete slab, check for settlement, make sure the concrete is not pushing on your home's foundation should it be up next to the house, and give you and estimate for the repair.

If you would like more information simply click here and your will be taken to our website, and the web page that talks about the concrete leveling system called PolyLEVEL. Or if you would rather, just call us today to set up your appointment.

Sidewalk and Concrete Repair Des Moines and Urbandale Iowa

Tue, March 26 2013, 00:00:00 -500

Whether jogging, bicycling, or simply walking around the the city of Des Moines you will notice lots of uneven sidewalks, driveways, and driveway approaches. These uneven concrete slabs have settled because of temperature changes, general weather, and soil expansion and contraction. Mother Nature has been particularly hard on Central Iowa and the City of Des Moines due to the absence moisture last year, so the end result caused concrete sidewalks and driveways to settle. These uneven areas are not only a cosmetic issues, they become hazards to joggers, bicyclist, and the casual walker.

Sidewalk Repair

Many Cities in Central Iowa, Urbandale, Ankeny, Altoona, Clive, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, and certainly the City of Des Moines will be requiring sidewalk repair this summer. Yes, the sidewalks are our responsibility even though the sidewalk and the parking is city property. These mandates are enforceable, and have penalties if not adhered to. Additionally, should someone trip, fall and injure themselves you are at risk and liable.

What are my options for sidewalk or driveway repair?

There are a couple of ways to repair a sidewalk and or driveway. One is simply to replace it!! This is usually costly, and requires several days of prep and curing time. Time you and others are not able to use the sidewalk or driveway. Another is to raise and level the uneven piece of concrete. Raising and leveling concrete has several options. Mudjacking, and releveling grout. These are traditional options, but in discussions, many people believe them to be old and antiquated procedures for concrete leveling. There are new and revolutionary approaches to uneven concrete repairs. So, we take the original concept of mudjacking, and with the state of the art structural polymer we more effectively and efficiently repairing settled, sinking, uneven concrete slabs, sidewalks, driveways, patios, parking pads, and basement floors.

So...Why should I choose this Polymer over traditional repairs?

Well, I am glad you asked. Let me use a numerical system, and start from the beginning and tell you why!!

1. From the start we are dealing with a section of concrete that has settled. This could be from expanding soils or the weight of the slab of concrete or "d" all of the above.

2. Traditional mudjacking and releveling grout are very heavy. This can add to the problem.

3. The mixtures of traditional mudjacking and releveling grout take significant time to set up and cure, and the material is still susceptible to washing out due to weather conditions.

4. The mudjacking injection nozzle is nearly 2 inches in diameter. So, there will be 2 inch circular holes drilled into your concrete slab. Additionally, this tells us the material coming through the nozzle is thick. Although the thick material will fill the void, it will not effectively get up into the narrow restrictions of the void leaving air pockets potentially causing additional cracking in the future.

5. Structural Polymer or PolyLEVEL is a high density polyurethane that is 4 times lighter than the traditional materials and it doesn't wash out!

6. PolyLEVEL will be cured, set up, and ready for use (driving or walking on) by the time our crews have cleaned up the area and are ready to leave. About 20 minutes time!

7. Instead of larger holes we use a small hole about the size of a penny to inject the material under the slab. Because the polyLEVEL flows so much better than traditional mudjacking, this high density polymer is easier to control and will easily move up into the smaller restriction of the void under the slab. This helps prevent additional concrete damage in the furture.

8. Once the lift and leveling is completed the penny size holes are easily grouted and sealed. The concrete slab is restored!

As you can easily see the Structural Polymer, with its light weight high density characteristics is the best way to repair settling concrete.

If you would like more information simply click here, and you will be redirected to our website page. To schedule an appointment click here or call us today at [phone].

Uneven Sidewalks, Patios and Driveways in Des Moines

Tue, March 12 2013, 00:00:00 -500

What Causes the Concrete to Settle?

Concrete settlement is common in the Central Iowa. We have tremendous temperature changes, weather, and soil expansion and contraction. So, we have lots of concrete settlement, which can cause significant problems like tripping and stubbing hazards, water pooling, uneven surface areas and cracks in the concrete.

There are two common causes of concrete settlement. The first is, concrete is often poured over recently backfilled soils around the home, or a building during construction. The soil is still loose at the time the concrete is poured and will settle and compact over time. The concrete on the top of the soil will settle and sink right with the soil below. The second cause is erosion of the soil underneath the concrete slab. As water runs through cracks and joints in the concrete it washes the soil out as the water passes though. This creates a void under the concrete slab and over time allows the slab to settle. In both cases, as the slab settles it can become uneven, and cracked.

What are the options for concrete repair?

Concrete Replacement

Replacing the concrete is certainly and option, but in most cases it is very expensive. Also, it is disruptive to the property and over all landscape and doesn't always address the problem of the settling soil under the slab. The concrete slab will most likely settle again. And you know what that means, you will have to repeat the process.

Mudjacking

This is a common term for concrete lifting and leveling. With this type of repair very large and unsightly holes are drilled into the concrete slab. After the mud-type-material is pumped under the slab, you will need to wait several days before walking and or driving on the slab. Because it is a muddy type of material, the material can erode and/or wash out from underneath the concrete slab. This material is quite heavy and will add weight to the existing product potentially making the problem worse.

Releveling Grout

This is a soupy mixture that is layed out on top of the settled concrete slab, and in order for it to work well, it needs to mix perfectly to bond. First knee jerk reaction is this does not fix or repair the problem it is only a bandaid. This leveling material adds significant weight to the concrete slab, which makes matters worse, and the additional grout generally drys, cracks and breaks out over time. Once the grout material cracks and breaks out, the original problem still remains below.

The above repairs are older technology and considered by some to be antiquated.

Are there new approaches and revolutionary technologies to even concrete repairs? YES! Structural Polymers! So we take the original concept of mudjacking and with a structural polymer we now take a state of the art approach to repairing settled, sinking and uneven concrete slabs.

Our PolyLEVEL System utilizes a revolutionary light weight, high density polyurethane to raise concrete slabs back to a desired level. Instead of large holes drilled into the concrete, we use a small hole about the size of the penny. These small holes are sufficient in size to let the leveling material into the void using specially designed equipment. This structual grade polymer material has expanding properties and allows for very accurate lifts and leveling of sidewalks, patios, and driveways. Once the lift and leveling is completed, the penny size holes are easily grouted and sealed, and the concrete slab is restored.

Advantages of PolyLEVEL

Let take a quick look at the advantages of using this revolutionary approach to concrete slab lifting and leveling.

- Light weight. It only ways 4lbs per cubic yard opposed to the heavy mud at 120lbs per cubic yard

- Quick curing time. You will be driving on it 15 minutes after installation

- High Capacity. Allows for the lifting of heavier loads like stoops and slab foundations.

- Doesn't erode. Like the mud or concrete materials the polymer will not erode

Call us for a no cost inspection and estimate or click here to sign up!

Sump Pump Tragedies in Central Iowa

Wed, March 6 2013, 00:00:00 -500

What Events Lead To The End Of Your Healthy Sump Pump System

1. Failing Sump Pump Float Switches

Many sump pump systems are activated by a floating part known as a float switch. The float switch is a floating ball teathered on a mercury switch. As the water rises in the sump pump, the switch floats upwards. When it reaches a certain height, it automatically turns your system on. As the water level in the sump pit drops, the switch falls with it, and the system turns off.

One of the most notorious causes of sump pump failure is when this float switch is trapped in either the on or off position. This happens as the vibrations of the sump pump cause the unit to wander in the sump pit. As the pump reaches the edge of the pit, the switch can become stuck against the liner and will no longer automatically turn on or off.

If left in the on position, the system will run nonstop until it eventually burns out. If left in the off position, the system is disabled. If you don't have a battery backup in place, you'll most likely discover this problem the next time your basement floods.

2. Improperly Sized Sump Pits

A sump pit can be neither too small nor too large. If the pit is too small, then the sump pump will empty the pit quickly and shut off. More water will quickly fill the pit, and the cycle will repeat. This constant on/off cycle wears your system out and increases the likelihood of its overheating and breaking down.

A sump pit that's too large will also likely be too deep – and therein lies the problem. If your sump pit reaches deep below the floor, then it's gathering much more water than it needs to – and it's forcing your pump to work longer and harder to pump it out. This will unnecessarily shorten the life of your system, increase the likelihood of overheating, and cost you extra on your electric bill.

3. The “Mud Zone”

There are two places where a drainage system can be installed: on top of the foundation footing, or in the mud in front of the footing – known as the mud zone.

When a drain system is installed in the mud, it clogs. Even in cases where drainage stone is installed around the drain, the mud will eventually work its way through and cause a clog. When this happens, your system will be unable to direct water to your sump pump, and a flood will occur.

Typical PVC pipe is too large to be installed properly on top of the footing without sticking out above the floor. Instead, it's important to use a drain system that's been shaped specifically for basement waterproofing. This system can rest directly on top of the footing, but is narrow enough to be covered with concrete as the floor is restored.

4. Iron Bacteria or Iron Ochre

One uncommon – but notorious – cause of sump pump system failure can be credited to iron bacteria in your water. This microscopic organism will feed on the iron and/or manganese present in your water. As they do, they create a thick, rust-colored slime deposit.

This is a terrible problem! This thick slime will completely clog a perimeter drain, and will permanently stain nearly anything it touches. The slime can have a foul, musty odor, and can ruin clothes and foul the taste of water.

Unfortunately, there is no ideal way to handle this problem. However, many contractors now offer a basement drain system that's custom-designed to handle this – complete with a removable lid (so the ochre can be scooped out as it builds up) and a powerful sump pump system that will continue to pump water out unabated.

Because of the potential flooding in Iowa and of course in Central Iowa, there have been several programs available for the installation of sump pumps.

Check with your local city, county or with the state to see if they have a program available to you. For example, the City of Des Moines has a program that will end in 2014 for the installation of a sump pump. Click here to see more information.

No matter what challenge your wet basement holds, Midwest Basement Systems has a solution that will work for you! Their experts serve throughout Central Iowa. Our specialists are standing by to help you transform your basement into a space that's dry – all the time!

The Benefits Of Hiring A Professional Basement Waterproofer

Tue, March 5 2013, 00:00:00 -500

1. Regain A Floor Of Space In Your Home

Whether you're using your basement as storage or are planning on finishing it into additional living space, waterproofing the space will help you reclaim a substantial amount of usable space. The most cost effective space to reclaim is your basement!

If a basement is worth having, then it's certainly worth fixing it, and make the space into a usable area. Basement flooding can lead to a series of expensive problems over the years, as appliances, utilities, and everything in the area is gradually destroyed by flooding water. Conversely, a complete waterproofing system can be installed in a single day, depending on the home and the size of the basement.

2. Create A Healthier Living Space

Moisture means humidity, and humidity means mold. As mold grows on everything in the space, it will damage personal property and create an ugly space. More importantly, this mold will release allergenic and potentially toxic spores into the air, which will then be carried upstairs via the natural air movement in the building (commonly referred to as the “stack effect”).

All mold spores are allergenic – even dead spores – and can hang in the air for days. In extreme cases,and because they are so small, thousands of mold spores may be present in a single cubic centimeter of air. A human breathes in 10-12 cubic meters of air each day, andit only takes 2-3 mold spores to cause an allergic reaction.

What is the likelihood of a resident having a mold allergy? Approximately 50% of homes have at least one resident with allergies – and 90% of individuals with allergies show mold spore sensitivity. With a professionally installed waterproofing system, and Sani-dry dehumidification filtration system you will dramatically improve the health of your living space environment!

3. Restore Value To Your Home

Nobody wants a wet basement! And while you're stuck with your basement, home buyers have choices. To entice them to consider the purchase, a homeowner will generally have to discount the home by 10% of its value or more.

If you're getting ready to sell your home, and your basement is wet, cracked or broken, repair it before you put it on the market. Your home will hold it's value better, and instead of 92% of the people coming through your home walking out, and your home sitting on the market for months, you will have greater interest, and your home will more than likely sell at a faster rate. In less common cases, a realtor may arrange a basement waterproofer to visit the home and write a proposal for the work to be done.

In this case, the seller will often either agree to discount the home by the value of the waterproofing system, or will offer to waterproof the home before selling it to them. This is a great compromise all around. However, if this is your plan, why not just waterproof the space now, and enjoy the benefits of a waterproofing system in the months, years, or decades before you sell your home?

Many waterproofers offer a written warranty that can be transferred to the next homeowner at the time of sale – so you'd still have that selling edge. When you're ready to look into a professional waterproofing job, be sure to consider Midwest Basement Systems. Their experts serve throughout Central Iowa. We're standing by to help you transform your basement into dry, usable, valuable space!

Your Dry Basement Waterproofing Checklist

Tue, February 26 2013, 00:00:00 -500

1. Install a Basement Waterproofing System Regardless of what you're going to use the basement for you want to have a dry basement, and you want to keep your basement dry all of the time. A dry basement has a mulitude of possibilities for use. Protect your investment, and install a basement waterproofing system that includes a battery back-up sump pump system. You wouldn't want one mechanical failure or power outage to ruin your again.

2. Air Quality and Mold/Odor Control Waterproofing the basement is the obvious first step, however, improving the quality of the environment is the next. So, now we do not have running water, like a river, through the basement, but what about the air quality? What about protecting the family heir looms from humidity, mold and unwanted odor? At this stage it is important to dehumidify and filter the air removing dusty particles and moisture in the air. Our Sani-Dry System can do just that! Just click here to read more about this revolutionary system.

3. Create a vapor Barrier Isolate the inside of your basement from the outside. Install a CleanSpace vapor barrier on all of the exterior walls. This will add in the reduction of humidity, mold and odor control as well. This system can be completely incorporated into the waterproofing system and the two will work together protecting your home from the exterior elements.

