Trusted Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Repair in Cranberry Township, PA

Basement flooding and leaking aren't always what they seem. Wet basement walls are usually the result of foundation cracks and leaky windows. Pooling water and floor cracks are caused by many factors. Here are different common wet basement problems and how to spot them:

• Wall cracks: If your home has an unfinished basement, wall cracks will usually be noticeable. However, they won't be as visible in a finished space, but there may still be ways to spot them. For example, if your plaster or drywall has water marks, this is a sign of cracks underneath. If there are wall cracks beneath the plaster or drywall, they can only be fixed after removing plaster walls and carpet.
• Water marks: In a finished basement, blotchy, off-color spots or water marks on plaster walls and carpets are clear signs of water intrusion that have dried. These spots will look similar, with discoloration in a semi-uniform area on concrete walls and floors in unfinished basements.
• Standing water: If the basement has pooling water with or without rain, it can be worrisome and definitely a sign of wet basement problems. If your home has standing water in the basement, contact Keystone Basement Systems for a waterproofing solution as soon as possible.
• Mold growth: Depending on the type of mold, some spots can be easy to spot. Other areas may be hard to identify. They can appear as black blotches, white or yellow powders, and in many shapes and colors. However, damp, cold, and wet environments, like basements, are areas where mold and fungi thrive, usually where walls and floors meet, places with water infiltration, beneath carpets, and around window frames.
• Moldy, wood rotten & damaged basement windows: Damaged basement windows, especially those with wood frames, are susceptible to wood rot and deterioration, causing moisture to enter the below-grade space through cracks and gaps. If water stays on wooden frames long, this can also lead to mold, wood rot, and discoloration.

Since 2003, Keystone Basement Systems has been Cranberry Township's trusted basement waterproofing company, accurately identifying moisture intrusion problems to design the best solution to any situation. You can count on our experienced crew, exclusive basement waterproofing products, and proven techniques to create a dry, healthy basement! Our basement waterproofing system includes:

• Sump pumps
• Perimeter drainage systems
• A vapor barrier
• Wall insulation
• & more!

Get an expert diagnosis of your wet basement and our recommendations to fix it by scheduling a free waterproofing estimate!

Some homeowners opt for do-it-yourself repairs when something goes wrong. But to ensure the health and value of your house, the best option is to hire a professional for basement waterproofing. For example, adding a drainage system and sump pump is a great solution for water intrusion during rain. However, installing these systems is a long, invasive process requiring technical equipment and machinery. One wrong move can cause more damage to the foundation. Plus, if moisture issues aren't resolved, this can lead to widespread mold, structural damage, poor indoor air quality, and other costly problems.

Basement waterproofing is complicated and takes years to master. You will also want to trust that your products will perform reliably and receive maintenance when needed. Keystone Basement Systems provides dedicated service from start to finish. You won't have to worry about the setup, installation, or ongoing maintenance!

If your home has structural damage, some problems might be noticeable, such as wall cracks, a tilting chimney, and sticking windows and doors. However, other issues might need a professional to spot. With Keystone Basement Systems, you can rely on our decades-long experience to provide a thorough foundation inspection, where we will accurately identify foundation problems and recommend permanent solutions to address your unique situation.

Signs of Foundation Problems Include:

• Sticking windows & doors
• A tilting chimney
• Floor, ceiling & wall cracks
• Sinking or settling areas of the home
• Sagging floors above the crawl space
• Water intrusion
• Street creep

To get lasting foundation repairs, you will need to identify foundation problems first so you can properly address them. Here are some common types of structural damage and ways we address them:

Foundation Damage on Walls

No matter the cause of your foundation wall problems, we have the solution:

• Bowing walls: Bowing walls happen from hydrostatic pressure pushing against the foundation. We address this problem using GeoLock® Wall Anchors, connecting the wall to stable soils further away from the home and preventing further bowing.
• Wall cracks from settling soils: When the soil seeps into a porous concrete substrate, it freezes and thaws with seasonal changes. As water causes soil to swell and shrink, it pushes against concrete and causes foundation cracks. Outside soil pressure and foundation settlement are other causes of wall cracks. We install helical foundation piers to address wall cracks, driving supporting beams deep into stronger load-bearing soils and preventing further settlement.
• Collapsing retaining walls: Retaining walls are designed to resist the lateral pressure of soils. However, they can shift and bow over time as the soil expands and contracts from rain, freezing, and other natural environmental changes. We address this using wall anchors and helical tiebacks to provide support that is even greater than when the original structure was built.

Foundation Floor Problems

Floor cracks and uneven surfaces are the most common floor problems in a foundation:

• Cause of floor cracks & sagging floors: Foundation settlement from weak load-bearing soil that cannot support the weight of the home, is the cause of uneven surfaces. The settlement will put a strain on the foundation, leading to sagging floors, floor cracks, and sinking floors.
• Our foundation repair solution: Most foundation floor problems result from weak soils, so we usually install helical piers, integrating connection joints to your home's foundation and the foundation pier. After, it is guided into the soil beneath the property until it reaches an area that can bear the weight of the home. The piers level your home and relieve the pressures caused by settling soils. They also protect the home against sinking in the future.

If your home has structural damage, Keystone Basement Systems is the foundation repair company you can count on for patented products, innovative solutions, and an experienced crew. We are also backed by Supportworks, a concrete and foundation repair network giving members access to continuous training, best practices from the best minds in the industry, and proven products. Plus, our foundation repair products come with transferrable, lifetime warranties. So, once we fix your home, you can have peace of mind in lifetime protection.

