Basement waterproofing and crawl space repair in CA

Cracked Foundation Repair in CA

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:30:39 -0500

Usually foundation walls are constructed out of poured concrete, but can also be made out of bricks, blocks or stones. Whatever material it is, it must be able to hold a large load as the entire home will be built on top of the foundation walls.

Cracked Foundation

Cracks in a foundation are detrimental not only for your basement, but also for your entire home. They can be formed in many different ways and for many different reasons, and if you see a crack in your foundation it is important to keep an eye on it and get it fixed.

Expanding or detracting soil is one possible cause of a cracked foundation. When there is a lot of water in the soil it expands which causes the foundation to slightly shift. If this keeps occurring over time, a crack will most likely appear in your foundation. Much the same, if the soil is very dry it will shrink causing the foundation to shift in certain places and likely form a crack as well.

Some other possible causes of cracks in foundation walls include plumbing leaks, improper compaction of fill soil, poor drainage, improper expansion control joints, rapid concrete curing, premature backfilling, uneven moisture around the foundation, improper concrete mix, or premature removal of concrete forms. All of these problems may seem insignificant at first, but have the possibility of causing major foundation damage.

There are two types of foundation cracks to look out for- vertical and horizontal cracks. Vertical foundation cracks are typical in a poured concrete foundation wall. They are caused by shrinkage which occurs as the concrete cures and can be restored by a simple polyurethane foam injection. Horizontal foundation cracks usually come about when the soil expands and there is pressure on the foundation walls. These horizontal cracks could turn into bowing and other structural damage as well.

Weinstein Retrofitting Systems is your local foundation repair company for Los Angeles and the surrounding area. We offer a full range of services to Palmdale, Oxnard, Anaheim, Huntington Beach and nearby. Our experts can solve any basement or foundation problem you may be facing. From earthquake retrofitting and crawl space repair, to basement waterproofing and mold remediation, Weinstein Retrofitting Systems is the one to contact. For more information visit our site- http://www.laquakeproofer.com/

Earthquake Retrofitting and Your Home

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:33:22 -0500

What is Earthquake Retrofitting?

Earthquake retrofitting is adjusting an existing home or structure to make it more resistant to seismic activity, soil failure, or ground motion. Retrofitting increases the stability of your home so that it is less likely to rack, slide, or overturn during an earthquake.

Why Retrofit?

If an earthquake occurs, the ground shakes and the stability of your home is tested. Many homes in earthquake prone areas were built before the new codes were implemented, so if you live in an older home it would be a good idea to look into retrofitting.

Retrofitting your home ensures that your house is stable and does not face the risk of shifting if an earthquake does occur. Homes that have been retrofitted are able to withstand large earthquake forces and their risk of being damaged is reduced.

Not only will retrofitting keep your home safe in an earthquake, it also increases your homes resale value. This may not be something people think about at first, but if your home has been retrofitted it is definitely a plus. This makes possible buyers more confident in the strength and stability of your home.

How Do I Know if I Need to Retrofit My Home?

There are many things to consider when you are looking to retrofit your home. If the geographic area you live in is prone to earthquakes it’s important to make sure your home is prepared for the possibility of seismic activity. Homes built within the last 20 years were built under strict building codes and most likely do not need to be retrofitted. If you live in an older home it may be a good idea to look into retrofitting.

Also, homes built on a raised foundation or on a hillside typically experience shifting of the foundation during seismic activity. If your home falls under either of these categories it may be susceptible to some structural failures if an earthquake does occur.