4. Use Waterproof Basement Materials While waterproofing systems and air sealing take care of invasive moisture, leaky pipes and plumbing leaks still pose a threat to your basement. The best formula for a dry, long-lasting basement is to use materials that are waterproof and won't support mold growth. When you cover your walls and put it flooring, you'll need waterproof and mold resistant construction products designed to to get wet.

Midwest Basement Systems has been waterproofing, repairing basements and foundations for over 16 years. Our Basement and Foundation Specialists and Designers conduct in home basement and foundation inspections and can provide you with an estimate, at no cost to you, on your basement foundation repair project. Contact us today, and set an appointment for your in home basement foundation evaluation and inspection.

Dry Basement and Mold in Oskaloosa, IA

Thu, February 21 2013, 00:00:00 -500

What about Mold?

Have you ever smelled that “basement smell?” You know--the one that smells the same as your Grandparent’s basement did when you were a kid, and now? Does it smell musty and damp? Possibly like the old high school football locker-room towards the end of the season. You know stale, and dirty and in most cases reeks like no other? How do your basement walls look? Are they just plain old brick, tile and block, painted walls, or do you have either brown or green paneling from the 19xx’s?? Or maybe that drywall that’s been there through a couple of wet, but not flooded basement issues?

Even if your basement is unfinished you may have the same sort of raunchy smells emanating from the lower level of your home. Remember…houses are designed to pull the air up through the house and out the soffits at the roof line. If you think about it all of the materials and environments we are discussing lead to mold and mildew. Believe it or not, mold and mildew can lead to serious health issues. Studies show a reduction in health issues when basements have been dried out and cleaned up. What do you know about mold and mildew, and did you ever think it was serious? Have you had water damage in your basement? Have the building materials ever gotten wet? Even if you haven’t had any water damage, let’s seriously think a minute about the basement environment. It’s cold. It’s damp. It’s surrounded by concrete. And your concrete is surrounded by dirt and ground water. So where does the water go?

Please indulge me and read on during my next explanation. Well, in a basement the water slowly diffuses through your concrete walls in vapor form from the outside in because of hydrostatic pressure. You can actually take a concrete block, place it in a small tub of water, water being about a quarter of an inch in the bottom, and in about a week of time the concrete block will have completely absorbed the water in the tub. Water begins to build up more and more around your house as the backfill becomes saturated. This added weight creates an enormous amount of force (known as hydrostatic pressure) on the walls. As a side note, hydraulic pressure is used to move the loaders on excavators, end loaders, back hoes and more. This pressure pushes the water into the basement through cracks and joints, with water most commonly being pushed through the floor-wall joint. Hydrostatic pressure on the walls also pushes water vapor through the porous concrete of your home, where the drier air inside of your basement sucks it up and makes your basement air more humid. This is why the humidity level in your basement if higher than anywhere else in your home.

I mean, you wouldn’t put a dehumidifier in the kitchen, right? You can decrease the amount of moisture by installing a dehumidifier in the basement, but does that stop the moisture from coming through the walls? The answer is NO! If your home has concrete walls in the basement you will always have moisture coming through those walls. It is the nature of the beast. Now, think about the traditional ways of finishing your basement. You are probably thinking about drywall and wood studs or some other paper product like paneling, right? What happens to these products when they get wet? Moreover, what happens to these products when they get wet and they STAY wet continuously? That’s right! They all start to rot, they all start to soften, and then, they all start to grow mold. There are only two things you need for mold to grow, moisture and cellulose, or food.

Paper products mold very easily, especially drywall. It’s like mold candy! When you think of drywall, think of Bounty, yes Bounty, the paper towel. Drywall is also “The quicker picker upper!” As I’ve already mentioned, concrete is porous and has moisture moving through it at all times, whether you see it or not. So, what do you think happens to that drywall, those wood studs, or that paneling over time? Have you ever thought about what could be growing behind your finished drywall or paneling? Even if you haven’t had a ground water leak, or a pipe burst, or your hot water heater hasn’t exploded, or your washing machine hoses have never burst…Your basement is surrounded by water! Why would you put an inappropriate building material, such as drywall, in a moist and potentially wet environment? More importantly, why would you expose your family or yourself to an unhealthy and moldy environment? This is where Midwest Basement Systems can help. We have basement wall covering products designed building scientists and manufacturers to develop a wall system ideally suited for basement conditions. EverLast Wall Panels, BriteWall, and ZenWall will not get moldy or rot and cannot be damaged by moisture! This creates a healthy, mold and mildew free place for family and friends. These wall products are NOT like drywall.

Drywall with fiberglass insulation supports mold growth, will damage from moisture, and will lose insulation value when wet. Who wants to replace drywall or paneling over and over each time it gets damaged? These wall products have the best warranty in the business against water damage! Decorate now with the latest interior styles and then one year or ten years from now, take it all down and decorate with a new style! Unlike drywall, our panels are maintenance free, which means no painting, patching, or repairing damaged walls. I don’t know about you but I have never been a fan of repairing drywall!

Wall products from Midwest Basement Systems are washable which means no dull spots in the painted drywall from scrubbing the family’s beautiful marker and crayon masterpiece off the wall! No maintenance, no moisture, no mold, no problem! All in all, by finishing your basement ONCE with Midwest Basement Systems’ wall products and other great warranted flooring products, you will have a healthy and safe space for you and your family to spend some quality time together or just some more legroom to entertain your guests when comes to the big game! Call Midwest Basement Systems today for a free design consultation to get started on your project!

Signs of Foundation Settlement

Fri, February 8 2013, 00:00:00 -500

February 5th, 2013

Panora, Iowa

All foundations settle, don't they? The interesting thing about foundation settlement is in most instances the settlement occurs over time. During this time, we as humans adapt to the changes. Here in the Central United States, and more specifically, Central Iowa, the drought has advanced time, and foundations have taken a real beating this past year.

In the lake areas of Iowa, the lack of vegetation to hold the soil has been an issue. This issue is noted when the rains have come and washed away the soil. Although it didn’t rain a lot, the rain we received did cause damage from run off and from cracks in the ground around the foundations. The “run off” sent the soil down towards the lake, causing “wash out” and the wash out weakened the strength of the soil holding the significant weight of the foundations and structures above and settlement occurred. Homes with proper drainage and landscaping were not hit as hard.

Signs and Symptoms

Depending on where the settlement has occurred, whether it is a corner or the house, the corner and one side, a corner and two sides, maybe you are on a slab, and possibly two sides of the house have dropped and settled up-heaving the center. If you can’t see the possible damage clearly, other signs of settlement could be windows that do not open and close properly, doors that do not open and close properly, cracks in the drywall around the interior window frames and door jams, and sliding doors that stick and do not open and close properly. In any case, fixing and repairing the foundation is imperative.

Now what?

We have learned from experience that foundation settlement will not reverse it self or repair itself. So, a repair and stablilization is the answer. In many instances you can lift the settlement back into place, however there are times when stablilization is the only answer. A trained professional is the key, and can answer all of your questions.

What should you do?

First, give us a call and schedule a foundation inspection and evaluation. This in home evaluation is free to you and your family. We will be happy to assist you in any way we can.

Is a Sump Pump by any other name still a Sump Pump?

Fri, February 15 2013, 00:00:00 -500

Central Iowa

January 31, 2013

Over the last several months we have had the worst drought in dighty plus year of recorded weather history. Those of us who have had leaky basements most likely didn't have a leaky basement this past year. Unfortunately a leaky basement does not fix itself, and it will leak again. Is a sump pump the answer? It certainly is a start or beginning to the solution.

A sump pump installed in the basement is only going to draw or be fed by an area somewhere in a radius two to five feet from the sump pit. It will collect and pump this water out, but what about the water on the opposite side of the basement? Where is this water going? Will it ever reach the sump pump on the other side of the basement? Most likely the water, as the hydrostactic pressure builds up, with look for a place to go that has the least amount of resistance. Where is that you ask, usually, either up through floor cracks or the floor joint and into your basement. The underground water doesn't travel far enough through through the soil to get the sump and pump on the opposite side of the basement.

Are all sump pumps the same? Actually they are not. So let's highlight the best features you should be looking for. Before we start what are the three most common pump problems. There are three: 1) pump failure, 2) single pump can't keep up with the volume of water from a hard rain, 3) power failure. Add them together and it equals big problems in your basement.

So make sure your pumping system has or does the following:

- an air tight lid

- more than one pump

- a back up system

- a battery back up

- water watch pump alarm

- a large sump pit

Simply a system that operates in this fashion; first, the first pump does most of the pumping most of the time. It should be a reliable efficient, smooth running, third horse power cast iron pump, two; the mechanism that switches on and off addition pumps should be automatic, three; a second pump to handle additional and large water flows during hard rains or should the first pump fail. This pump should be at least one half horse power. When operating in tandem they should move more that 6000 gallons of water per hour out of your basement. The second pump is bigger giving you a bigger boost when you need it, three; the battery back up pump which is a direct current operating pump, operates if your breaker disengage or the power is out in your neighborhood. This pump completes your protection.

This is three pumps! Yes it is, and they all fit together into one system. Click here and take a look.

Mold in your Home from the Crawl Space

Tue, February 5 2013, 00:00:00 -500

Mold knows why it was put here. If it's organic, dead and wet, mold knows how to eat it. Organic means it is a material that was once living, such as wood. Mold sends out its spores everywhere, which can lay dormant for many years. So when something organic, dead and wet mold grows on it eating it away. Now...when we say mold we ar talking about any mold, or fungi, of which there are thousands of varieties. Since mold spores are literally everywhere, and our building materials are organic, and the contents of our homes are primarily organic, mold has plenty of opportunity for a food source. Most of this we can not control, however, we can control the moisture and humidity in our homes.

Mold is crafty, and it needs about 70% relative humidity to grow, however this is a loose number. Some molds can grow in less, and some need more. In many cases, like in a crawl space, the relative humidity of th surrounding air and the relative humidity of the surfaces are two different things because of temperature differences between the air and the surfaces.

Mold seems to really like processed organic fibers. Things like paper and cardboard. Let me rephrase for the home, things like stored paper products like old tests, kids projects, school art work, books, tax returns, and of course all other important papers. In addition, cardboard boxes for moving and storage of all of the above. After mold gets ahold of its favorites (paper and cardboard) it goes after fiberboard and chipboard and then into plywood and finally for dessert the framing lumber. Here's a thought...Drywall has paper on it, so...mold will chase down drywall pretty hard.

Mold releases airborne spores, or seeds, which are so light they float on the slightest air currents, both outside and inside, off to find more suitable places to grow and to feed. Most, but not all, people are not allergic to mold spores. The higher the concentration of mold spores, the greater the percentage of people who will be bothered by them. Stands to reason.

There is plenty of information on mold and its effects on your families health, so we won't discuss it here, but a couple of things are for sure; one is, vented dirt crawl spaces are a breeding mold and mold spores, two, vented dirt crawl spaces can be encapsulated significantly reducing its contribution to mold, and three we can control our moisture and relative humidity in our homes significantly control the environment and holding mold in check.

Crawl Spaces, Vented or Non-Vented

Fri, February 1 2013, 00:00:00 -500

Over time mankind has always been learning, developing and implementing new techniques in the building trades. One of those areas is the dirt crawl space under your home. For years builders have vented those crawl spaces, and currently there isnt any evidence or science that says a vented crawl space makes sense. Having said that, there is tons of evidence showing vented crawl spaces being a serious problem, and developing into a health epidemic. Yet thousands of new homes and thousands of additions are built each year with dirt crawl spaces that are vented. Currently there are 27 million of them.

The building codes not only allow for dirt crawl spaces, but actually made the problem much worse by allowing the dirt crawl spaces to be vented. Homeowners and the US economy are paying the price in so many ways. In the winter months homeowner are paying higher heating costs, and in the summer higher cooling costs as the outside are is coming in through the vents and blending with the inside air. In the winter the air ducts that run under the dirt crawl are chilled from the outside air being drawn into the crawl space, and inversely the same is heated in the summer months. This is causing inefficient heating and cooling, which is raising costs over all. Your home costs money to operate - to heat and cool, and to maintain. A vented dirt crawl space raises your heating and cooling cost 15% and up 25% every month, and makes it very likely you will have a big expense for mold removal and/or rotten wood replacement.

In addition, the vents allow allergens, dust, and bugs to enter your home. Did you ever wonder why there were so many spider webs in your dirt crawl space? Another issue is the musty moldy odor produced out of the dirt crawl space.

Complete encapulation of your dirt crawl space is the only answer. If your home, with the venter dirt crawl space is worth owning, it is worth fixing!!

Sagging Floors above a Crawl Space?

Tue, January 29 2013, 00:00:00 -500

January 29th, 2013

Des Moines, Iowa

Saggy floors or girders under your Crawl Space? Are the piers holding the floor and girders settling? Generally it means trouble for your crawl space and can result in unlevel floors, doors and windows that stick, or worse, won't open or close, and those nasty cracks in the dry wall are always needing fixed and repaired.

Let's take a moment and list some of the causes:

- Floor framing has a spanning distance that is too far. This has caused a sag in the floor over time.

- Floor framing is weakened by moisture and rot, and then in turn has sagged.

- Piers holding the flooring up could have supports or footings that have simply sunk and settled.

- Weight added to the floor greater that what the floor was designed for.

All of these are possible, and most of the time one or more of these things is the cause of the sinking floor. Is there anything that can be done? Absolutely!! Simply put, the floor needs to be supported.

Give us a call! We will come out and design a support solution best suited for your home and property. Call us at 515 289-1606.

Job Opportunities - Sales Person

Thu, January 3 2013, 00:00:00 -500

Start your 2013 with a GREAT new career. Iowa's Largest Waterproofing and Foundation Repair Company is seeking highly motivated and self disciplined applicants for the position of System Design Specialist.