Driveways, patios, pool decks, and other slabs tend to sink since concrete is heavy and always exerts pressure on the soil beneath. Freeze and thaw cycles, heavy rain, and other environmental factors cause the load-bearing soil to erode, weaken, or compress. Once this happens, slabs no longer have the equal force across the surface that is required, leading to sinking, cracked concrete.

Old-fashioned concrete leveling methods, such as mudjacking, require a 120-pound mortar mixture under the slab to fill the void and lift the concrete. This process can take up to 24 hours to cure, requires heavy machinery, and is disruptive to the property owner. That is why Keystone Basement Systems uses PolyLevel®, a lightweight, 4-pound, durable polyurethane injection system that lifts and levels slabs.

Instead of using heavy machinery, technicians drill small holes through concrete to inject an expanding polymer beneath for a quick, accurate lift. The results are waterproof, durable, and will not wash away, degrade, or leech harmful chemicals into the soil. Plus, the cure time is only 20 minutes, so your slabs are ready to use right away!

Benefits of PolyLevel®:

• Non-invasive installation
• Quick installation and cure time
• Lightweight without sacrificing strength
• Waterproof once cured
• Adjustable for loads of all sizes

Sinking, chipping, or cracked concrete often alerts homeowners to needing concrete repairs or a concrete replacement. Here are some examples of traditional slab restoration methods versus our concrete repair system:

• Concrete replacement: A slab after a concrete replacement may look and function well, but these benefits may not last because this method does not address the underlying cause of the damage. With a project so expensive and time-consuming, you don't want to end up with the same uneven, chipping, and cracked concrete you once had.
• Mudjacking: Mudjacking is an invasive concrete repair procedure that requires heavy machinery for excavation, is loud and disruptive, takes over 24 hours to cure, and can ultimately fail in the future.
• Patching concrete cracks: Not all types of concrete repairs yield good results. Patching concrete cracks and damage won't resolve the issues causing cracks. So, damage will continue to develop with natural soil and environmental changes.
• Our concrete repair services: When it comes to lasting, non-invasive, fast-acting concrete repairs, we recommend our innovative PolyLevel® concrete leveling, NexusPro cracked concrete repair, and SealantPro concrete sealing solutions. Here is what you need to know about our concrete repair system:
  • PolyLevel® concrete leveling: We offer a polyurethane concrete lifting system, accurately leveling slabs while addressing underlying causes of damage, such as soil washout. This system cures in 15 minutes, compared to 24 hours with mudjacking, and involves a non-invasive installation, requiring no heavy machinery. After, you can have confidence in its durable, water-proof composition to last a lifetime!
  • NexusPro® cracked concrete repair: We install this durable concrete crack repair system year-round, rain or shine. You won't have to worry about extreme temperatures or UV rays causing further drying, cracking, and bubbling. Plus, the system cures in under an hour, compared to other concrete sealants that take 24 to 72 hours.
  • SealantPro® concrete sealing: Whether you had concrete repairs or want to protect an existing slab or a newly installed one, our sealing system extends their lifespans by 3 to 5 times overall in one fast application, curing in just 6 hours for same-day use! SealantPro® protects driveways, sidewalks, patios, and concrete from water, dirt, oil, UV rays, and more, preventing abrasions, staining, and color fading. SealantPro also helps make ice removal easier by reducing ice bonding.

While basements are more common in Pennsylvania, there are plenty of homes with crawl spaces. Both are crucial to the structural integrity of your property. However, they are very susceptible to damage. When performing a crawl space inspection, we often find water from flooding, hydrostatic pressure, or poor ventilation is the leading cause of problems. Leaving water problems to worsen can lead to issues throughout the home.

Poor ventilation causes moisture problems and condensation on crawl space floors, walls, and structural components. Water intrusion and humidity weaken the foundation and cause mold.

Crawl space flooding & water intrusion can lead to collapsing crawl space ceilings, sagging floors above the crawl space, wood rot on structural components, mold, pests, and more.

Crawl spaces are dark, cold, and damp environments. Unfortunately, these elements are the perfect storm to foster mold growth, pests, wood rot, and structural damage. Crawl space dehumidifiers eliminate humidity and moisture to create a dry, odorless space and healthier indoor air overall. Keystone Basement Systems installs a self-draining Basement Systems dehumidifier, designed for tight spaces while offering high-performance efficiency.

If your home has water intrusion in the crawl space, this can quickly lead to structural damage. Wood and concrete elements are especially susceptible to moisture and water damage since these materials are highly absorbent. But there is no reason to worry -- we prevent water damage with a comprehensive crawl space encapsulation system, completely sealing off the space, including a dehumidifier and sump pump installation.

What is crawl space encapsulation?

We use a durable, moisture-proof vapor barrier system to separate the crawl space from outdoor elements.

1. We install airtight doors and vent covers to stop the cold, humidity, and moisture from entering the crawl space by blocking outside air.
2. After, we remove sources of leaks and pooling water by installing a perimeter drainage system and sump pump.
3. We perform water damage repairs.
4. We prevent moisture from passing through concrete walls and floors by installing a durable vapor barrier liner around the entire area, keeping moisture out permanently.
5. We complete the process by installing a dehumidifier.

Once your crawl space encapsulation is complete, you will have peace of mind knowing you will have a dry, secure, and safe area free from flooding or moisture intrusion.

Why are crawl space encapsulations necessary?

Crawl space encapsulations will preserve the health and value of your home. They are also backed by a transferrable, lifetime warranty. You can have confidence that our system will protect your property from structural damage, moisture, mold, foul odors, and water damage in the crawl space for a lifetime!