Job Stories

Job Stories

Waterproofing a Basement in Parkville, MD
This homeowner in Parkville, MD was in great need of some waterproofing in their basement. We installed our WaterGuard system along the perimeter of the basement, a TripleSafe sump pump, our CleanSpace wall system and PowerBraces to strengthen the wall that needed extra support.
Sinking Porch Lifted by DryZone in Rosedale, MD
You do not have to settle for settlement issues in relationship to your home. These front steps had caused this homeowner to have concerns. Over time, the steps had begun to sink into the home and the damage was continuing to escalate. DryZone utilized helical piers to lift and secure the steps so the homeowner's home would be protected, allowing for clear and level entry for years to come. 
Lifting a Slab in Nottingham, MD
This homeowner in Nottingham, MD was in need of one slab of their walkway to be lifted to its original location. With PolyLevel, voids are filled with a polymer foam until level with the other concrete. After the voids are filled, the specially formulated material expands, providing precise lifting and stabilization of the slab without adding any significant weight.    Do you need a lift? Call us to find out more and schedule an appointment!
Why Household Dehumidifiers Just Don't Do the Job
Some people think that if they just hook up a household dehumidifier, it will do the job. That is definitely not the case! The following issues are why they won't work for your basement or crawlspace:  1. The unit is too small 2. The cold coil is too small 3. The fan is too small 4. The fan doesn't circulate the dry air around your crawlspace - because it's too small! 5. They usually aren't drained automatically, so the bucket fills up and they shut off! 6. They are rated to remove only 25 pints, 30 pints, 40 pints, etc. per day at 80 degrees air temperature   There is simply no comparison between a SaniDry Sedona and any household dehumidifier you've ever seen! The SaniDry is a high-capacity, high-efficiency dehumidification system, with air filtration, in a single unit. The SaniDry takes up to 100 pints of water per day out of your crawlspace air, while using the same energy as a 40 pint dehumidifier. The SaniDry air system wrings your air dry, and its powerful blower moves that dry air into and around your crawlspace. This dry air then dries your building materials and contents, which makes the damp smell and damp feeling go away.  The SaniDry Sedona is also Energy Star rated, making it the most efficient dehumidifier in the world! The SaniDry Sedona also automatically drains into your WaterGuard system system or sump and can even be located in a different space than the one it's drying! So when it's time to have a dehumidifier in your basement or crawlspace, choose DryZone and have us install the best!  
Drainage Matting in Middle River, MD
This homeowner in Middle River, MD wanted a quick, cheaper solution underneath their home. We highly recommended a full encapsulation to prevent moisture from affecting the crawlspace and the floor joists. With the full encapsulation, we also recommended a sump pump and a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier to maintain a controlled space under the home. Because of financial restrictions, we installed drainage matting underneath this home and repaired a girder until this homeowner can have a full encapsulation done.   
Basement and Crawl Space Combination
This home has a basement and a connected crawl space. When out inspector entered the home it dry at the time but you can see obvious signs that water has been present in the past. As well they had open vents and a dirt crawl space that was connected to the basement. Because of this they had high moisture readings. The open vents are like leaving a window open in your home - all year round! Encapsulating the crawl space, adding BrightWall and a WaterGuard System will help to create a dry space for the homeowner to use as storage and more. 
Crawl Space in Stevensville, MD
The homeowners in Stevensville, MD are experiencing water damage and would like DryZone to come out and take a look at the crawl space. DryZone noticed the water and issues right away and suggested the crawl space encapsulation with a sump pump and dehumidifier. Now the homeowners do not have to worry about the condition of their crawl space. 
Waterproofing an Improperly Sealed Basement in Stevensville, MD
This Stevensville, MD homeowner called DryZone after noticing significant leaking in his basement laundry room during every rain storm. After putting in a drainage system, DryZone added a CleanSpace vapor barrier to seal the basement completely. Then, a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier was added to keep the moisture in the air under control. 
Helical Piers and What They Do
A helical pier is another type of steel pier that can be used to permanently stabilize your home. They're named for their unique design; the first section that is advanced into the ground has one or more helix-shaped blades welded to the shaft, allowing it to be mechanically screwed into the soil. They can be used the bring the home back toward its original position or to stabilize a lighter structure that has settled, such as a deck or stoop.  For this project, four helical piers were being used in the foundation for an elevator shaft due to test results indicating that the soils were incapable of supporting a foundation with a design bearing pressure of 1000psf.  This addition to the homeowner's home would be stable for life with the helical piers installed before there is a problem!  
"It's Not A Big Deal" Can Turn Into A Bigger Deal Down The Road
Life is crazy at times with careers, family, pets, and house upkeep. Many of us go through the week and all of a sudden it's the weekend again! Time goes by fast and things change consistently. Sometimes, as homeowners a little crack turns into "it's not a big deal". The problem is, through our busy lives, we start to notice these little cracks less until they become larger cracks and "how long has that been there?" cracks.  And now the "it's not a big deal" becomes "this might be a big deal". After time, your home is slowly settling more, being affected more and more from weather and humidity. Sometimes, these things we can't control slowly affect our homes starting with small cracks, the start of sagging or bowing, or even sinking of porches or stairs. The picture below shows an example of a tiny gap that has been created over time. This small space on the porch is actually created by a BIG problem in the crawlspace! For this home in Fallston, MD,  helical piers were needed to stabilize and bring the home back to its original position. The piers' round shaft design has a high resistance to bending and is made of galvanized steel, which will not rust. These piers reach greater depths than other options to support your home, which means they extend past troubled soils. With helical piers, you can permanently stabilize your home, regardless of the weight of the structure.  So if you have any concerns about your "it's not a big deal" foundation cracks or gaps, give us a call to schedule your free estimate. If you need a little support help, we can stabilize it before it becomes a big deal!   
Total Job Stories: 619