This position is a 100% Commission based position with over $100K income potential. Great communication skills and computer skills are required. Prior sales experience is not required as we will train the right person. This is a multi-million dollar company with a great team atmosphere. Health and dental insurance are available.... Do you have the skills and drive to become a part of "TEAM MIDWEST BASEMENT SYSTEMS?"

Applicants must have great communication skills and be self disciplined with a very friendly attitude. Must have your own transportation with valid drivers license. Computer skills (Microsoft Office) are a plus. Must be able to pass a background check. Please send a resume. Responses without a resume will not be considered. No information about the position can be obtained by calling our office...please e-mail your information to rod@midwestbasementsystems.com.

Foundation Repair Problems in the Des Moines Winter?

Tue, November 20 2012, 00:00:00 -500

What a year! The dry soils shriveled up, pulled away from the basement foundation walls, and has allowed foundations to settle, break and bow. In extreme cases, the walls have crumbled and fallen inward onto the basement floor.

How do you know if you have foundation problems? There are simple ways for us to tell if we have foundation problems. If you have a clay block wall or a concrete block wall, the easiest way is to look at the foundation. Look for cracks in the mortar joints. These cracks can be in a variety of different areas, but start in the corners of the basement. There you can find stair step cracks, and they are either leading toward the basement corners or leading away.

Another area is around the basement windows. The window is arguably the weakest part of the basement wall. So take a look in the corners of the window. What you are looking for is simply cracking moving away from the window. Then of course, there are the cracks moving the length of the wall. This crack will find a line or a course of block, and run the length of the wall. This one can be crafty. It can look like a shrink crack in the mortar on one in, get worse in the middle, and then try to hide itself on the other end of the wall. Many times the bow in a wall will come from this crack.

What if I have basement finish covering the walls? Well, take a walk around the outside and look, or check your entire house for sticky door, and sticky widows. This is an easy way to check for foundation settlement and movement. Also, you can look at the corners of door jams, and windows for cracks in the drywall.

Common answers we hear are, "This year I noticed a tiny little crack that wasn't there last year." or "This crack has been here since we moved in, and now it is considerably larger." Most likely both have occur because of the significantly dry soil for 2012 and the worst drought in 80 years. What do I do? Get the walls repaired?

Why repair the wall, the crack has been here ever since I moved in, or its just a little crack? The short answer is big cracks and bows in the wall generally all started out as little cracks. The long answer is, the soil is dry now, and is waiting to be rehydrated. During this time wall repair, and wall straightening is best depending on exactly what signs your home is exhibiting. Why? Because we can get the greatest recovery out of the wall. In addition, the soil waiting for water will eventually get it and will begin to re-expand. These expanding soils are going push up against the walls, and will continue to cause damage to the basement foundation wall. Repair the problem before the problem becomes a larger problem.

Can I make these repairs in the winter? Yes, most of the repairs can be done from inside the basement. In extreme cases, we can still work from the outside. Now, please keep in mind, "Mother Nature" can dictate some of the agenda, but external basement foundation repairs can be done during the winter months.

If you need some one to come out and look at your basement foundation give us a call at [phone].

Wet Basement Again? Protect Yourself and your Home

Tue, November 20 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Wet Basement? Not this year?

Past water problems or foundation issues, unfortunately do not get better on their own. The spring thaw comes every year and is just around the corner, and so are the spring rains. Although we had a drought, and the worst drought in 80 years, basements that were wet will be wet again.

This year's soil is very dry and has shrunk and pulled away from the foundation. We have seen 2 and 3 inch gaps between the soil and the foundation in some areas. This very dry and shriveled soil is currently going to be stubborn when it comes to receiving moisture during freeze and thaw of snow this winter, the spring thaw, and the spring rains. Before the soil loosens back up water is simply going to run off of it. The small eighth inch to three inch gap around your foundation is the most likely place for the water to enter. The water will run straight down the outside of the wall and begin to pool around the bottom part of the wall and the footing. As the water seeks the path of least resistance it is also going to pool around the footing on the other side as well. The other side is the under the floor and next to the footing and the bottom of the wall.

Both areas are surrounding the floor joint where all three pieces (the floor pad, the footing, and the bottom of the wall) all come together. Water can leak through cracks in the floor, and cracks in the wall, but the most common place for water to seep and leak is at the joint.

Waterproofing a basement before it once again becomes a problem is a good thing to do. Additionally, this type of repair can be done in the winter. The winter you say....yes the winter!! Most people think contractors roll up the welcome mat and go some place warm for the winter. Waterproofing can be done from inside the house, and the process is taking place well below the frost line. The soil below the frost line can sit at a temperature around 50 degrees and is easy to work with. The installation is safe for your home. After the waterproofing installation, your home will be protected from the spring thaw, the spring rains and the summer rains as well.

No weather will keep Midwest Basement Systems from protecting your home from the elements. We work indoors below the frostline so those frigid winter days are never an issue. Our transferable basement waterproofing warranties are the best in the business you can rest easy knowing your basement will stay dry permanently!

Whether it’s a blizzard, thunder storm, or a drought, working year ‘round is what we’re all about. Call Midwest Basement Systems for “All Things Basementy!”

Food Bank of Iowa and Midwest Basement Systems

Sun, November 18 2012, 00:00:00 -500

The Food Bank of Iowa is a charitable, not-for-profit organization committed to our vision of a hunger-free Iowa, and a mission of alleviating hunger through food distribution, partnership and education.

From the time the dock doors opened in 1982, we have maintained our No. 1 priority – maximizing “food in – food out” to meet the critical needs of a diverse population through our network of partner agencies in 55 Iowa counties.

As a non-profit food bank, our primary role is to provide food to the charitable agencies offering direct service to hungry Iowans.

Along with traditional food banking, the Food Bank of Iowa also operates three successful programs: Backpack Buddies, HUSH and the Fresh Produce Project.

Some interesting facts are 1 in 8 Iowans are food insecure, and 1 in 5 Iowa children do not have enough to eat. Midwest Basement Systems is setting up a drop off point at our corporate offices to assist the Food Bank of Iowa in collect much needed food.

We are open Monday - Friday from 8:00am to 6:00pm and Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. You can drop off food during these hours. In addition, we do not have the capability of handle parishable foods. Please bring non-parishable food items.

We will begin accepting food on November 20th, 2012 and go through December 31st, 2012. During this time will we make continual deliveries to the Food Bank to keep up with the holiday season.

Thanks for all of your help and support.

Toys for Tots at Midwest Basement Systems.

Sat, November 17 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Since 1947 the United State Marine Corp and its Reservists have been collecting and distributing toys for needy children. The first year they were able to collect 5000 in the Los Angeles area, and over time the program has grown to collecting a total amount of 313 million toys. What a fantasic achievment!

The idea came from Diane Hendricks, wife of Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR. She made a hand crafted doll for a needy child and asked her husband to deliver it to that type of organization. During his search Major Hendricks determined there wasn't such an organization at that time. His wife, Diane, said that he should start one. So he did. If you have ever questioned if one thought, one idea, or one person can make a difference, this is the perfect example that it can make a difference!

In 1948, the United States Marine Corp and its Reservists, adopted the program and turned it into the national campaign we all know about today. This shows the incredible efforts of the Marine Corp.

Here at Midwest Basement Systems we support the efforts of USMC Toys for Tots. We are a "drop off" point for the program. Simply come to 5153 NE 17th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50313 and drop of a toy or ten toys. We will begin after Thanksgiving and receive toys until the 20th of December 2012. At that time we will take the toys to the USMC so they can be delivered.

Toys for Tots accept only new, unwrapped toys. Please bring the toys in this format and fashion. You can drop off the toys Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 6:00pm, and 9:00am to 2:00pm on Saturdays.

On behalf of the United States Marine Corp, thanks for your help! Happy Holidays.

Midwest Basement Systems' 2012 Dealer Convention Awards

Mon, October 8 2012, 09:29:12 -500

Midwest Basement Systems was recently honored at a meeting with close to 1,000 guests from all over the United States, Canada and the UK, at this year’s Team Basement Systems Convention.

The annual convention is held each year between Seymour, CT (Basement Systems headquarters) and Hartford, CT and brings together dealerships of the international network for training, seminars, networking, celebration, vendor and team building events.

This year Midwest Basement Systems received 4 awards at the Team Basement Systems International Convention. They were awarded for ranking in the Top 5 for FSI Dealers for PowerBraces and in the Top 20 Per Capita Awards for Basement Systems. They also ranked in the Top 50 FSI Dealers for Total Sales and the Top 20 Basement Systems for Dealers by Purchases.

The high-powered event featured international motivational speaker Andy Andrews! Andrews, world-renowned speaker and author (The Travelers Gift) dazzled the crowd with his presentation highlighting personal choices and attitudes that make the difference between failure and success.

Google even had a presence at this spectacular event! Two Google representatives delivered a behind the scenes peek at how to best utilize the search engines tools for successful business results!

Midwest Basement Systems is a certified Basement Systems dealer specializing in basement waterproofing, crawl space repair, basement finishing, mold control and foundation settlement. They are based in Des Moines, Iowa and have been waterproofing basements in the area since 1995.

Basement Systems is an international network of basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and basement finishing contractors, led by company founder and President, Larry Janesky. The international headquarters, based in Seymour, CT has been helping homeowners increase their usable living space for over 20 years across the United States, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The company has 27-patented basement and crawl space products, designed to help homeowners get more out of their basements and increase their home's value.

Central Decatur School Renovation Project

Fri, September 14 2012, 14:54:05 -500

The Central Decatur Community High School underwent a renovation project to repair distress in the building caused by settlement. Differential cracking in the floor slabs and cracked and settled partition walls were observed. A geotechnical investigation determined probable cause of the settlement to be wetting and subsequent collapse of fill soils as well as consolidation of buried topsoil beneath the weight of fill. Several repair options were considered, including helical piles, jacked pipe piles, bored micropiles and an verexcavation and structural backfill replacement of the soil. Over-excavation and replacement of the fill were ruled out due to expense, access limitations and vibration caused by compaction. Penetrating through hard, dry to damp fill soils at the site was also a concern, as reaching the suitable bearing stratum could be difficult. Pile depths of at least 15 feet were required in order to reach the underlying native sandy clay (glacial till) and provide adequate support for the 20 kip design load per pile.

Buzzard Billy's Deck Support

Fri, September 7 2012, 17:55:05 -500

Buzzard Billy’s Restaurant was moving to a freshly renovated building north of the downtown area of Des Moines. The building ’s original location was in the Court Avenue section of town that was flooded in 2008. Two new decks were planned on the north and south sides of the building. The design dead and live loads for the proposed decks were relatively light; however, a geotechnical investigation at the project site encountered soft soils and possible rubble about seven feet deep.

An economical and effective deep foundation system was required to support the proposed decks. Design loads per deep foundation element were 10 kips and 20 kips for the north and south decks, respectively.

The National Cattle Congress In Waterloo, Iowa

Mon, September 3 2012, 00:00:00 -500

September 3rd, 2012

Waterloo, Iowa

The National Cattle Congress

This year will be our first year exhibiting at the National Cattle Congress. What an exciting event for us. A short little bit of research showed us some of the history of the event which began in 1910. This 102 year old tradition has been a constant in the Dairy Farm and Farmer industry. The show of October 1910 was a great success, in part to its leadership of one Hugh G. Van Pelt. Van Pelt was the General Manager of the first five Dairy Congresses. During his tenure he orchestrated shows and events as well as transportation allowing Cattle Breeders from far and wide to travel and exhibit their prize winning first class cattle in Waterloo, Iowa.

As with any event and organization, The National Cattle Congress has been met with adversity. Windstorms in 1925 knocking down major structures, the Great Depression, World War I and World War II, and all the while the leadership of the National Cattle Congress kept the event alive. For over a 100 years people, vendors, exhibitors, and cattleman have come to Waterloo Iowa to be entertained and show off their products goods and services. This year Midwest Basement Systems is happy, and proud to join this rich history as an exhibitor.

We will be exhibiting Basement Waterproofing, Basement Structural Repair, Basement Finshing, and Nasty Crawl Spaces too. Come in a talk to us at the booth, we will be ready to help you signed up for one of our free consultation and estimates. Come up and see us, we look forward to meeting all of you.

In addition, there are a number of shows and attraction at the National Cattle Congress fair. You can find them here at http://www.nationalcattlecongress.com/NCC-Fair.php?content=Calendar

Christ the King Catholic Church Sweet Corn Festival

Wed, August 8 2012, 00:00:00 -500

August 8th, 2012

Des Moines, Iowa 50315

Christ the King Catholic Church Sweet Corn Festival

The 6th Annual Christ the King Sweet Corn Festival will be held August 25th, 2012 from 10:00am to 10:00pm on the church campus at 5711 SW 9th Street on Des Moines' Southside. The day begins with a family 5K walk/run race at 9:00am.

This Festival will began with an Outdoor Mass, being held now for 9 years. As you all know, the summer in Iowa is the best time for some of the best sweet corn on the planet. The Festival is designed to be a community building event and not a fundraiser. The entire community is invited to join and attend the event and all of its activities. Admission is free to all who come.

Midwest Basement Systems is proud to be a sponsor of this community event. It is great to see families, kids, and neighbors enjoying themselves and eating lots and lots of sweet corn. For additional information you can go to http://www.midwestbasementsystems.com and click on our home show calendar. Or, go to http://www.christthekingparish.org.

If you have questions simply contact Chris at chrisa@christthekingparish.org. Chris is the business manager and can help answer all of your questions.

Plan to go out on the 25th of August and join the fun and eat lots of sweet corn. See you all there!

Follow the festival on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Christ-the-King-Annual-Sweet-Corn-Festival/147930055222399

Fishing Tournament to Raise Money for Cystic Fibrosis

Wed, August 1 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Perry Iowa

August 1st, 2012

Muddfoot Riverbillies Carp Fishing Tournament

Cystic Fibrosis is a disease effecting the lungs, primarily, and additionally the liver, pancreas and intestine. In general, it is the a condition and characterized as a disease that causes the body to have thick mucus build up in the lungs. In 1930 it was also noticed that cysts and scarring were occuring within the pancreas. For most of us we recognize this as a disease of the lungs accompanied with breathing difficulty.

