Professional Foundation Repair & Basement Waterproofing Services in Mckeesport, PA

Many wet basement problems have obvious causes, while others are harder to diagnose. Foundation cracks or leaky windows usually lead to damp walls. However, basement flooding and floor cracks can result from multiple issues. Below are some signs of a wet basement problem:

• Wall cracks: Wall cracks are usually a noticeable sign of a wet basement issue, especially in unfinished, concrete spaces. But cracks in a finished basement may remain hidden. If cracks are under plaster or drywall, they may show water marks or other signs on the surface. But cracks can only be seen and addressed after removing walls and carpets.
• Water marks: Another noticeable sign of water intrusion is water marks. These are the stains left behind after water has entered the space and dried. They appear as blotchy, off-color areas within carpets or plaster surfaces. In unfinished, concrete basements, spots will show similarly, as discoloration in a semi-uniform area on concrete walls and floors.
• Standing water: Sometimes basements have standing water regardless of whether it is raining. Pooling water may also be a reoccurring issue if you have experienced basement flooding. If you notice standing water in the basement, it is an obvious sign of water intrusion problems. If your home has standing water in the basement, a waterproofing solution is needed immediately.
• Mold growth: There are many different ways mold appears on walls and floors. The type of mold growth will affect its appearance, which can look like black blotches, white or yellow powders, and a variety of other shapes and colors. Basements are also the perfect environment for mold and fungi to grow since it is dark, cold, and damp. You may find mold in areas where walls and floors meet, places with water infiltration, beneath carpets, and around window frames.
• Moldy, wood rotten & damaged basement windows: If your basement has old windows or ones with wooden frames, they are susceptible to wood rot and damage. Moisture enters the basement through gaps and cracks within the window and frame. Moisture will sit on the surface of the wooden frame, causing mold growth, wood rot, and mold discoloration.

When securing a professional basement waterproofing company, trust Keystone Basement Systems. We have provided patented products and lasting solutions for fixing wet basements in Mckeesport since 2003. We will accurately assess the area, identify your unique problems, and design a waterproofing system to address them, ensuring a dry, healthy basement that lasts for years to come.

We offer free estimates on sump pumps, perimeter drainage systems, a vapor barrier, wall insulation, and other permanent wet basement solutions. Contact Keystone Basement Systems for an expert diagnosis of your wet basement issues and our recommendations to fix them.

A do-it-yourself mindset is great for many household repairs. However, hiring a professional for basement waterproofing is the only way to ensure lasting health and value for your home. For example, the best solution for water intrusion is a drainage system and sump pump. Installing this equipment is time-consuming, invasive, requires specialized equipment and machinery, and can lead to more damage if the problem continues. Basement waterproofing takes years to master and you want someone with that mastery knowledge to guarantee better results. You will also want peace of mind that you have access to proper maintenance whenever needed.

Keystone Basement Systems is with you every step of the way, installing award-winning products and solutions. We handle the setup, installation, and maintenance all in one!

When your home has structural damage, there are plenty of ways to spot it, but not all signs are noticeable. Wall cracks, a tilting chimney, and sticking windows and doors are noticeable. Others may take a professional to identify. Keystone Basement Systems is here to help. Since 2003, we have performed countless foundation inspections, accurately identifying structural damage to recommend the perfect solution for your unique situation.

Signs of Foundation Problems Include:

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

Successful foundation repairs start with accurately identifying structural damage, allowing contractors to address them properly. Below are some common types of foundation problems and ways we fix them:

Foundation Wall Damage

No matter the cause of wall damage, we offer permanent solutions:

• Bowing walls: Hydrostatic pressure pushes against the foundation. That's why we install GeoLock® Wall Anchors, where we connect the wall to stable soils away from the home, which also prevents bowing walls in the future.
• Wall cracks from settling soils: Soil seeps into the porous concrete substrate. As the soil expands and contracts with natural freeze and thaw cycles, it pushes against the slab, causing foundation cracks. Soil pressure and foundation settlement are other factors that cause wall cracks. Our specialists install helical foundation piers to address wall cracks, driving supporting beams deep into stronger load-bearing soils and preventing further settlement.
• Collapsing retaining walls: Even though retaining walls are designed to resist lateral soil pressure, some can shift and bow when soil grows and shrinks from rain, freezing, and other natural environmental changes. Wall anchors and helical tiebacks provide support that is even greater than when the original structure was built.

Foundation Floor Problems

The most common foundation floor problems are uneven surfaces and floor cracks:

• Floor cracks & sagging floors: Weak load-bearing soil cannot support the home's weight, leading to foundation settlement and can cause uneven surfaces, sagging floors, floor cracks, and sinking floors.
• Our foundation repair solution: We install helical piers to address floor problems, integrating connection joints to the foundation and the foundation pier. Then we direct it into soil beneath the property until it reaches an area that can bear the weight of the home. They are designed to level the home and relieve the pressures caused by settling soils. They also protect the home against sinking in the future.

Basements may be more common in Pennsylvania homes. However, there are still many houses that have crawl spaces, which play a crucial role in the structural integrity of the property. Even worse, they are often vulnerable to damage, including wood rot, cracks, sagging floors, failing floor joists, and mold. We often find that water intrusion from flooding, hydrostatic pressure, or poor ventilation is the most common culprit of problems in crawl spaces. If left unrepaired, a nasty crawl space can cause widespread damage.

