Wood Rot Repair in Pittsburgh, Cranberry Township, McKeesport & Nearby

We can prevent & repair wood damage

Moldy, rotting wood can weaken the structural integrity of the foundation if not properly identified and repaired.

Repairing wood damage in basements and crawl spaces caused by rot, mold, and termites may seem overwhelming and expensive. However, if you can catch the problem before it becomes too severe, a crawl space repair and basement waterproofing company can provide a quick and affordable remedy.

Simply repairing mold damage is not a lasting solution. If there are still conditions for mold to return, including moisture and high humidity, it will simply resume growing on your new wood over time.

Mold repairs in Greater Pittsburgh

At Keystone Basement Systems, we specialize in repairing wood damage issues of all types, including moldy or damaged wood. For a free wood damage quote, call or e-mail us today! We proudly serve Western PA, Northern West Virginia, and Eastern Ohio areas throughout Bethel Park, Morgantown, Cranberry Township, and nearby.

Restoring rotting & moldy wood damage

When inspecting the damage, your contractor will have three main challenges:

• Determining what wood to replace
• Assessing where you need wood repairs
• Evaluating where repairs are not needed

In the case of structural wood, the entire piece, not just the damaged portion, will need to be replaced or reinforced. The same goes for structural posts, floor joists, beams, and similar wood.

The nature of the problem in your home isn't always straightforward to an untrained eye. That is why you should call a professional to identify what caused the damage — so it doesn't reoccur.

Our wood rot repair process

Does your crawl space or basement have rotting, moldy, damaged wood? Keystone Basement Systems provides reliable repairs, reinforcing the structural integrity of the home and ensuring lasting results with our restoration, waterproofing, and encapsulation system.

Crawl Space Supports

Crawl space jack posts do more than reinforce your rotting crawl space beams and posts. They also restore your floor to its original position over time.

Often, it's not necessary to replace the wood, even when the crawl space frame shows mold damage. In these cases, we recommend crawl space jack posts, also known as crawl space supports, to repair the damage. These adjustable support beams can be installed quickly underneath your home to restore strength to your structure.

If your structural support beams are rotting, a sister beam of new wood may be installed along the old one to add structural strength.

Crawl space supports are appropriate to repair crawl space support posts that are rotting or supports that are sagging due to poor supporting soils. They're also an effective solution for crawl spaces that are sagging due to a poorly designed crawl space or one with too few supports to bear the weight of your home.

Crawl Space & Basement Waterproofing

We prevent wood rot and damage with dehumidifiers, sump pumps, drainage systems, and other waterproofing solutions.

We can't address wood rot until we remove all sources of moisture intrusion. That is why along with structural damage repairs, we also provide a patented crawl space and basement waterproofing system, including:

• Sump pumps that discharge water entering the home and have features for added protection, even during a power outage!
• Dehumidifiers that keep the basement regulated and reduce condensation, lowering the risk of wood rot, mold, and mildew.
• French drain systems that direct moisture intrusion to the sump pump and ensure a safe, secure, and dry space.
• A vapor barrier that seals walls from moisture, creating a clean, dry area.
• We provide foundation repairs, fixing floor and wall cracks and other types of structural damage to prevent leaks and water intrusion.

Supplemental Beams & Beam Replacement

Wooden beams can crack, rot, or grow mold — this is especially true in a wet basement or crawl space. Some believe steel beams are more durable. But they are vulnerable to rusting in a damp area. If your home has damaged support beams, Keystone Basement Systems can replacement with the SmartJack™ Support System

If support beams are damaged, we may need to replace them. We can also reinforce the new support beam with the SmartJack™ System. The cast-in-place concrete footings level the floor and increase the house's structural integrity.

Joist Sisters

Floor Joists are a critical part of the home's floor support system. However, they are prone to bowing, twisting, and sagging, leading to other building components failing. Floor joists support a specific load and can fail for many reasons, including age, poor design, plumbing and electrical alterations and installations, and moisture.

Joist sistering is a common solution and happens by adding another joist alongside, doubling the thickness of the joist. Our specialists can identify these issues and recommend lasting solutions to fix failing floor joists.

Sill Plate Replacement

The area where structural beams lay by concrete that meet the home's framing are sill plates. They anchor the house to the foundation. Sill plates can rot from under the property when exposed to moisture or pests. Keystone Basement Systems can replace the sill place to reinforce the home's structural integrity.

If you have a rotting crawl space or basement, the sill plate is often the first to go. A fast response to flooding and moisture intrusion ensures better results that prevent future damage. After we replace the sill plate, we can provide patented crawl space and basement waterproofing solutions to create a dry, healthy area

Surface mold vs. wood rot

10% of the United State's wood production goes to repairing rotting wood, which destroys about 20 billion board feet of timber each year — far more than the annual amount destroyed by fire damage.

Why aren't trees damaged by mold and rot? The answer to this question can help you understand something important about mold. As mold grows, it feeds on the sugars, starches, and other compounds in wood. Living wood protects itself from mold and rot damage with its bark. The bark is absent of the sugars and starches that mold eats, discouraging mold growth. When wood is cut and processed, it loses this natural layer of protection and opens the door for mold and rot growth.

Surface Mold consumes the sugars and starches in the wood, which does not influence the strength of the wood. Wood rot can consume sugars and starches, but it also converts the structural polymers in wood fibers to food, which weakens the wood's strength.

If you have surface mold, you can clean it without damaging your wood. Wood rot is a deeper problem that may require serious repairs.

Why fix structural damage & wood rot?

Repairing basement and crawl space structural damage and wood rot is a quick and reliable way to reinforce the home against a collapse. Other benefits include:

Schedule a free basement waterproofing and crawl space repair estimate to learn more. We proudly serve Western PA, Northern West Virginia, and Eastern Ohio areas throughout Morgantown, Bethel Park, Wheeling, Monroeville, Allison Park, New Castle, Gibsonia, McKeesport, Cranberry Township, Pittsburgh, and nearby.

Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.