Retrofitting Your Home

If you find that your home is a good candidate for earthquake retrofitting, Weinstein Retrofitting Systems has the solution for you. Their qualified professionals retrofit homes in five main ways:

Using regular anchor bolts when the cripple wall is tall enough to allow straight drilling
Foundation anchor plates are used when a cripple wall is shorter than 24” or there is no cripple wall that exists
Using t-straps and framing anchors for post to beam and pier to post connections
Framing anchors are used for the perimeter of a foundation with bolting
Joist anchors are installed to strengthen the sub floor

Weinstein Retrofitting Systems has trained professionals that provide earthquake retrofitting in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. They are your local earthquake retrofitting company serving Palmdale, Oxnard, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, and nearby. Weinstein also offers a full range of services including foundation repair, crawl space repair, basement waterproofing, and mold remediation. Contact them today for more information.

Earthquake Retrofitting Discount

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:51:10 -0500

Weinstein Earthquake Retrofitting Systems is offering an amazing offer!

$250 for $500 Certificate at Weinstein Retrofitting Systems.

Promotion lasts for 1 year from date of purchase. After that period, your Certificate is redeemable for the amount you paid. All equipment provided. Not valid with other certificates or offers. Must use in a single visit. Only 1 certificate(s) can be purchased for own use. By appointment only. Up to 3 can be purchased as gifts for others. Must make appointment at least 24 hours in advance. 24-hour cancellation notice required or your certificate is forfeited. Tax included.

Vist our yelp listing to purchase!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/weinstein-retrofitting-systems-van-nuys

Cracked Foundation Repair

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:29:36 -0500

Foundation walls are the base and strength of your entire house. They extend into the ground and transfer the weight from the columns and walls in a home to the bedrock or soil underneath it. It is critical that foundation walls are constructed correctly as they are a crucial part of a home’s overall stability. If there are problems with your foundation, they will most likely trickle up and cause other structural problems throughout the rest of your home as well.

Usually foundation walls are constructed out of poured concrete, but can also be made out of bricks, blocks or stones. Whatever material it is, it must be able to hold a large load as the entire home will be built on top of the foundation walls.

Cracked Foundation

Cracks in a foundation are detrimental not only for your basement, but also for your entire home. They can be formed in many different ways and for many different reasons, and if you see a crack in your foundation it is important to keep an eye on it and get it fixed.

Reasons for Foundation Cracks

Expanding or detracting soil is one possible cause of a cracked foundation. When there is a lot of water in the soil it expands which causes the foundation to slightly shift. If this keeps occurring over time, a crack will most likely appear in your foundation. Much the same, if the soil is very dry it will shrink causing the foundation to shift in certain places and likely form a crack as well.

Some other possible causes of cracks in foundation walls include plumbing leaks, improper compaction of fill soil, poor drainage, improper expansion control joints, rapid concrete curing, premature backfilling, uneven moisture around the foundation, improper concrete mix, or premature removal of concrete forms. All of these problems may seem insignificant at first, but have the possibility of causing major foundation damage.

Types of Foundation Cracks

There are two types of foundation cracks to look out for- vertical and horizontal cracks. Vertical foundation cracks are typical in a poured concrete foundation wall. They are caused by shrinkage which occurs as the concrete cures and can be restored by a simple polyurethane foam injection. Horizontal foundation cracks usually come about when the soil expands and there is pressure on the foundation walls. These horizontal cracks could turn into bowing and other structural damage as well.

Weinstein Retrofitting Systems is your local foundation repair company for Los Angeles and the surrounding area. We offer a full range of services to Palmdale, Oxnard, Anaheim, Huntington Beach and nearby. Our experts can solve any basement or foundation problem you may be facing. From earthquake retrofitting and crawl space repair, to basement waterproofing and mold remediation, Weinstein Retrofitting Systems is the one to contact. For more information visit our site- http://www.laquakeproofer.com/

Sidewalk Repair Services in Los Angeles, OC, and Ventura

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:59:55 -0500

Damage to your concrete sidewalk, driveway, or walkway outside of your home can be an eye sore and a danger especially if you have young children who play there frequently.

Cracked and buckling concrete can cause you to fall and may cause passersby to trip as well. Weinstein Retrofitting wants you to have the best possible look that you would like to maintain in front of your home.