Some of the common signs and symptoms are breathing difficulty, poor growth and weight gain even though there is normal food intake, accumulation of thick and sticky mucus, and frequent chest infections. These diagnosis is generally found in infancy and childhood because of bowel upstructions, and milder cases on in to adults. Children will need a daily regiment of exercise to help release the excess mucus out of the aveoli.

The recesive gene needed for Cystic Fibrosis is found in 1 of 29 caucasions. It takes the passing of 2 genes, one from mom and one from dad to have the mutation occur. There are lots of articles on the subject of Cystic Fibrosis, and what we have just written is a thumb nail sketch. Check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystic_fibrosis as an understandable source of information. Additional sources are available and have a prolific amount of information. Another source to look at is http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cystic-fibrosis/DS00287.

And of course you can always go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at http://www.cff.org/

Midwest Basement Systems is proud to be involved in the Muddfoot Riverbillies Carp Fishing Tournament. This fishing tournament is a local fund raising effort to assist families in the Perry Iowa area who have family members suffering from this life threaten disease. The date of the tournament is August 25th from 8am to 6pm. You can find additional information at http://www.muddfootriverbillies.com and http://muddfootriverbillies.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/20120710093134687.pdf to down load a copy of the flier for the event.

Additionally you can go to http://www.facebook.com/muddfootriverbillies and like us on FaceBook.

Midwest Basement Systems at Iowa State Fair

Mon, July 30 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Polk County, Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

The Iowa State Fair, now a 101 years old, is on the the United States oldest and longest running State Fairs. The fairgrounds are located on Des Moines eastside at the corner of East 30th and East University, and the physical address is:

3000 East Grand Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50315

Because of the Iowa State Fairs rich tradition there is a lot of recorded history about the Fair. An incredible amount to blog about, however we will trim it down and talk about a few of the high points. A great resource is the internet and this site, which is a wikipedia site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_Fair.

As the story goes, the Iowa State Fair was first held in Fairfield, Iowa and on a working budget of just of $300.00 in 1854. Yes, just over $300 bucks. Over time the Fair moved from town to town, mostly in Eastern Iowa, until it came to rest and reside permanantly in the city limits of Des Moines, Iowa in 1878. Now the Iowa State Fair is host to hundreds of attractions and shows, livestock, agriculture, and professional vendors. With one million visitors annually it is with out a doubt a gem with in the great State of Iowa.

The Iowa State Fair is an annual event, however it missed a couple of years. One was the year the World's Fair was held in the Omaha area in 1898, and because of the prolonged Spanish - American War. In additition, the Fair closed its doors in 1942, during World War II, to allow the military to use the property as a supply hub during the war effort. As I said, rich with tradition and history.

To find out this years Fair Schedule go to http://www.iowastatefair.org/ and look up all of the entertainment and attractions available at the Fair. This year we will be exhibiting at the Iowa State Fair. Stop by and see us at our booth in the air conditioned "Varied Industries Building". We are looking forward to seeing you and perhaps meeting you for the first time.

This year Midwest Basement Systems is proud to announce our participation at the Iowa State Fair. From August 9th - 19th, we will be exhibiting Basement Waterproofing, Basement Finishing, Foundation and Structural Repair, Crawl Space Repair, and as you might have guessed, "All Things Basementy"! The Varied Industries Building will be open from 9:00am to 9:00pm daily during the Fair.

At Midwest Basement Systems we are exciting to be envoled with the Iowa State Fair and all of its rich history and tradition. Come in, cool off and visit with our staff about you concerns regarding the basement of your home. Or, you can visit us on the web at http://www.midwestbasementsystems.com and on Facebook as well at http://www.facebook.com/#!/MidwestBasementSystems.

Freeborn County Fair

Sat, July 28 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Albert Lea MN

Freeborn County MN

July 28th, 2012

The Freeborn County Fair http://www.freeborncountyfair.com/

1031 Bridge Ave

Albert Lea, Minnesota 56007

Its here, the Freeborn County Fair in Albert Lea MN. This long standing tradition is The Six Best Days of Summer in the southern Minnesota Area. Located at the Freeborn County Fair Grounds, on Bridge Ave, in Albert Lea http://www.freeborncountyfair.com/?page_id=64 opens its doors for fun seeking participants from all over the area on July 31st, 2012.

Fair activites include, Antique Tractors Show, Arts and Crafts, Commercial Vendor exhibits, State and County Conservation exhibits, and of course Farming, Agriculture and Livestock. This year's fair will prove to be one of the best in the history of the Freeborn County Fair.

The entertainment schedule is robust. Click on this link and check-out the line up. http://www.freeborncountyfair.com/?page_id=9 The professional acts will be here to entertain young and old alike. Tickets are available online and at the Fair. The cost is only $25 per person per show. What a bargin!

The Freeborn County Fair dates are Tuesday July 31st, 2012 throught Sunday August 5th, 2012. Gather your family and friends, and head to Albert Lea for all upcoming Fair attractions, entertainment and exhibits.

The Fleming Building Des Moines, Iowa

Mon, July 30 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Des Moines, Iowa

July 28th, 2012

The Fleming Building

The historic Fleming Building in Downtown Des Moines, Iowa is undergoing renovation and remodeling.

Designed and built in 1909, by architect Daniel Burnham, showcases technological innovation of tall building construction of the early 1900's. The renovation of the Fleming Building will transform this historic structure into elegant apartments from studio style to large spacious two bedroom downtown dwellings.

The view from these units will be spectacular. The Fleming Building is located in the Central business district of downtown Des Moines, Iowa at 6th and Walnut.

These units will have easy access to the downtown area via the skywalk, and all of the downtown activities, evening and weekend attractions and entertainment.

In addition, the Fleming Building will be adding offices, office space, and restuarants on the first two floors of this 11 story historic structure making it one of the most desirable places to live and work in the city.

You will be able to follow the progress of the renovation either by walking or driving by, and on their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fleming-Building/136773956410934 or their twitter page http://twitter.com/flemingbuilding.

Here are Midwest Basement Systems and Foundation SupportWorks of Central Iowa, we are proud to be a part of this renovations. You can see some of the renovation on our website photo gallary.

Our site is http://www.midwestbasementsystems.com Go to the photo gallary section and look up The Fleming Building.

North Iowa Up in Smoke BBQ Bash and Midwest Basement Systems

Thu, July 26 2012, 00:00:00 -500

July 26, 2012

Mason City, Iowa

This will be would be the third annual North Iowa Up In Smoke Barbeque Bash. This event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 28-29 in East Park. You don’t want to miss it!

We have been assured it’s going to be bigger, and it’s going to be better than it was last year. With all of the buzz around the area we are sure that it is.

More than 12 teams will compete Friday evening in a chili“cook-off.” Each will whip up at least five gallons. Visitors can buy tickets to sample the chili and vote for “Master Chili Chef.”

The first Up In Smoke Margarita Contest also will be held Friday. Barbecue competitors can submit their favorite margaritas for judging by Barbeque Bash sponsors.

Friday, July 27, 2012 schedule and entertainment is:

5:00pm the Beer Garden and Food Court Opens
5:30pm enjoy the Chili cook-off and tasting
7:00pm the music by the Chocolate Crackers begins
11:00pm the event closes down for the evening

On Saturday you can begin you day at:

11:00am the Beer and Food Court, and the Kids Play area open
11:30am the KCBS Competition and Judging begins
2:00pm the music by PV and Phantoms begins
4:00pm is the Awards
6:00pm the event is completed for another year

Barbecue-wise, at least 66 teams from as far off as Texas, Missouri and Illinois will compete for over $10,000 in cash awards, showing off their best chicken, ribs, pork shoulder and beef brisket.

There will be 12 barbecue vendors, up from nine last year. And other food vendors also will be on hand.

Other competitions:

A Kids’ ‘Q,’ in which youngsters prepare their best chicken and hamburger.
The first “Up in Bloody Mary” contest, to wake you up on Saturday morning.
An “Anything Butt …” contest, in which chefs fix something they wouldn’t normally during competitions: shrimp, lobster, you name it.
And a dessert contest for the competing barbecue teams. Previous creations have included barbecue apple pie, and New York cheese cake dipped in chocolate and placed on a stick.

A current poll shows this event to be one of the State of Iowa’s fastest growing. And why not?

The really nice thing about this event is it’s FREE, and you will be able to sample world class BBQ as these teams do their very best to win the $10,000.00 cash prize.

We think this is going to be quite a party in East Park of the town of Mason City Iowa.

BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - 3rd Annual Carp Fishing Tournament

Thu, July 26 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Ok, now I know Carp fishing doesn't have anything at all to do with basements. But, hey, I'm Bill and this is my basement blog and I want to talk about it anyway. Soooooo, here we go......

This year marks the third annual Carp fishing tournament for Cystic Fibrosis to be held in Perry Iowa. If some of you don't know where Perry is, it's about half an hour north west of Des Moines on highway 141. If you've never been there you really should make the trip. I've lived out there for about 10 years now and I gotta tell you, it's just one of the nicest places in Iowa to be. Anyway, to stay on task here. The tournament this year will be on Saturday August 25. Regestration and check in will start at 6 30am at Patee park in Perry. All proceeds from regestration and the raffles will be split in half, with half going to the 3 kids involved this year and half be paid out in prizes.

The cash prizes will be paid to the Team with the biggest fish and the team with the heaviest stringer wieght. There will also be a small prize for the team with the smallest fish. After wiegh in all the fish will be donated to Avian Resources, a group that cares for Bald Eagles unable to care for themselves in the wild. Avian Resourses will even have a Bald Eagle at the event. I can tell you, if you've never seen a Bald Eagle up close you have got to check it out. They are much bigger in person than I thought they were.

There will also be a huge bake sale. This alone is worth the trip. I was amazed last year at the huge selection of baked goods donated by area chefs. I can tell you this, my wife and I stocked up on all kinds of baked foodstuffs.

Every year there has been a lot of donated items raffled off and this year is no different. Midwest Basement Systems has donated a boat again. This years boat is a 16 foot Allweld semi v flatbottom. the boat has an aluminum floor and mount for a trolling motor already installed. We purchased this boat from SW Marine in Palo, IA. Earier this year Brian Galavan (one of the organizers of the event) was at a fishing show at the fairgrounds in Des Moines and talked with the folks at SW Marine about the fishing tournament and where the proceeds went and SW was very interested in getting involved.

So when the time came to purchase the boat we got ahold of them and made the 2 hour drive. I can tell you it was worth the drive. These folks specialize in boats made for hunting and fishing and we got a great deal on this one. If you are in the market for a fishing boat give them a call at 319-851-3825. Tell em Bill sent ya.

The tournament has always been a great time for everyone involved. The volunteers have a lot of fun organizing and putting it on. A lot of people leave with some very tasty baked goods. A lot of people win raffle prizes and a couple people win some money because they're better at fishing (or just lucky, I'm not calling that one) but at the end of the day it's all for a great cause. So come on out on the 25th of August and do some fishing on Racoon River.

Foundation Repair vs Wet Basement

Mon, July 23 2012, 00:00:00 -500

High temperatures, moiture evaporation, and lack of rain has caused the soil to dry up and crack. The dry soil has shriveled, withered up in most of Iowa included the Central Iowa area. But what does this mean? Is this worse than a wet basement? Let's take a look and compair.

Everyone either has a story or friend who has a story regarding a wet basement. The story, like all stories has a beginning, a middle and an end. The beginning many times starts with, "I should have called to get this fixed several years ago, and with all of the distractions and places we have to spend our money the repair of the basement never got done." Or it can have a beginning that has an I thought it was repaired when the guy put in a new sump pump, but you didn't know that unless you put in lines to feed the sump pump it will only help the area closest to the sump and not the rest of the basement. All the while you have spent thousands of dollars finishing the basement only to have it flood and ruin your finished basement.

The middle is usually the clean up story. All of the ruined dry wall, carpet and pad, furniture, electronics, memories, valuables, and the list goes on and on. Wet-vaccing during the middle of the night, hauling the water up the stairs to dump it and back down again to fill the wet vac another time. It is a horrible experience!

The end of the story is the expense of replacing the everything that was damaged. I just did this in my own home, but it wasn't from mother nature raining on us and flooding the basement. It was from a plumbing leak. Did you know that unattended, a broken water pipe can deliver more that 600 gallons of water an hour into your home? Anyway, many times the end of the story has moments of humor, the pain of the event, and it seems like it all ends well. Except, the basement is still not waterproofed and is waiting for the entire event to repeat itself.

The point of all of this all of us humans do not adapt to water quickly. However, water in the basement most of the time damages the basement and tends to be contained into the basement. A wet basement does not tend to effect the upper levels of the home.

Let's take a look at the foundation. In dry times, the wet basement repair idea gets put even further back on the burner. Out of sight, out of mind. But, what's going on with the house. During dry times the basement and foundation is shifting and settling. The settling is subtle and many times goes unnoticed. We as humans can adapt to subtle changes, and adapt to things that are unseen.

Go take a look at you basement. Look for cracks, and bowing walls, stair step cracks in the corners, and cracks in the basement floor. The basement floor is an important part of the foundation and its stablity. If your basement is finished, go around the upper levels and open and close doors, and open and close windows. Sticky doors, and sticky windows are indicators of foundation settlement. But, the important place to look is the attic. What kind of stress is happening in the rafters of your home.

The point of all of this is the wet basement, and although never fun, the damage is generally contained in the basement. However, in this blog you can read that the damage of a broken foundation stretches and reaches to all of the levels of the house. The damage is tremendous.

