Peak Basement Systems News and Events

Peak Basement Systems Receives Two Sales Awards at Annual Convention
Peak Basement Systems is a part of the international Basement Systems, Inc. network and the Foundation Supportworks network. They recently attended the convention held in Hartford, Conn. where crawl space, foundation, basement, and radon experts met to share ideas, achievements, and reminisce over the past year.

What is Foundation Piering and How Does it Work?
Between expansive and hydro-compactable soils and subsidence, foundations are pushed and pulled, creating movement. Each year, thousands of homeowners are faced with evaluating and repairing foundation problems. Thankfully, this means that there are reliable, engineered solutions available.

How Important is Positive Drainage For My House? Part 3 of 3
This article is Part 3 of a 3 part series on expansive and shifting soils. With a slope calculation, it's easy to find problem spots on your property and change the grade to protect your home.

Foundation Concerns From the Clay Bowl Effect
Moisture is an essential element to soil - it's a lubricant that traps air and allows soil particles to slide together. Too much moisture and the ground becomes muddy and unable to bear weight. Too little moisture and the soil breaks into its individual particles and blows away.

5 Drainage Issues that Lead to Basement Flooding in Colorado
Heavy rains in the afternoons all the Front Range can lead to wet basements and crawlspaces. Here are 5 items to fix that can reduce your chances of flooding.

Colorado Soil Conditions 2 - Should I Be Concerned About Sandy Soil?
Sand can exert tremendous amounts of pressure onto the underlying soil layers. This can cause significant changes in your foundation's stability. In fact, one of the first places that you will notice changes will be in patios, chimneys, and slabs.

Radon Exposure in the Home and Indoor Air Quality
The Clay Bowl Effect is the leading cause of water intrusion and poor indoor air quality in homes. Water becomes trapped below your foundation slab and stays at a certain level until more water is introduced and the basement becomes damp, or even floods. Even if you aren't experiencing flooding, you could still be experiencing problems due to the water under your slab.

The Effects of Mine Subsidence on Residential Property Part 1 of 2
Subsidence is simply soil sinking to fill in the voids created by the mining activities of a bygone era. As decades-old mine support timbers and beams gradually rot away with the passing of time, gravity takes over and fills in those voids with soil from above. The results can sometimes be sudden and dramatic to surface dwellers, their homes, and other man-made structures caught in the subsidence zone.

Colorado Flash Floods, Wet Basements, and Clogged Sump Pumps
Daily flash flooding in Colorado has been having a huge effect on homeowner's basements. Sump pumps are being overwhelmed and storm drains are calling it quits. Peak Structural offers plenty of solutions to Coloradans' cries for help.

Underpinning For Foundations - An Explanation
Foundation unpinning is a class of foundation repair that includes push piers, helical piers, deep foundation piers, caissons, and other support systems. The specific system that I discussed with this homeowner is the push pier system.

Only Part of My House is Settling, Do I Need to Be Worried About the Rest of It?
If only part of my house is settling and needs piers, will the rest of my house settle too? The honest answer is "I don't know".

Colorado Soil Conditions 1 - Expansive Soil and What to Do About it
The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that half of the homes in United States are built on expansive soils and half of these will have some damage. The group claims that these soils are responsible for more home damage every year than floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined.

What Recent Colorado Rainstorms Have to Say About Your Basement

Thinking Like a Home Inspector Part 2
Check out a reprint of Jeff Kortan, P.E.'s article on Identifying Conditions for Structural Concerns, which is currently in circulation on the NAHI website and in their quarterly publication.

Flash Flooding in Pueblo Possible
FLOODING IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT. MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS WATER COVERED BRIDGES... DIPS... OR LOW WATER CROSSINGS. NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM... EVEN A SMALL ONE...ON FOOT OR IN A VEHICLE.

Severe Storm Warning
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... COLORADO SPRINGS...PALMER LAKE...MONUMENT...WOODLAND PARK... CRYSTOLA...GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS...CHIPITA PARK...AIR FORCE ACADEMY...CASCADE...MANITOU SPRINGS AND PETERSON AFB.

Heavy Rains Coming
For those of us who have sump pumps, now is a great time to check and make sure they still work.

Real Estate and Foundation Problems
There are a number of potential causes of cracked and bowing foundation walls, the most common reason is pressure from the soil near the outside of the wall. When clay soils get wet, they expand and put pressure on the wall. When the force exceeds the strength of the wall, the wall cracks or breaks. This reduces the structural integrity of the wall, and when the wetting cycle is repeated, this causes further weakening and inward movement.

Basement Waterproofing Owner to be Featured Speaker at InterNACHI Event
Paul Sutton, owner of a Local Colorado Springs basement contracting company, will be a featured speaker at a meeting for the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI.)

Dirt crawlspaces are never ending sources of moisture
Moisture in crawlspaces affects not only the floor system directly above it, but also the entire house.

Continuing Education Foundation Class
Are you looking for some continuing education credits, and topics such as structural repairs really peak your interest? Then Peak Basement Systems' class regarding topics reflecting the Colorado Springs market is for you!

Answers from Aaron Moore, the Design Specialist
Today, we have a chance to peek into the world of a Systems Design Specialist. Aaron Moore is our real estate and investment design specialist. He's usually brought in during a real estate transaction to provide design and project work. Here are his answers to two frequently asked questions:

Foundation Repair Contractor Releases Book and Hosts Education Class
Peak Basement Systems to release foundation repair book Monday, June 14, 2010 and will host a continuing education class for realtors.

