Is Your Basement Winter-Ready?

Basement waterproofing

Anybody who doesn’t live under a rock is well aware of the harsh winters in Ottawa. The cold gets uncomfortable by mid-January, and even the promise of Beavertails at Winterlude is barely enough to make you want to bundle up and go outside. Beyond our personal comfort, winter can also wreak havoc on the home.

Heavy snow and ice collect all winter long, and as the temperatures begin to warm the melting water than results can seep into your basement and cause untold trouble. Every problem has a solution, however. Even though we’ve just had our first big snow fall, you can still take steps now to make sure your home can handle the winter and come out damage-free when the snow melts in the early spring.

Here are a few tips from the pros at City Residential Foundation Repair to make sure your home and basement are kept safe and dry this winter:

Shovel Smart

When you are clearing your driveway of the snow, also shovel near the house and move the snow away from your foundation walls. Otherwise, it will harden into a wall of thick snow and ice and could potentially seep into your basement when the temperatures warm. It’s a simple step and it will make a big difference.

Keep Your Gutters and Downspouts Clear

Your gutters and downspouts have a job to do: direct rainwater and melted snow safely away from your home and your home’s foundation. If they are broken, clogged, missing, or otherwise damaged they can’t do this job. Either do it yourself or hire a pro to clean dirt, leaves, twigs, and debris out of the gutters and make sure everything is in good working order. Also make sure downspouts are in place and directing water a safe distance from the home.

Problems with Pipes

Like everything, pipes can also freeze. When frozen, they tend to crack and there comes a flood. Make sure all pipes are well-insulated to minimize the risk of freezing. If you are going to be out of town for a while, make sure the heat is kept on warm enough so the pipes don’t freeze.

Check the Sump Pump

Double check the sump pump and its back up power source. Should it fail to work properly, you are looking at a heap of trouble.

If you notice the tiniest hint of basement flooding, call a professional for help right away. Long term damages are a tedious, elaborate and expensive process that can easily be dodged with a little help, investment, and attention. Enjoy this winter without being burdened with worry about the house by preparing a little ahead of time.

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Basement Just Flooded? Do These Things

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It’s that time of year again — flood season. With all the rain that’s expected during the summertime, it’s not uncommon for people to experience floods. But do you know what to do when you find an unexpected pool of water in your basement? Here are 10 steps you need to take whenever you discover …

Reviews

A JOB WELL DONE BY 'CITY FOUNDATION'

I would have no hesitation in recommending City Foundation. They fixed up my foundation last summer and although the old house produced a few surprises, the professionals at City Foundation got around the problems cheerfully and completed the work. From the start, Chuck kept me informed of all of my options. If I asked for something not already in the plan, he would try to accommodate me if at all possible Chuck and his colleague Don were friendly, and respectful. They showed up every day, put in a solid day's work and always left the property clean, neat and safe for us to move around. And, the price was fair with no surprises. Great guys, good job!

- Jennifer A 5/30/2015

Excellent service, friendly

We had Chuck and his team repair a crack in our cold storage room - they were punctual, neat, and friendly. The job was completed very quickly with great results. Would definitely hire them again and recommend them to friends.

- Janet M. 5/26/2015

Good job!

Chuck did a very good job. He promised to be finished by a certain date and he was good to his word. He kept me informed of his progress through pictures sent to my email account while I was at work. My backyard is nicely landscaped and there was no damage or debris left in my yard - just a new window well and no basement leaks.

- Kathryn T. 4/14/2015

Can't say enough about the workmanship of Chuck and his crew. They assessed the problem(leak in the foundation) quoted me a price, booked appointment, showed up on time and did a very professional job.The work site was cleaned up to the point it was hard to tell there had been any serious digging at the site. If I have similar problems with my foundation they will be the first people I will call!! I would not hesitate to recommend Chuck and his crew if you have foundation problems that need repair. Duncan Hardie

- Duncan H. 4/12/2015

Professsional and Polite

My experience with City Residential was very positive. I had a crack on my foundation and knew we needed it fixed. They came in and addressed the situation and did the work cleanly and professionaly. Our property was kept nice and tidy during the repairs and they worked safely during the work. Its been a few years now since the work and no issues whatsoever. I will be using them again once we decided to fix a few areas around the garage that they pointed out would need fixing someday. Very happy and positive experience.

- Chris L. 4/6/2015

Foundation Crack (back) and Drainage (front)

The foundation crack at the back was difficult to get to and difficult to dig out. The work was done well and on time. the drainage trench at the front was also done very well and on time. I hope I don't need Chuck again but if I have foundation, drainage issues, he will be my 1st call. bc

- Barry C. 3/30/2015

This is a highly professional company with reliable, honest service. Chuck, the owner, came exactly when promised, took the time to listen to my concerns, explained the problem in an easy to understand language, described in great detail how it could be fixed, and what was - and what was not - necessary. Chuck and his team's attitude and service were at all times very honest, courteous and highly professional. Although I needed to be out of town, there were no surprises or additional costs, and everything was left tidy and clean. Chuck even followed up a couple of days later to check if everything was all right and done to my satisfaction. All in all, I was very impressed with the quality of work and the services received and would highly recommend the company.

- Beate A. 3/30/2015

City Residential Foundation Repair

Chuck Naish and his team from City Residential Foundation Repair were excellent to deal with in every aspect. Their level of integrity throughout the entire process was outstanding. They were honest, respectful and their ability to explain the process and the solution options were extremely helpful to us. The scope of the project was big, however Chuck walked us through every step of the way; assessment, testing, options and repairs which resulted in a very successful outcome. In addition, Chuck and his team were able to complete the necessary repairs with minimal impact to our newly completed landscaping which included a lot of hard scape, tiered armour stone, gardens and a pool. They kept the work site impeccable over the duration of the project. We have and will continue to highly recommend Chuck Naish for his very professional and skilled foundation repair work.

- Annette and Rick B. 3/8/2015

My experience with City Residential was great. Chuck was very friendly and very easy to deal with. I especially appreciated that he was able to come by and do the estimate in the evening when I was off work. They did the work exactly as they said they would, no surprises (which in my mind is the most you can ask for). I was really surprised by how clean they left everything in the evenings and when the job was complete. They will definitley be the first people I call if I ever need more foundation work.

- Charlie A 3/2/2015

Weeping Tile system replaced

We are very please with the work that was done. It was always a pleasure to speak with the owner and explain to him what was going on. Although we found the job to be pricey, it is impossible for us to determine if it was adequate or not at it's hard to compare to others. He ran into several problems at my house while doing the job and he took it upon himself to call the City at two different occasion so they could do some testing before he could go on. Safety was very important for them so they took all the necessary precaution so that no one could get hurt or fall into the hole that were done all around the house.

- Gisele P. 1/29/2015
10 Reviews
90% Would Recommend