We can assist with concrete repair from A-Z, on sidewalks, driveways, or walkways. Some reasons for damage may include deep tree root penetration, earthquake activity that causes the concrete to crack, soil erosion, or poor drainage.

We specialize in offering permanent solutions to those problems. We will find the tree root and remove it, or we can install various drainage solutions such as highly durable driveway grate drains. These fixes will help in preventing damage to the concrete in the long term.

One of the most common questions we receive about sidewalk repair is whether or not the homeowner needs a permit from the city. As the sidewalk portion outside of your home is city property, then no alterations may be made to that piece of property unless allowed by the city, even if the property is in bad condition and the homeowner is voluntarily trying to correct it.

Weinstein also handles the proper care and retrieval of city permits for the rights to reconstruct the city sidewalks outside of your home. City officials can sometimes be difficult to work with especially if you have never performed any work in the past that required you to obtain your own city permits.

Having no experience dealing with city workers can be quite stressful and may delay any construction work further than it really should be delayed. However, with our help, your work can commence as quickly as possible because we have the experience to obtain permits in a timely and professional manner.

From A-Z, Weinstein Retrofitting specializes in your sidewalk and driveway repair needs. Please call today to schedule your free inspection!

Earthquake Retrofitting Provides Strength and Stability

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:24:14 -0500

Earthquake retrofitting is a process that ties the home components together. It keeps your home safe from sliding failures during an earthquake big enough to cause damage. Your home will be able to withstand the very strong and damaging forces of an earthquake by providing your home with the proper hardware retrofit it will need to have done underneath the home.

Providing strength to your home through hardware connections is the best way to keep your home safe, your investment secure, and your family out of the way of danger.

After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, Weinstein Retrofitting Systems was appointed by FEMA to provide homeowners with earthquake retrofitting upgrades to their home. We have retrofitted thousands of homes in the greater Los Angeles area and have since expanded into the entire Orange and Ventura Counties.

We have the experience to provide you with the best possible earthquake retrofitting services. While there are tools and resources available to help the homeowner do it yourself, working in the foundation of the home can be a difficult and dangerous challenge. We do advise to hire a professional.

Our goal is to provide you with an excellent construction experience and it all begins with your free inspection. Call today and see what Weinstein has to offer you in terms of making your home a safer one to live in!

Learn How to Perform Your Own Foundation Inspection

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:32:15 -0500

We want you to be fully prepared to be able to perform your own foundation inspection. As most of our clientele is comprised of homeowners, we understand the importance in having the kind of knowledge it takes to know what is happening underneath your home.

When you call in to schedule a free foundation inspection, here are some of the items and things that are our inspectors utilize:

Flashlight
Camera
Crawling suit and face mask (it might be muddy and smelly)
Tape measure
Checklist of things to look for, such as cracks, bolting, wood rot, access space

Most homeowners with a crawl space underneath their home do not look forward to crawling nor do they usually know what exactly to look for when they crawl.

Call today to schedule your free foundation inspection and we can train you what to look for in your future crawl endeavors. We will provide you with a spare suit as well as extra tools like a flash light.

The next time you go crawling, you’ll be able to look for and measure the things are inspectors are highly trained in doing.

We’ll show you about the kinds of cracks in your foundation footings or walls that should concern you or those that are not to worry about. Our goal is to empower you with the information you’ll need to recognize whether or not your home is “feeling well” and to give you peace of mind. It starts with a free inspection. Call today!

Retrofit Los Angeles

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:45:49 -0500

As Occupy LA is coming to a peaceful end in front of City Hall, there is still one thing many residents can do together at home that a tent is not qualified for: Earthquake Retrofit Los Angeles.

Millions of homes in Los Angeles are still not up to the current building code for seismic mitigation. The hardware used today is drastically different than what it once was 50 or 60 years ago.

With new engineering techniques, we have a vastly deeper grasp of what it takes to secure the components of your home together so that it will be far less likely for your home to experience any sliding failures during the Big One.