Mudfoot Riverbillies Carp Fishing Tournament

Mon, July 16 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Perry, Iowa

August 25th, 2012

3rd Annual Mudfoot Riverbillies Carp Fishing Tournament

08:00am to 06:00pm

Join us for this years Annual Mudfoot Riverbillies Carp fishing Tournament on August 25th, 2012 starting at 08:00am and ending at 06:00pm. This event is a fund raiser for the local area families with family members struggling and/or suffering from Cystic Fibrosis.

There will be some pretty great prizes, and a flat bottom fishing boat w/trailer will be raffled off as well. All of the fish that are caught will be donated to "Saving our Avian Resources," which is an organization to help and assist distressed bald eagles. The fish will be used to feed and care for these beautiful birds.

This is a great event to help good people. Come join us and fish the Raccoon River for the ever illusive carp. You can register for the tournament by doing the following:

--Make sure you have a current and valid Iowa Fishing License

--Show up on the day of the Tournament at Pattee Park in Perry from 06:30am to 07:30am on August 25th

--Pre-Register by sending a copy of your fishing license and registration form to

Mudd Foot RiverBillies Fishing Club

23497 128th Place

Bouton, Iowa 50039

Your registration needs to include your First and Last Name, Complete Address and a good Contact Phone Number.

Visit us on Facebook or www.muddfootriverbillies.com

Dehumidifiers, Crawl Space, CleanSpace

Thu, June 14 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Roll out the CleanSpace here comes those humid, hazy days of summer!

For many around North America the hot, humid, days of summer are upon us and we wanted to take a moment to revisit some facts around our business. When we are addressing a homeowner's concern in their basement or crawl space, there are many things that are common.

They called us out to see them, that is an important part of the process. There are four sales we must make with each customer. They need to agree to fix their problem, fix it right, fix it with us, and fix it now.

Is it complicated? Is it simple? Well, that’s up to you. When you use all the tools at your disposal and present all the product options to the homeowner, your job gets easier.

It gets harder when we pre judge the situation, or maybe we have another appointment in an hour, or we are having a bad day, or we want to get off work early today, or its too hot, or whatever, you know what I mean.

We make it harder than it has to be, it’s a lot easier if you follow the program step by step. Not like a robot, but you can see how the presentation is falling on the homeowner and adjust the time you spend on each part of the presentation. People buy from people, and they buy from people they like.

Ok, so back to hot and humid summers. Let’s take the SaniDry units for example. Yes they are a dehumidifier, and yes they are an air scrubber also. But they are much more than that. They are also what is referred in the restoration trade as an LGR. LGR stands for "low grain refrigerant" dehumidifier; this is unlike any big box store dehu. They simply cannot be compared. It is like comparing a whole home air conditioning unit to a window air conditioner and saying that they will get similar results.

There is a two stage filtration system on the SaniDry. There usually are no filters on the big box store units, so it’s safe to say they are not cleaning the air. The filter we use is a Merv 11 Filter. Merv is a rating like HEPA is a rating, but to be “HEPA” like we would have to use a Merv 18 filter. We don’t use the 18 because the filter is so tight, it would restrict air flow too much. The filter we use is the same rated level filter that is used in commercial buildings, like hospitals. It can filter 100% of the particles 2 microns or larger and 50% of the particles 1 micron or larger. So what’s a micron? There are 25,400 microns in an inch! Tobacco smoke, most viruses, pollen, dust mite fecal matter can be filtered out by our system! We also stock an optional carbon activated filter that is great for reducing odors. So no filter compared to commercial grade filtration, are you starting to see the difference? We are changing the crawl space/basement environment, and we are changing homeowner’s lives.

The next item that makes the SaniDry special is the heat exchange core. This is a honeycombed plastic filter of sorts that helps make this unit operate in a super-efficient manner. Unconditioned air comes through the top of the unit through our two stage filtration system and vertically into the heat exchange core. Upon exiting the core, the air comes into contact with the cold coil. The cold evaporator coil looks like a small radiator from a car. Once the moist air hits the cold coil it condenses and water starts to drain out of the unit.

That air is now cold and it gets drawn back horizontally through the heat exchange core and pre cools the incoming air. This in turn drops the temperature quicker of that incoming air and water gets squeezed out and continues to flow out of the machine. The air is forced though the heat exchange core and now hits the hot coil condensor which also looks like a small vehicle radiator. That is the reason the air feels warm when it comes out of the unit, it hits the hot coil and produces dry filtered air to help dry and condition the crawl space. We have said this before; our unit has ten times the cold surface area of other dehumidifiers!

The blower system is yet another reason why the SaniDry is special. We are able to use a 300 cfm blower. That is a big powerful fan that can circulate the dry air all around, and not only dry the air but building materials too. I said we are able to use a 300 cfm blower. Household dehumidifiers cannot use such a large blower. Why? Well for one it would add greatly to the cost of their unit, but that’s not why. We have the big heat exchange core, the big cold coil and big hot coil, and we can use these all together because of residence time. What is that? In technical terms it is "the capacity of a system to hold a substance divided by the rate of flow of the substance through the system." Bottom line is the more residence time, or time on the cold surfaces, the better the unit will operate. Or removal time, you pick which one you like better. So we have a lot of residence time between the time the unconditioned air enters the SaniDry, hits the heat exchange core, passes over the cold coils, goes back though the heat exchange core, and now it drops the temperature of the exchange core and pre cools the incoming air and lastly gets to the warm coil and gets thrown out into the crawl space with our big blower fan. Wow! We can do all this because of the system The big box stores have a tiny little muffin fan because there is no big cold coils or heat exchange core. They have a thin little curled coil, you have seen them, and there is not much surface area so the temperature never really gets dropped and the units don’t kick out really dry air for very long. In fact those units have a habit of freezing up, or run constantly only to produce an empty bucket. So its really easy to beat up on the other dehumidifiers out there, right?

Let’s talk about the 6.4 amp draw of the SaniDry CX, and 6.75 for the XP. Yes its energy star rated, but the other units out there, well you check out the amps they draw for yourself. There are some close but there are most that consume more power and only get a fraction of the pints per day of water that we can pull out of the air. So to do the same job they may need 4, 5, 6 or more of their units. The fact is that the SaniDry units will also operate at lower temperatures that the other units. So the efficiencies of some dehumidifiers simply stop drying while the blower continues to blow and draw electricity. Yikes.

Basement Remodeling The Old Way

Mon, June 11 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Des Moines Iowa

June 11th, 2012

The "Old Way" vs the "New Way" of Basment Finishing!

As time marches on materials, techniques and procedures change and improve. Experience shows us what works, and what doesn't work. Having said that, let's take a look at when we have been.

Historically the basement finish and remodel would start with a plan to finish the entire basement. Plans were drawn up, and a date to start and finish were put in place. During this process some consideration was taken, in that, the area we were going to remodel had damp or wet condidtions, and at the very least, high humidity, which are a contributing factor in mold growth. As you may already know, mold needs the right temperature, food, and of course the right amount of moisture to grow.

After the plan was made we all went out to the lumber yard, the flooring store, and the hardware store to purchase the products needed to build out the basement. Looking back, we didn't address the fact these organic materials are the food source in our mold growth. And, little did we know we were building a mold growth laboratory. The products generally were, wood studs, wood baseboard, drywall, paint for the drywall, carpet pad, and carpet. Both the carpet and the pad sat directly on the concrete floor. All of these are food sources and living quarters for mold and odors.

Looking at some old plans, there were some great layouts and designs. However, and over time, the basement(s) leaked, or flooded, and in addition, the mold started to grow. The basements began to get used less, and if there was a bad flooding or even a couple of bad flooding, the products were torn out, and the either replace at a great expense, or sometimes not replaced at all causing the homeowner to lose valuable and usable space for the family.

We have talked with many people who have replaced their basement finish three and four times, due to mold, leaks and flooding. This has been very costly. However, there is a new and better way of finishing the basement. For example, what if we just finished the area you wanted? In other words, just "right-sized" the project. What we mean by this is simply creating the perfect space to use for your families enjoyment.

During the design process let's take a look at the humidity in your basement, areas that have leaked or flooded, and let's fix and repair those areas permanently before finishing and remodeling your basement. Let's take a good hard look at your sump pump to make sure it works and is ready for use during the wet seasons of your neighborhood. Don't forget, you don't have to have a leaky basement to get the basement to flood. Plumbing leaks, and watermain breaks can get water into an otherwise dry and healthy basement.

After the design, and the layout is ready to go, we will install "Total Basement Finish" products. These products are all designed to get wet, and can be completely cleaned and reused should they get wet. In other words, if your basement does get wet, you don't have to go out and purchase all new products to replace the wet and ruined products. You simply clean and dry them, and get back to enjoying your basement. All of these products are non-organic, and have anti-microbial properties to stunt mold growth and odors.

In the end you will have the finished basement you want, the basement will be permanently waterproofed, the walls will be vapor barriered, and insulated. The flooring will be lifted slightly off of the concrete so there is more effective insulation. The ceiling will have mold resistant tiles as well. All in all, you will have increased the value of your home, increased your usable living space, and created a clean and healthy environment for your family to enjoy for the life of the home.

More information is available on our website at www.midwestbasementsystems.com

BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - Wall shear

Wed, June 6 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Wall shear is a subject that has come up quite a bit here at Midwest Basement Systems in the last couple weeks or so. So, I thought I'd say a few words about that today.

I've had some pretty lengthy discussions with a couple customers lately about wall shear and the long term effects on the structural integrity of the foundation wall because of it. One question that has come up is why we don't try to correct wall shear when we are correcting the bow in a wall. The reason we don't try to correct wall shear is that as the wall slides in on the bottom block, the top edge of the block can get damaged due to the friction of the wall sliding on top of it. Remember, that wall has the wieght of the house sitting on it. Start sliding that wall around on itself and look out, thats an awful lot to ask of a concrete block. The damage I'm refering to is most evedent on block pilasters (a column of block built in front of the wall to reinforce it) where wall shear is evedent. We see a lot of pilasters that have broken edges and broken corners at the bottom. This is the damage I'm refering to. That's not to say the damage due to wall shear that you see on the pilaster has much, if any, effect on the ability of the wall to support the house or that the pilaster is the only part of the wall effected by wall shear. That's just where it's the easiest to see what I'm refering to.

Now picture the same damage to that bottom block, only now it's on the outside too. Thats what can happen if you try to push wall shear back out. In effect you are grinding away at the top of the block. This is not a good idea. So when we brace a wall that has a little wall shear (1/4 inch or so) we don't worry too much about it. We have, however, braced some walls that that have slid in 1-2 inches at the bottom and we like to give them a little more attention. And we've seen walls that are slid in far enough that replacement is the only option.

Although it is possible to correct some wall shear, I just don't think the damage you could potentialy do to the wall is worth the risk.

BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - Foundation repair - beams vs. anchors vs. replacement

Fri, June 1 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Here at Midwest Basement Systems we repair a LOT of walls every year. It's one of our specialties. We invented and have patents on several products to do just that.

One question that often comes up is "what makes your way of fixing my basement walls so much better than your competition (our main competion being any number of companies installing wall anchors)?".

Well, that is a good question. I like to look at the big foundation picture from a basic logical point of view. Does it make any sense to try to stop your walls from moving by anchoring into the ground thats pushing the walls in to begin with, using plates much smaller than the wall itself. Short answer.............no it does not!

Look at it this way, take the length of a given wall by the depth of the wall that is under ground. That is how much ground there is pushing the wall in. Does it seem even a little bit possible that anchor plates spaced 4 or five feet apart, covering a relatively small area, are going to hold back all that ground from pushing your wall in? I say it does not. It would be like me playing tug of war with my 1 year old son. I am way bigger, so I will win every time. Even if you throw the dog in there, it's still a one sided affair. Also, as I mentioned earlier, you are anchoring into the ground that is pushing the walls in to begin with, thataway the ground, the wall, and the anchor, can all move in together. Each peice of the puzzle contributing in its own way to your foundation problems. Now that is what I call synergy! In other words, the anchor transfers the load back to the ground pushing the wall in. So around and around we go.

I beams are not only a better solution, in my opinion they are the ONLY solution to cracked and bowing walls. An I-beam system like the Powerbrace can not only brace the wall so it gets no worse, but if properly maintained (read; periodicaly tightened to the proper torque) it will, depending on the material used to back fill the wall, atain some level of correction if not straighen the wall. And if the backfill is excavated when the PowerBraces are installed 100% correction is not at all uncomon. We have corrected hundreds of foundation walls and even saved a few that wouldn't have been standing at all for much longer if left unattended.

Another solution we are asked about is replacement, and we do also replace a lot of walls that are too far gone to save. If the wall is still in decent shape (other than some cracks and some bowing), the smart money braces, excavates, and straightens. Remember, that wall that has the bow in it now was new at one time. If you replace and don't reinforce, you'll end up right back where you started. We have looked at walls in the past, proposed bracing and been called back years later to brace the wall after it was replaced. It has happened more than once. Brace don't replace.

I know there are probably some anchor people out there right now jumping up and down and cursing at their computer (and me). But we've been doing this long enough to know what works and what doesn't. If anchors worked better, we'd be installing them instead of beams. But they just don't. I don't make the rules, it's just the way it is.

BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - Dealing with Crawl Spaces

Fri, May 18 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Here at Midwest Basement Systems we deal with a lot of crawlspaces, some much worse than others. And some that are just nasty. What happens in the crawlspace definitely has a huge effect on the living conditions on the upper floors.

I like to think of a crawlspace as a really short basement, in a way thats exactly what it is. And thats how it needs to be treated. Most utilities run through the crawlspace (drainlines, waterlines, ect), most crawlspaces contain the heating and cooling ductwork, and we've even seen furnaces that are installed in the crawlspace.

Because crawlspaces are often difficult to get into, most of the time dirty and nasty and just all around unpleasent to have to deal with, they seldom get the attention they deserve. Plumbing leaks often go unnoticed (read; unrepaired), flooding goes unnoticed, even the occasional deceased rodent (we see this more often then you might think).