My foundation has heaved 1.5 inches, why are not I seeing more interior damage?
Well, there are a couple of possible reasons for this. The most common reason that you don't see as much interior damage is because your home is wood frame, which bends and flexes more easily than your heaved concrete foundation.

Thinking Like a Home Inspector Part 1
Check out a reprint of Jeff Kortan, P.E.'s article on Identifying Conditions for Structural Concerns, which is currently in circulation on the NAHI website and in their quarterly publication.

Soil Characteristics in Colorado
Did you ever wonder why certain soils behave a certain way when moisture is introduced? Check this short article on Soil!

Dry vs. Wet Soil in Colorado
Wondering why your basement is dank and smelly, while your yard looks moisture-starved?

Look for a company who understands they are guests in your home.
The Service Company that You Choose to Work for You Does Matter. Your home is more than just your biggest investment, it's where you raise your family, come home to dinner, and relax after a hard day. It's a sanctuary. You deserve a service company that will protect your home and treat it with respect. That includes putting down rugs to protect your carpet, taking measures to minimize dust in your home, and cleaning up their workspace through the day.

April is Sump Pump Solution Month
Do you or someone you know have an ugly sump that's full of mold, gunk, and critters? Has your sump long passed its retirement age and really needs to be replaced? Want a newer, safer sump pump? Peak is hosting the UGLY SUMP CHALLENGE! The winner receives $100 off the installation of a sump pump from Peak!

Blizzard Creates Wet Snow and Wet Basements in Colorado Springs
With 4" of wet snow already on the ground, Colorado Springs is getting cold and wet tonight. Have you checked your basement for water intrusion?

Concrete and Winter Weather in Colorado
How Peak Basement Systems' crews are combating the Colorado winter weather!

Vented Crawl Spaces in Colorado Mean High Utility Bills in the Winter!
Colorado Springs had a record breaking winter! There’s snow on the ground that hasn’t melted in over a month, and the low temperatures are making us crank that heat up high.
In fact, the heat has been a big problem-- particularly for those of us with crawl spaces. Did you know that in Colorado Springs over 50% of all homes have dirt crawl spaces?

Now Hiring a Marketing Assistant
Yes, the holidays are here and we're still hiring at Peak Basement Systems in Colorado! Check out our ad for a Marketing Assistant.

Twas the Night Before Christmas : Peak Version
The Classic poem adapted for foundation repair by Cassi Sherman Henes

As Temps Stay Low, Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Here's an important announcement about Carbon Monoxide in your home.

Questions on Piering: Hollow Pier Tubes
Homeowners ask us lots of great questions! Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

Peak Basement Systems' Staff Heading To Foundation Support Works Training
Headed out to training next week in Omaha, Nebraska, in order to learn more about the Foundation Supportworks systems

Foundation SupportWorks Product Line Approved by Pikes Peak Regional Building
Pike's Peak Regional Building Department approved Foundation SupportWorks product line.

Increase in Basement Sump Pump Failures in Colorado Springs Due to Severe Weather
Last week there was 3 feet of snowfall along the Front Range including Lakewood and Woodland Park. Peak is trying to help the homeowners by suggesting and installing powerful new Sump Pumps.

Peak Basement Systems waiting for good news about the new baby!
Mike Sullivan, one of the new systems specialists, is expecting new baby. He and his wife are in the hospital.

Piers versus other methods
There are several options for stabilizing your foundation. Here's a helpful guide to the other methods you hear about!

Concrete and Crack Repairs
Having concrete cracking and deterioration issues? Here's a great excerpt from an article in Concrete Construction Magazine to help you out!

Northern and Eastern Colorado Power Outages
Today in Colorado Springs there is a winter weather advisory that remains in effect until 6 PM this evening.

Can my Foundation be Fixed in the Winter?
Many homeowners have asked us if they need to wait for spring before getting their foundations fixed--here's a surprising solution to getting your home back on a solid foundation!

Welcome New EICS Winners!
New businesses have joined Peak in obtaining the coveted Excellence in Customer Service Award from the Southern Colorado Better Business Bureau.

Cold Weather Means More Critters
With the cold weather already setting in, it's time to check your basements and crawlspaces for black widow spiders seeking warmth!

Thank you to all of our clients
As everyone has experienced in the last couple of months, wet weather has really created unpleasant issues for many homeowners. We appreciate all your patience in working with emergency situations.

Mine Subsidence Awareness Month
Throughout the month of August, Peak Basement Systems is raising awareness about a problem called subsidence.

Dinosaur National Visitor's Center Structural Issues
Well, the countdown has started--that's right, just 24 months until the Quarry Visitor's Center at the Dinosaur National Monument reopens.

Storms, Basement Flooding Makes News Across the World
The unseasonable wet weather that we've been experiencing up and down the Front Range is making headlines! Check out these stories!

June is Expansive Soil Month at Peak!
Throughout the summer, we'll be highlighting different types of soil that affect us here in the Front Range! June is expansive soil month and we're making sure you have the latest checklists and facts on clay, benonite, and swelling soils!

Heat's Impact on Soil and Your Foundation
With summer on the way and temperatures climbing higher, it's important to know what's happening under your feet in your foundation.

New eBook from Peak Basement Systems!
New and free e-book by Peak Basement Systems tells homeowners everything they want and need to know about residential foundations.

Introducing our new eBook!
We've been working for months to develop a helpful guide to homeowners about the technology available to solve foundation issues.

Secrets from Under the Hard Hat: More on Cracks
This week I'll be shadowing Aaron Moore as he visits homes with several different types of cracks in their foundation walls.

Secrets from Under the Hard Hat: Tapered Cracks
Join me as I shadow Jack McGuire and learn more about tapered cracks, which indicate foundation movement.