• Poor ventilation causes condensation and moisture on floors, walls, and structural components in the crawl spaces, which can weaken the foundation and cause mold.
• Crawl space water intrusion & flooding can lead to collapsing crawl space ceilings, sagging floors above the crawl space, wood rot on structural elements, mold growth, pests, and more.

Dark, cold, and damp spaces are the perfect conditions for mold growth and pests. Since crawl spaces are notoriously humid and wet, this area is especially vulnerable to these issues. Dehumidifiers lower humidity and moisture, creating a drier, odorless space and healthier indoor air. We provide dehumidifier installations using industry-leasing Basement Systems products specially designed for small spaces while offering high-performance efficiency.

Crawl space moisture and humidity can quickly lead to foundation problems since highly absorbent materials, like wood and concrete, are vulnerable to damage. We protect the home from water damage with a comprehensive crawl space encapsulation system that includes a sump pump and dehumidifier installation.

What are crawl space encapsulations?

A vapor barrier seals off the area from outdoor elements. Our crawl space encapsulation system includes:

1. We install doors and vent covers to block outdoor air and stop the cold, humidity, and moisture cycle inside the crawl space.
2. We find and eliminate sources of leaks and standing water by installing a perimeter drainage system and sump pump.
3. We perform water damage repairs where necessary.
4. We stop moisture from entering concrete walls and floors permanently with a thick, waterproof crawl space vapor barrier around the entire area.
5. We complete the process with dehumidifier installation.

After, you'll have a dry, secure, and safe area free from flooding or moisture intrusion!

Why does my home need a crawl space encapsulation?

To better ensure the health of your home, a crawl space encapsulation keeps out outdoor elements that can cause mold, structural damage, wood rot, nasty odors, pests, and more. Our system is also backed by a transferrable, lifetime warranty. So, you can have confidence in your property's protection for a lifetime!

Concrete slabs are susceptible to sinking and damage since it is a heavy building material exerting pressure on load-bearing soil. This includes driveways, pool decks, patios, and sidewalks. Soil can deteriorate, weaken, compress, or erode in certain environmental conditions, leading to sinking, cracked concrete. If there is heavy rain and lots of runoff from a spring thaw, water passages under concrete can weaken the slab. Since concrete requires an equal amount of force across the surface, it will weaken, sink, and crack.

PolyLevel is a non-invasive, affordable, and long-lasting polyurethane injecting process, that accurately lifts and levels sinking slabs back to their original position. Mudjacking is a traditional concrete leveling method that involves pouring a 120-pound mortar mixture under the slab to fill the void and lift the concrete. However, with PolyLevel, our technicians only need to drill small holes through the concrete to inject a 4-pound, lightweight, expanding polymer beneath until it's leveled.

PolyLevel is also waterproof, stable, and inert, meaning it will not wash away, degrade, or leech harmful chemicals into the soil. Plus, PolyLevel usually cures in 20 minutes, rather than 24 hours with mudjacking.

Home and property owners know once they see sinking, chipping, or cracked concrete around their property, they might need concrete repairs or a concrete replacement, but which one is best?

• Concrete replacement: A concrete replacement may appear and function as good as new, but the results won't last forever. This is because replacing concrete doesn't fix the underlying cause of the damage. The process is also costly and laborious. So, even with all that time, effort, and money, you'll have to deal with uneven, chipping, and cracked concrete all over again.
• Mudjacking: While many believe concrete repairs are the most efficient and cost-effective way to deal with damaged, cracked concrete, not all methods will fix the issues causing problems. So, they will continue to develop with natural soil and environmental changes. Mudjacking is also invasive, requires heavy excavation machinery, is loud and disruptive, and takes over 24 hours to cure.
• Patching cracked concrete: Simply patching concrete cracks and damage won't fix the issues causing cracks and sagging slabs. And this damage will continue to develop with natural soil and environmental changes.
• Our concrete repair system: Our innovative PolyLevel concrete leveling, NexusPro cracked concrete repair, and SealantPro concrete sealing solutions can help fix damage once and for all! Here is what you need to know about our concrete repair system:
  • PolyLevel® concrete leveling: We offer a polyurethane concrete lifting system that stabilizes slabs and creates results that actually look and function as good as new since it addresses the underlying causes of damage, such as soil washout. PolyLevel cures in 15 minutes, compared to 24 hours with mudjacking. Plus, the installation is non-invasive, requiring no heavy machinery. You will enjoy durable, water-proof results!
  • NexusPro® cracked concrete repair: Our cracked concrete repair system installs year-round, rain or shine. It is not affected by extreme temperatures, is resistant to UV rays to prevent further drying, cracking, and bubbling, and cures in under an hour, compared to other concrete sealants that take 24 to 72 hours.
  • SealantPro® concrete sealing: Our concrete sealing system works on existing and newly installed slabs to extend their lifespans by 3 to 5 times overall in one quick application, protecting them from water, dirt, oil, UV rays, and more. The system prevents abrasions, staining, and color fading. SealantPro also makes ice removal, as it reduces ice bonding. Our system can also be applied to new or freshly repaired concrete and cures in just 6 hours for same-day use!