The best way to deal with a crawlspace is to completely encapselate and seal it from the ground below. Again, think of it as a short basement. A basement has a concrete floor, not just exposed dirt. A basement has windows, not just open vent holes allowing the outside temperature and humidity to move in and out as it pleases. A basement has HVAC equiptment to control the climate inside the house.

Obviously, it just isn't practical to pour a concrete floor in a crawlspace. Nor would it make sense to install windows. But the space does need to be sealed off from the dirt and the outside air. Crawlspace encapselation is the only way to achieve this.

I know some of you are saying "but you have to have vents in a crawlspace". This is conventional thinking that building science has been proven to be wrong. You will never be able to control the climate and humidity inside if you continue to allow the outside in. Those of you with kids who like to leave the front door open in the winter, know what I'm talking about. No matter how hard you try or how much you pay the power company, you just can't heat the front yard in January. In fact most who say that vents are nessecary don't actually have a convincing reason, other than thats the ways it's always been done.

A crawlspace MUST be treated as part of the house. It's a space that needs to be controlled just like any other part of your house.

BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - Battery backup sump pumps

Wed, May 16 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Wow, where to start on this one. I guess the point to drive home here is that the power rarely (if ever) goes out while the sun is shining. It tends to go out during a storm WHILE IT'S RAINING. At least it does in the part of Iowa I live in. It doesn't make sense to make improvements to your basement and not protect that investment with a battery backup pump. A good quality battery pump will run you a little more money than the cheapo models, but it's well worth the extra expense.

While we're on the subject of battery pumps, lets talk batteries. A good waterproofing system is only as good as its ability to pump the water out of your hole in the ground. After you just had a good quality waterproofing system installed and your running it into a good quality sump pump, with a top notch battery pump, don't let your basement flood because you used the battery your brother-in-law pulled out of his '75 station wagon before he sold it for scrap. Get a good quality deep cell battery and if you've had serious water problems in the past get two batteries and an automatic switching box.

Don't get stuck bailing water by flashlight in the middle of the night. Midwest Basement Systems can take care of all of your sump pump needs. Give us a call.

BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - Vapor barriers when finishing a basement

Wed, May 16 2012, 00:00:00 -500

When finishing a basement the vapor barrier MUST go directly onto the foundation wall. A lot of basements we see that are experiencing problems with mold or discoloration within finished walls, are a result of either no vapor barrier at all or a vapor barrier that is attached to the outside of the studwork leaving the wood studs (organic material) exposed to the humidity from the vapor transmission through the concrete wall.

Concrete is a very porous material and allows a great deal of vapor to transmit through. Here is a quick experiment you can try at home to prove my point. Take a dry concrete block and set it in a couple inches of water. If no rain puddles are available, a pan will do. Let the block sit for half an hour of so. Note the moisture (discoloration) beginning to work its way up the block. This same thing happens in basements. Water vapor works its way through the block and into the basement space.

If the basement walls are framed, then insulated, then the vapor barrier is attached, all that material is trapped in an enclosed space along with whatever moisture comes through the wall. This can become a breeding ground for all sorts of nasty things. It's even worse if the foundation is prone to severe leaking during heavy rains. We've seen fiberglass insulation behind sheetrock soak up and hold water like a sponge. Not good.

In order to prevent these types of issues, the vapor barrier MUST be put on the wall before any finish work is done. If the foundation has known (or even suspected) water problems, installation of a good quality water proofing system is a must.

BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - Basement floor replacement

Thu, May 10 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Often the question comes up "how do I know when I should stop chasing problems and just replace my basement floor?". Well, that's a good question.

MOST floors that we replace are pretty obvious they need to be replaced. In fact most of them should have been replaced 75 years ago. Many have tons of cracks through them, and I'm not talking about a few cracks here and there (that's normal). I'm talkin about so many cracks in already too thin concrete that you can actually see the individual pieces move as you walk across the floor. I am not being sarcastic here, I've been in basements like this. I've seen floors that are literaly crumbling. Don't bother with that broom, it'll just loosen more of the floor. People who live in older houses know what I'm talking about here.

Basements with these types of problems can be fixed and made to be usable parts of your home. They can be finished just like the upstairs and can literaly double your usable living space giving you twice the space for the money. But, an important thing to remember when beginning your basement project is that at the end of the day a basement is a hole in the ground and needs to be treated as such. Don't expect that if you finish your basement, and don't take precautions to prevent that hole from filling with water at some point, that you won't be unfinishing it. All your hard work is sitting on the basement floor, why risk it. Even if your floor is "ify", why take the chance that all that time and money will be waisted. Deal with the floor issues before you get the kids toys and the entertainment system moved down there only to have it flood during a heavy rain.

Repalcing a basement floor can seem like an enormous job to most folks, but it's actually less intrusive then you might think. Sure, everything has to come out of the basement to get that floor out (some might even see this as a great time to throw out all those years of clutter). And there will be some noise for a little while during the removal process. But when all is said and done the new floor will be much more solid, and in most cases much flater than the 100 year old pile of gravel that used to be there. Also make sure a good quality waterproofing system, with a quality sump pump, is installed before the new floor goes down. And, of couse, the new floor needs to be laid on a nice thick vapor barrior to prvent moisture from coming up through those cracks that WILL eventually appear.

Deal with these floor issues BEFORE finishing your basement and you won't have to deal with them later. But if your basement floor is literally falling apart and you are planning to finish your basement, rest assured, you WILL be dealing with it.

BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - Clay tile wall replacement

Thu, May 10 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Des Moines IA, May 10,2012

Here at Midwest Basement Systems we are called upon all the time to look at problems with walls made of clay tile (red clay blocks, for those not familiar with the term). Clay tile blocks present different problems than other types of walls because the webbing inside them is horizontal instead of vertical like a regular concrete block.

When wall shear is present on a clay tile wall (wall shear is when hydrostatic pressure from the out side has pushed the wall in at the bottom), and the face of the block has broken, rest assured the inside the block has also collapsed leaving the entire wall structurally at risk. The only way to properly address this type of situation is to remove and replace the wall. Niether beams nor helical tiebacks will solve the problem because of the danger that the wall will collapse on itself and fall down rather then just being pushed in by the ground behind it.

Once the webbing inside the clay block has been compromised it is just a matter of time until the wall will be laying on the floor, especially after a good hard rain when the ground is saturated and very heavy (the reason the wall sheared to begin with). Areas that are at risk are those areas recently experiencing hard rain fall.

Don't take chances with your single largest investment, your home. If your foundation walls are broken and bowing, call the professionels at Midwest Basement Systems for a free foundation inspection.

Flooding in Albert Lea and Northern Iowa

Mon, May 7 2012, 00:00:00 -500

May 4^th, 2012

Albert Lea, MN

A severe thunderstorm rolled through the region Friday, bringing a weak tornado to the area near Kiester and Mansfield and causing flooding on Main Street in Albert Lea. Flash flooding, and flooding stresses the storm drain systems. In some cases the damage is not limited to the exterior of commercial or residential properties. As the waters recede, the water still needs to go somewhere. Watch closely over the next several days as lower levels of businesses, and residential basements will be under stress. This stress is caused from additional ground swell from the excess moisture. This stress is realized in two ways, first, is the pressure the earth and soil will put on the existing foundation wall. This pressure may cause bowing and cracking of the wall.

Second, is the additional hydrostatic pressure from the excess water surrounding the property. Again, this water needs to go somewhere, so it takes the path of least resistance. The effected areas will be the drainage systems (if there is one), the lower wall joint at the floor lever where water typically leaks into the basement, and the floor drain where water can back up in to the basement from the over loading of the storm sewer systems.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Freeborn and Faribault counties. Sirens in Albert Lea sounded to alert residents. The warning for Freeborn County was canceled as of 6:45 p.m. Friday, and a severe thunderstorm warning was in place until 7 p.m. The tornado warning for Faribault Countywas canceled at 6:30 p.m.

People spotted a weak tornado north of Kiester and into southwest Freeborn County, along with rotating clouds in western Freeborn County and eastern Faribault County. Power was out for some in the Kiester-Bricelyn area. Trees were toppled in the area, and buildings were damaged. No injuries were reported. Drastic changes in the barometric pressure from conditions suitable for tornados will stress foundation walls. Watch for thin line cracks, or larger cracks developing along the mortar joints.

Another severe thunderstorm warning was in place for Mower Count yfor until 7:30 p.m. A storm front continued south into Iowa and brought menacing storm cells that delivered heavy rain and, in some places, hail.

Spotters said heavy rain and, in some places, light hail fell in areas near Bricelyn, Alden, Armstrong, Kiester, Conger,TwinLakes, Glenville and Myrtle. The storm grew weaker as it headed eastward. Albert Lea received heavy rain but no reports of hail or downed trees. There was flooding on Main Street. A railroad stop-arm was malfunctioning on Front Street.

One of the storm’s cells was on a line to strikeMason City,Iowa, head on, though the city passed safely. St. Ansgar also braced for a strong hit.

A tornado warning in place for parts of northern Iowa and for Faribault County were canceled around 6:30 p.m.

Watch for these conditions over the next several days, we are here to help you with your basement waterproofing and foundation repair needs. Call us, we can help!!

BILLS BASEMENT BLOG - Wood Foundations

Mon, May 7 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Grinnel Iowa, May 7, 2012. Midwest Basement Systems recently did some foundation repairs on a house built on a wood foundation and built on the side of a hill. A perfect storm of potential foundation problems. The ground in the front of the house (the uphill side) began to put force on the foundation cuasing the entire house to shift as the foundation walls were forced out of place diagonaly. Our proposed solution consisted of a combination of Helical Wall Tiebacks, Powerbraces, and PowerBrace Cinch Plates, all available from Foundation Supportworks in Omaha, NE.

We excavated the front of the house and installed helical tiebacks into the hill side, then attached the tieback ends to a set of Powerbraces with a newly designed plate to pull evenly on the on the Powerbraces and Powerbrace Cinch Plates. The foundation had shifted diagonaly approx. 4 inches in some areas, more in other areas and less closer to the end walls and the wall seperating the basement under the house from the basement under the garage. Using this designed configuration of Powerbraces, Powerbrace Cinch Plates and Helical Tiebacks, Midwest Basement Systems was able to recover over half of the diagonal deviation and assure the home owner the house was now stable.

Wood foundations do present more challenges than block walls or poured concrete walls when it comes to structural repair. But, hiring an experienced contractor like Midwest Basement Systems is the first step to getting your wood foundation permanently and professionaly fixed.

Flash Flood Watches in Southeast Iowa

Fri, May 4 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Oskaloosa, Iowa. Repeated storms have soaked the ground in southeast Iowa to the point officials are starting to get concerned about flash flooding.

Multiple flash flood watches were out Friday morning, though all had lapsed before noon. Although the National Weather Service cancelled these watches, around the noon, the water has to go somewhere. The soil will continue to saturate. This saturation will contribute to possibilities of flash flooding during the weekend rain chances.

In Ottumwa and Oskaloosa, the National Weather Service says just over an inch of rain has fallen in the past 36 hours. That doesn't sound like much, but there's a limit to how much the ground can take. Heavy rains predicted for the next day or so could cause flooding. Not only is the soil saturation a concern, but additionally the storm drains, and drainage around homes and businesses. Should the drainage prove to be inadequate, flooding into lower levels of homes and business is possible. Water backing up into these areas can come from the drain inside the property. Another area of concern is basements. The water can back up into the basements from the drain and from the floor joint should the drainage systems not suitably take the water away from the property.

The heaviest rains have occurred just to the east. Fairfield has measured 2.94 inches of rain according to NWS records. Jefferson County also saw a tornado warning with Thursday night's storms.

Flash flood watches are already in place for much of the area. Keokuk County had a flash flood warning for Friday morning.

Flash flooding isn't as dramatic as tornados or lightning strikes, but it is lethal. In 2011, 113 people died in flooding in the United States and the country averages 94 fatalities per year. Sixty-three percent of those fatalities came when people drove into flooded areas. Of one hundred percent of people who drown, sixty six percent of these individual did not intend on getting into the water.

Storms remain in the forecast through Monday. During this time of the year watch your drainage areas, sump pumps and battery back up, gutters and downspout extensions, and of course the weather in your area.

If you have any water issues with your lower level or basement, your foundation, or sump pumps please call us. We can help you!

Storms, Rain and High Winds Rock Ames Iowa

Wed, May 2 2012, 00:00:00 -500

May 2, 2012

Ames, Iowa

Strong storms moved throughIowaovernight downing trees and causing damage in Story and Boone counties.

Tornado warnings were issued at 1:30 am for Pilot Mound and at 1:48 am for the Gilbert area. Doppler radar indicated the possibility of tornadoes in the area, but no confirmed touchdowns were reported.

There are reports of wind damage in Ames.

Storms overnight damaged several large trees along Nature Road north of Boone. There was also some roof damage in the same area caused by the high winds and fallen trees and tree limbs.

A tree also damaged a porch along R Avenue, east of Boone, sparking a small electrical fire. The fire caused minor damage. No injuries have been reported at this time.

Ames city officials said they have opened a drop-off site for tree limbs at the maintenance facility at 700 E. 13th St.

With storms of this nature, additional damage to the property can be realized during clean up. Take a close look at your gutters and down spouts, as well as, your roof and foundation. Check the foundation both the exterior and the interior.

Areas of immediate water damage is most likely at the window well of either a standard basement window or the egress window and wells.

Water, from the rain and down spouts, could take a day or two to saturate the soil and leak into your basement. If you have existing water problems in your basement, keep a close watch.

Call us today, we can help you with your foundation and basement waterproofing problems.

Why is Spring so Wet?

Wed, April 25 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Usually spring is a busy time in our basement waterproofing business because of wet conditions. But why is spring so wet? The obvious answer is that snow melts and saturates the ground. While that is true, it does not tell the whole story. What about areas such as the great State of Missouri or the great State of Kentucky, Southern Illinois where there is no real spring thaw because there is not much snow? There must be something more to it than snowfall melting.

Some say that spring rains are responsible for the soggy spring ground. However, if we look at the average annual rainfall for a given area by month, we see that spring months do not have any more rainfall on average than summer months or any other month. So why is spring so soggy?

It has to do with the evaporation rate. For every 41 degree increase in temperature, the evaporation rate doubles. When it rains on a hot day, the water will evaporate in about an hour. This is why your blow drier does not just blow air - it heats it first. The reason is psychrometrics - warm air holds more moisture than cold air – a lot more. Hot air evaporates water quickly and less water makes it into the ground – and your basement.

Cold winter air does not evaporate water nearly as quickly. When it rains at 41 degrees, the water sits in puddles and soaks into the ground before it can evaporate. The ground stays damp and when it rains again, the ground takes more water still. After 3 or 4 months of this, it’s no wonder that the ground is soggy in March.

The amount of moisture in the ground depends on two factors: how much water goes into the ground and how much comes out. The evaporation rate of 34 degrees air temperature is far less than that of 79 degrees air temperature. That is why spring is so wet.

If spring has made your basement wet, call us, we can help.

Basement Wall Repair

Mon, April 23 2012, 00:00:00 -500

The Great State of Iowa is known for its season changes, and certainly its severe weather changes. These factors contribute to broken, cracked, and bowed foundations, and basement wall repair in the State of Iowa. How do I know if I need basement wall repair? The signs are easy to identify. However, the signs are certainly more difficult to identify if the basement walls are covered with basement finish of some kind.

If you have bare walls you can look for the obvious cracks. If you have concrete block, look for cracks, in the mortar, running the length or width of the basement. They can be thin cracks up to several inch wide cracks. Also, look for cracks running through the wall that looks like a stair step. Cracks that move through the center of the concrete block are alarming since the center of the block is the strongest part.

A bowing wall is generally when the soil has moved inward toward the house and pushing on the wall. The wall bows inward, and generally along one of the cracks we mentioned above. Some walls can be severally displaced.

In any event, all of the above is a considered a structural defect. All of these defects need attention and repair. Basement wall repair will stabilize your home, and help to improve its value. All basement wall repair should be completed as soon as possible for the continued safety of your home.

Foundation Repair in Iowa

Sun, April 22 2012, 00:00:00 -500

The last several months have been dry in the great State of Iowa. As the water evaporated out of the soil, and the soil slowly dried it pulled back away from the foundation. This has allowed many foundations to settle. How do I know if my foundation has settled? Well, some very simple and easy tests would be, 1) check the dry wall around the window frames and the door jams. Do you see any stress cracks in the drywall near the corners? If so, possible settlement. 2) Check your windows. Open them and close them to see if they stick. Sticky windows could be possible foundation settlement. 3) Go around the house and check the interior and exterior doors. Like the windows if the doors are pinched and stick when opening and closing, there is a possibility of foundation settlement. The next step is to have your property inspected and evaluated. Our evaluations are free. If there is foundation settlement, then some kind of foundation repair is needed.

The Past Weekends Storms

Mon, April 16 2012, 00:00:00 -500

This past weekend dumped a lot of rain across the Midwest, including the State of Iowa. In addition, we experienced power outages, strong winds, and tornados. The result left numerous people with wet basements, some due to sump pump failure during the power outages. Everyone should consider a secondary pump and battery back up. We have both in stock. Please give us a call today for more information.

Job Fair is Today

Mon, April 9 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Just a reminder, today is the the Job Fair at the Hilton Garden, in Johnston.

We will be there from 2p to 7p. Bring your updated resume, and dress for success, and stop in at our booth. We are looking forward to meeting you.

The Job Fair includes a number of businesses in addition to Midwest Basement Systems. This is a great opportunity for those who are currently unemployed, and also, for those who are looking for a change in careers. Please tell you friends as well.

Job Fair, Hilton Gardens Inn, Johnston Iowa

Thu, April 5 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Midwest Basement Systems is participating in a Job fair, at the Hilton Gardens Inn, 8600 Northpark Drive, Johnston Iowa 50131, from 2p to 7pm, on Monday April 9th, 2012. We are seeking fresh, new talent for the great Des Moines area workforce. You are encouraged to attend this Job Fair. Spread the work and bring plenty of resumes with you.

Cracked and Bowing Walls in Iowa

Thu, April 5 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Spring rains are just around the corner. This rain will soak in to the soil creating hydrostatic pressure, causing earth to swell, then pushing against basement foundation walls. Many of these walls have already experienced the pressure from the frost of the winter and are more suseptible to the addtional damage caused from the swelling soil during the spring rains. Call us today to schedule a free analysis of your foundation.

At Packer Arena, Austin MN

Fri, March 23 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Greetings Everyone,

At 03:00pm today we start exhibiting at the Packer Arena in Austin MN. The Event is the Radio Station, Power 96, Sponsored, Home, Garden and Recreational Show. We are excited to be there and looking forward to meeting everyone there at the show. We set up yesterday, took a ride around the City of Austin, MN, and took in the sites. We are just a few blocks from the World Famous Spam Museum, sponsored by Hormel Foods.

Come see us at the show, see the sites, and take a tour of the Spam Museum.

Des Moines Home and Remodeling Show

Fri, March 9 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Wow, it has been a mild winter, and spring is here, and you can begin the projects you have planned over the winter months. Now, Friday, March 9th, 2012, through Sunday March 11th, 2012, sponsored by the Des Moines Home Builders Association. We are out at the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fair Grounds. Booth #67. Stop out and see us for all of your basement needs.

Albert Lea Home Improvement Show

Sat, March 3 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Starting on Friday March 9th, 2012 we will be heading up to Albert Lea Minnesota to the Albert Lea Home Show held in the Skyline Plaza. The Show is Friday, Saturday, Sunday the 9th, 10th, 11th of March 2012. We will be visiting with the local area folks offering solutions for Leaky Basements, Basement Structural Repair, Basement Finishing, and Crawl Spaces too. Come visit us at our booth. We are looking forward to meeting with you all.

Ottumwa Home Improvement and Garden Expo

Sat, March 3 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Southern Iowa is host to a Home Improvement Expo in Ottumwa Iowa. Midwest Basement Systems will be exhibiting there for the next two days. We are located in the Bridge City Convention Center, and we are excited to be there. This annual event brings an entire host of ideas for spring projects. For us, we offer solutions to keep the spring rain water out of your basement, as well as, basement structural repair, basement finishing, and crawl space encapsulation. Stop by and see us at our booth, we look forward to speaking with you.

Newton Home Show

Sat, March 3 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Come see us today at the Newton Home Show located on the Newton DMACC campus, in the convention center. We are there exhibiting loads of ideas on how to improve the quailty, of the environment of your basement and lower lever living spaces. If you have any cracks in your walls or floors, wet or leaky basement, and you want to prevent the water coming into your basement from the upcoming spring rains, come see us at the Newton Home Show. We have lots of spring ideas to help keep the water out.

Mason City Home and Garden Show

Sat, March 3 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Today at 10am starts the second day of the Mason City Home and Garden Show, This show is located at the North Iowa Fair Grounds. Weather is perfect for the show. Come in and visit us, we will be in the Olson Building until 8pm. Vendors from all over the state, Des Moines, Northern Iowa and Minnesota are here. For us, Midwest Basement Systems, we have solutions for Basement Structural Repair, Wet Basements, Total Basement Finishing, and Crawl Spaces too. We would love to see you, so stop by an say hello.

Spring Home Show in Marshalltown

Sat, February 25 2012, 00:00:00 -500

What a great weekend. Sunshine, and thoughts fo spring. While you're out drving around and looking for something to do and IDEAS for spring, stop by the Marshalltown Home and Garden Show. We wil be exhibiting at the show both today and tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Marshalltown Home Improvement and Garden Show

Thu, February 23 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Hello everyone! We are proud to announce our participation in the Marshalltown Home and Garden Show, at the Marshalltown Mall, this weekend February 25th and 26th, 2012. There will be plenty of parking in the mall parking lot for everyone. Stop in at our booth and sign up for a free estimate and inspection of your home's lower level the basement. We look forward to meeting you at the show.

Des Moines Home and Garden Show

Fri, February 3 2012, 00:00:00 -500

Midwest Basement Systems is proud to announce we will be exhibiting at the Des Moines Home and Garden Show February 9th through the 12th, 2012. We have several exciting new products and and a brand new product line do display and talk about. Stop down and see us for all of your basement needs. Our staff will be ready to talk with you. See you all there!

Christmas is on Us!

Tue, December 27 2011, 00:00:00 -500

The Holidays, what an exciting time! Recently, Midwest Basement Systems was able to participate and sponsor a local program called "Christmas on Us".

This program was hosted by the local Cumulus Radio group here in Des Moines Iowa. Listeners could enter to win a chance to have "Christmas on Us". The winner would receive a gift certificate to a local shopping area, and give them the opportunity to purchase food or gifts for the holidays.

The accompanying photos tell the rest of the story. Beware current radio personalities, I believe these are the new rising stars of local radio! Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

From the first original customers 16 years ago to the customers and staff of this year 2011. Everyone had a part in our ability to donate a Christmas on Us! Thank You!

Toys for Tots

Tue, December 13 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Thanks to everyone who participated in this years USMC Toys for Tots program. We were able to collect lots and lots of toys, so this years program was a fantastic success. The toys have been delivered to the USMC collection point at KCCI TV 8 headquarters in Des Moines Iowa. Once again, thanks to everyone!!!

City of Des Moines Offers Rebate on Sump Pump Installation

Wed, November 30 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Good news for Des Moines homeowners looking to make an improvement to their water system in their house. The city has established a rebate for property owners that have a licensed professional redirect one or more of the eligible sources of water infiltration and inflow to an outlet other than the sanitary sewer system. This includes sump pump installation in Des Moines, which is a service that Midwest Basement Systems is able to reliably provide to homeowners.

Under the program, the city of Des Moines will make a Private Property Protection Program reimbursement of up to $1,000. The work must be performed and completed between June 1, 2008, and June 30, 2014 to be eligible for the rebate. The following work is eligible:

The installation or redirection of a sump pump to discharge flows from foundation drains and area drains to a non-sanitary sewer outlet such as a rain garden, storm sewer, or the ground surface.
The disconnection of roof leaders from the sanitary sewer service.
The installation of backwater valve.

The work must be an improvement to an existing home located in Des Moines and must be performed by a licensed plumber. Get more information on the rebate here: http://www.dmgov.org/Departments/PublicWorks/Pages/PrivatePropProtectProg.aspx

Based in Des Moines, Iowa, Midwest Basement Systems specializes in basement waterproofing, crawl space repair, mold control, and foundation repair in Iowa. Midwest Basement Systems has been waterproofing basements in the greater Des Moines, IA area since 1995, and is the exclusive dealer of Basement Systems products in central Iowa. For more information or to schedule a free estimate for sump pump installation in Des Moines, visit www.midwestbasementsystems.com.

We have a contest winner!

Wed, November 23 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Congratulations to Beth K. and her family for winning the Midwest Basement Systems IPad2 contest here in Des Moines, Iowa.

Thanks to Beth and her friends and family for helping make our contest a great success.

Watch for more information and details, there may be another contest, and a chance to win on the way.

Congratulations!

Toys for Tots

Mon, November 14 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Midwest Basement Systems is PROUD to announce we are a drop off site for the "Toys for Tots". As we get closer to the holidays, it is important for all of us to remember those in need. With this in mind we will be able to start taking Pre-packaged, and non wrapped toys, on November 15th, 2011. Midwest Basement Systems will take these toys until the 22nd of December. The location of Midwest Basement Systems is 5153 NE 17th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 50313.

Thanks to all of you in advance for your help and participation!

Advertising Media Meeting

Wed, November 2 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Today was and exciting day! Media meeting. We had advertising vendors in from all over Central Iowa. Lot's of great and positive comments from the media.

During this meeting we discussed products and services offered here at Midwest Basement Systems. They were able to tour our offices and facility, had lunch, and gave the media information to help us with our marketing efforts.

Thanks to everyone for their participation at our Media Event. Thanks to everyone at Midwest Basement Systems for all of their help and hardwork to make this event a great success.

The Food Bank of Iowa

Wed, October 26 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Midwest Basement Systems is PROUD to announce we are a drop off site for the Food Bank of Iowa. As we get closer to the holidays, it is important for all of us to remember those in need. With this in mind we will be able to start taking non-perishable food items on November 1st, 2011. Midwest Basement Systems will take these non-perishable food items until the 24th of December. Additionally, we will take the collect food items to the food bank just before Thanksgiving and then again just before Christmas.

Thanks to all of you in advance for your help and participation!

Midwest Basement Systems Receives Awards at International Convention in Connecticut

Tue, September 27 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Des Moines, IA – Midwest Basement Systems was recently honored at a meeting of over 600 guests from all over the United States and Canada at this year’s Team Basement Systems Convention. The annual convention is held each year between Seymour, Connecticut, (where the Basement Systems headquarters is located) and Hartford, Connecticut, and brings together dealerships of the international network for classes, seminars, training, parties and networking.

This year Midwest Basement Systems received an award at the Team Basement Systems International Convention. Midwest Basement Systems was one of the Top 5 Basement Systems Dealers, as well at one of the top 25 CleanSpace Dealers in the United States and Canada.

The convention featured guest speakers Krish Duhnam (of the Zig Ziglar corporation), and the “Pit bull of Personal Development” Larry Winget. A sports-themed party at the Connecticut Convention Center ended the convention week with music, food and performances by the Harlem Wizards and the New England Patriots Cheerleaders.

Midwest Basement Systems is a certified basement systems dealer that specializes in basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and spray foam insulation in Iowa. Midwest Basement Systems has been servicing homes in the greater Des Moines area since 1995.

Basement Systems is an international network of basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and basement finishing contractors. The international headquarters, based in Seymour, Connecticut, also provides sales and service throughout Connecticut and Westchester County, NY. Larry Janesky's Basement Systems has been helping homeowners increase their usable living space for over 20 years across the United States, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. They have 27 patented basement and crawl space products, designed to help homeowners get more out of their basements and increase their home's value.

Midwest Basement Systems Donates Boat

Wed, August 17 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Midwest Basement Systems is working with Mudd Foot Riverbillies to help children with Cystic Fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that stems from a defective gene and affects the lungs and digestive systems of 30,000 children and adults in the United States. It causes the body to produce unusually thick and sticky mucus that can potentially clog the lungs and obstruct the pancreas. If this happens it can lead to life-threatening lung infections and can cause the pancreas to stop natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year and around 55% of those diagnosed with cystic fibrosis are under the age of 18.

Mudd Foot Riverbillies is a non profit organization which was originally formed by a group of friends who wanted to help their friend’s daughter who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Their aim is to help children with Cystic Fibrosis by raising money through hosting Carp Fishing Tournaments. This money is then given to families whose insurance does not cover all of their child’s medical needs. The goal is to add a new child to sponsor every year as they help more and more families. This year they are sponsoring 2 children, Rebbeca C. and Dylan S., with the money raised from raffles and fishing tournaments.

Mudd Foot Riverbilles also hosts raffles to raise money. This year Midwest Basement Systems donated a flat bottomed boat and trailer to be raffled off at one of the events. General Manger, Rod Fox said “Midwest Basement Systems is proud to work with a group like this to help raise money and awareness for cystic fibrosis."

The raffle tickets can be purchased at Hulgan’s Heating and Cooling are being sold for $20. The next carp fishing tournament will be held on August 27^th and you can register at Perry Pattee Park.

About Midwest Basement Systems:

Midwest Basement Systems specializes in basement water proofing, foundation repair, mold control and crawl space repair in Marshalltown and other surrounding areas. They have been providing excellent service to Iowa since 1995.

Major flooding wreaks havoc and causes one death already in Iowa

Mon, August 16 2010, 00:00:00 -500

Des Moines, IA - Major flooding in Iowa has taken residents by storm and been the cause of at least one death, as reported by the Associated Press. The flooding was caused by 3 nights of heavy thunderstorms and more rain is possible over the weekend.

On Wednesday night Iowa received 2 to 4 inches of rain in the overnight hours. These storms come on the heels of a snowy winter, wet spring and rainy summer which have all helped saturate the region. National Weather Service Forecast meteorologist Jim Lee says, "The bulk of this has been caused by those recent extreme rainfalls, especially back-to-back-to-back."

Between Altoona and Mitchellville 3 cars had been swept off the road by flood waters and the dozen or so passengers were found clinging to trees and logs to stay safe. The death of a 16-year-old girl has been blamed on the flooding and rescue divers found her body in Mud Creek Wednesday afternoon near cars which were swept away.

In Ames, Iowa the Iowa State University's basketball arena is under 4 to 5 feet of water and 55,000 nearby residents were forced to move to higher ground. Saturated soil broke a water main in Ames, 30 miles north of Des Moines, forcing hundreds of residents out of the area. This drained a city water tower and made it possible that contaminated the system's water supply. Water, gas and electricity to the affected areas have been shut off to avoid additional water main breaks and a dangerous environment to residents. Police Sargeant Lori Lavorato remarked that, "It's such a serious and dangerous situation any time there is water around these homes because of the electricity and gas."

Residents are hoping the rains will subside so that flood waters can recede. In the meantime rescue efforts are underway where needed. The American Red Cross has set up evacuation shelters in Oskaloosa in Mahaska County and Pleasant Hill in Polk County for area residents to receive, food, shelter and emotional support.

Once flood waters have receded, Iowa residents will need to clean up their homes and business to return to their daily lives. Tim Heady, owner of Midwest Basement Systems reports that "major thoroughfare Interstate 35 is closed off due to the flooding." The company also set over two hundred appointments on August 11th to help area residents with their Des Moines flooded basement needs. To speak with their expert basement and crawlspace waterproofers contact Midwest Basement Systems today.

Midwest Basement Systems

5153 Northeast 17th

Des Moines, IA 50313-2116

http://www.midwestbasementsystems.com

Eleven tips to winterize your home

Mon, October 5 2009, 00:00:00 -500

Here are eleven tips to help you prepare your home for winter:

1) Furnace Inspection

Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace and clean ducts.
Stock up on furnace filters and change them monthly.
Consider switching out your thermostat for a programmable thermostat.
If your home is heated by a hot-water radiator, bleed the valves by opening them slightly and when water appears, close them.
Remove all flammable material from the area surrounding your furnace.

2) Get the Fireplace Ready

Cap or screen the top of the chimney to keep out rodents and birds.
If the chimney hasn't been cleaned for a while, call a chimney sweep to remove soot and creosote.
Buy firewood or chop wood. Store it in a dry place away from the exterior of your home.
Inspect the fireplace damper for proper opening and closing.
Check the mortar between bricks and tuckpoint, if necessary.

3) Check the Exterior, Doors and Windows

Inspect exterior for crevice cracks and exposed entry points around pipes; seal them.
Use weather stripping around doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk windows.
Replace cracked glass in windows and, if you end up replacing the entire window, prime and paint exposed wood.
If your home has a basement, consider protecting its window wells by covering them with plastic shields.
Switch out summer screens with glass replacements from storage. If you have storm windows, install them.

4) Inspect Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

If your weather temperature will fall below 32 degrees in the winter, adding extra insulation to the attic will prevent warm air from creeping to your roof and causing ice dams.
Check flashing to ensure water cannot enter the home.
Replace worn roof shingles or tiles.
Clean out the gutters and use a hose to spray water down the downspouts to clear away debris.
Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.

5) Service Weather-Specific Equipment

Drain gas from lawnmowers.
Service or tune-up snow blowers.
Replace worn rakes and snow shovels.
Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment.
Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand.

6) Check Foundations

Rake away all debris and edible vegetation from the foundation.
Seal up entry points to keep small animals from crawling under the house.
Tuck-point or seal foundation cracks. Mice can slip through space as thin as a dime.
Inspect sill plates for dry rot or pest infestation.
Secure crawlspace entrances.

7) Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Some cities require a smoke detector in every room.
Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends.
Install a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and / or water heater.
Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work.
Buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

8) Prevent Plumbing Freezes

Locate your water main in the event you need to shut it off in an emergency.
Drain all garden hoses.
Insulate exposed plumbing pipes.
Drain air conditioner pipes and, if your AC has a water shut-off valve, turn it off.
If you go on vacation, leave the heat on, set to at least 55 degrees.

9) Prepare Landscaping & Outdoor Surfaces

Trim trees if branches hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
Ask a gardener when your trees should be pruned to prevent winter injury.
Plant spring flower bulbs and lift bulbs that cannot winter over such as dahlias in areas where the ground freezes.
Seal driveways, brick patios and wood decks.
Don't automatically remove dead vegetation from gardens as some provide attractive scenery in an otherwise dreary, snow-drenched yard.
Move sensitive potted plants indoors or to a sheltered area.

10) Prepare an Emergency Kit

Buy indoor candles and matches / lighter for use during a power shortage.
Find the phone numbers for your utility companies and tape them near your phone or inside the phone book.
Buy a battery back-up to protect your computer and sensitive electronic equipment.
Store extra bottled water and non-perishable food supplies (including pet food, if you have a pet), blankets and a first-aid kit in a dry and easy-to-access location.
Prepare an evacuation plan in the event of an emergency.

11) Disconnect the Sump Pump Discharge Hose

Allowing water to freely discharge from you sump pump line is vital in keeping your systems from backing up
Water will freeze inside the hose during the winter causing the line to clog
Have a new specially engineered fitting and a buried discharge line installed that will allow for water to discharge from the line (Ice Guard System)
Install a proper outlet on the end of the exterior discharge line to prevent clogging (LawnScape Outlet)

10 Commandments Hiring A Contractor

Wed, September 23 2009, 00:00:00 -500

1. Have a plan, know what you want to accomplish before you call anyone. Remember that you are in the driver's seat.

2. Get more than one opinion. Just because a friend or family refers someone does not mean they are any good.

3. Have a budget in mind. Don't be afraid to readjust your budget, you may have over or under shot the figure in your head. If you are not familiar with the industry, you may not have a good basis for your budget. Your budget should not reflect what you can afford to spend; the last thing you want is to get a lesser job done because your budget is not right. You may be better off not doing anything. Research the kind of work you are interesting in doing.

4. Pick a good contractor. Don’t be afraid to change your mind after doing research. Have you found a contractor? How much are you willing to pay? Check with the Better Business Bureau. Get referrals. Always do some research on the internet or in other form. See if you can visit one of the job sites of a potential contactor. Will you know ahead of time if there will be subcontractors being used? How long have they been around, are they local? Are their insurance, workers comp, and general liability up to date?

5. Check out the products being used. Check out the materials being used. Remember you have to live with your decision. Your contractor doesn’t. You only get one shot at it.

6. Be very thorough on the contract. Remember if it is not on the contract it is not getting done. No work should be started without a contract. What happens if there are changes? Have a clear understanding of all payments, also when and how it should made. Do you have a copy of the written warranty? Who gets permits? Clean up and debris removal, will they take care of that? Start date, and completion date. Unforeseen things that might happen, is there a plan B? Get a good diagram of what is being done and make no assumptions.

7. Be careful with deposits. You may never see that money again. Some industries require deposits, like special order windows. If there is no special order materials then why give a deposit. Can that company afford to do the job? Beware of scam.

8. How many jobs does the company have going at one time? There is nothing more frustrating than having a company start your job and then you don't see them for a week while they use your deposit money to go finish someone else's job.

9. Get the work done. Review work with foreman; ask questions as work is getting done, if conflicts arise this is the time to deal with it. Take photos as job is being done. Always have proof if need in the future. Keep good records and talk to contractor.

10. Report on the results. If the experience was bad, try to resolve it with the company first. If you can't do that, and you have given proper time, take action, be a good consumer. If they did a great job, report that, tell everyone, that company deserves an endorsement from you.

The importance of backup sump pumps.

Wed, January 14 2009, 00:00:00 -500

When wild weather strikes, along with a tremendous amount of moisture, it brings the kind of conditions that have the power to cause power outages

Strong winds and lightening in the summer, and heavy frozen precipitation accumulating on the power lines in winter.

No power, no sump pump. Just when you need it most.

Every year, homeowners across America are hit with losses of millions of dollars in property damage, due to basement floods, and many of them happen because homeowners do not have a backup sump pump.

No basement is 100% safe without a battery operated backup sump pump.

Protect yours against flood. Contact us for information about our innovative sump pump systems, with battery operated backup included.

We have the best sump pump systems in the market, in configurations to fit your specific waterproofing needs and your budget. Flexible payment options make them affordable.

Think of everything you can lose if your basement floods, and then think of the peace of mind you will have, not worrying about your basement the next time your neighborhood is hit by a heavy storm.

Check those references

Tue, November 18 2008, 00:00:00 -500

Among all the necessary steps to take when hiring contractors, asking for and checking a contractor's references is most commonly overlooked by the homeowners.

Some are not comfortable with the idea of bothering a complete stranger, or calling someone on the phone to ask about the work performance of another. Others just don't know how to do it, or what to ask.

In our experience, when our customers are really happy with the service, not only will they not feel bothered for having their contact information used as reference but they will be delighted to provide the information requested.

This is why our policy is to offer references right away before you ask for them, and even before your ever get to meet our representative in person.
As for exactly what to ask a contractor's reference, the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) website has excellent tips:

"Ask the homeowners:

Would you hire this company again?
Did the remodeler maintain a neat jobsite, provide regular broom clean-up, and haul away debris including personal trash?
Did the remodeler keep labor and materials delays to a minimum so that your job could be started and completed on time and within budget?
Did you find the remodeler easy to work with? Did the remodeler keep you informed as the job progressed?
Did the remodeler supply you with paperwork in a timely fashion?
How well did the remodeler deal with the problems that arose?"

Although those questions were directed to remodeling contractors, we believe they apply to every contractor in the home improvement industry and we strongly encourage you to use them every time you plan on hiring a contractor.

Door to Door Sales Act: know your rights

Tue, November 18 2008, 00:00:00 -500

Iowa's Door-to-Door sales act can be consumer's best ally.

Based on the Federal Trade Commission's "Cooling-Off Rule", this law, which seeks to protect homeowners from the overly aggressive and sometimes intimidating sales tactics used by contractors and door-to-door salespeople, give consumers 3 days to cancel any contracts signed or any purchases made outside the seller's place of business.

In other words, if you feel you were pushed into hiring anyone or buying anything while being at home, you have 3 days from the date of the closing to change your mind, while remaining entitled to a full refund and without having to pay any cancellation fees.

In fact, according to the law, the seller should inform you of your rights.
Here's what the Iowa's Attorney General Website has to say about it:

"Under the law, the seller must TELL you of your right to cancel at the time of sale and give you two copies of a written notice of your right to cancel. The contract is void if the seller fails to do this. If you cancel your purchase and request a refund, the seller must refund your money within ten business days and cancel any further financial obligations."

When dealing with a reputable contractor, such as Midwest Basement Systems, you will never have to worry about this, because our sales model does not include scary or intimidating sales pitches. We are so confident about the quality of our products and services that we do not need to use gimmicks.

Instead, we educate our customers. We want to give you the control and tools to make informed decisions within your budget and based on the things you want to accomplish with your basement and crawl space.

No wonder we are part of the world's largest waterproofing contractor network. You don't get to be the #1 in the world with gimmicks.

Contact us for a free estimate and experience the difference.