Weinstein Retrofitting Systems encourages all homeowners to stand behind one movement equally: Earthquake Retrofit Los Angeles! We have inspected over 60,000 homes for free, the most experience of anyone in our field.

Please call today or go online to schedule your free inspection! We offer 25 year warranty guarantee on our retrofit work, which includes labor and material, and we also offer price match guarantees! Call today. We want you to be rest assured and to live in a safe and secure home. Most importantly, we look forward to providing you with an excellent construction experience!

Drainage Systems Installation at Your Home

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:40:55 -0500

Weinstein Retrofitting Systems is offering free drainage inspections for your home or property during this holiday rainy season. Here are some basic signs that you may want to take advantage of this offer:

You notice water pooling in and around your home
You lack sufficient drainage systems to carry rain water away from your home
The driveway of your home floods on a hillside home
Your foundation or basement floods
Your garage floods
Your below grade living room or bedroom floods
You laundry room floods
Gutters and downspouts are not properly working
The backyard or front yard lawns are flooding
Water is falling in from a hillside
There seems to be flooding and the water source is not detectable.

If you realize that any of the flooding is caused by a plumbing leak, then please consult a plumber. However, if the source is not detectable and water is intruding into your home or building, then Weinstein Retrofitting can find the problem and offer a permanent solution to do what we do best: put water where it belongs!

Call or contact us today to schedule your free drainage inspection this holiday season!

Foundation Repair in Los Angeles

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:37:31 -0500

What separates the need for foundation repair in Los Angeles compared to other cities is that Los Angeles has an extremely vast variety of different soil and land types on which millions upon millions of homes are built.

These homes were built at a time when population in this city was increasing rapidly and the demand for more and more homes exceeded supply. These homes were oftentimes built on land that is not suitable for structural integrity because there were no more areas to build homes on.

Therefore, foundation repair in Los Angeles is a huge need, and fortunately, the solutions to fix these foundations are bountiful with today’s technologies and methods.

Do not assume that your home is a bad home if the foundation seems to be failing. Many homes were originally built with some of the best building materials and techniques available at that time.

However, most homes in Los Angeles are older homes and the soils upon which they were built have altered their shape and integrity.

Settlement and movement of the foundation is a common problem and should be inspected by a foundation specialist. If the problem is catastrophic, then a geotechnical engineer may be needed for further soils investigation.

The Importance of Retrofitting of Structures

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:09:38 -0500

In California, many homeowners are faced with the concern of having a retrofitted home. A retrofit is a general term and has been more and more widely abbreviated to stand for “earthquake retrofitting.”

This is a process of adding additional hardware to the foundation of your home in order to give your home the strength and support it needs so it does not fall over or collapse during an earthquake.

When you, the homeowner, recognize that retrofitting of structures is an important part in preserving the welfare of the State of California during the Big One, you are directly making an impact on our economic landscape.

On a raised foundation system, there are three things you should do in order to retrofit your home:

1.   Bolt the foundation to the home;
2.   Brace the cripple wall with strong plywood (if you have a cripple wall); and
3.   Strap the water heater.

Some retrofitting of structures takes much more care and deliberation, and sometimes civil engineering to get the right solution for a specific building in question.

The best way to recognize what kind of retrofitting your home or building needs is by contacting a foundation specialist like Weinstein Retrofitting Systems. Ensuring that your home and loved ones are safe during the Big One is our specialty!

The Path to Peace of Mind

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:39:00 -0400

Life is a fragile thing; our home is the only thing that feels constant and safe. Our home is our

heaven from noise and pollution, our solitude in relaxation. Our home is the only thing that

matters. So then, when we want it to keep us safe, let’s help our home have a strong foundation.

Our home deserves it, and more importantly, so do you. Weinstein Retrofitting Systems offers

safe foundation repair in Long Beach, Whittier, Pasandena, and other surrounding areas.

LA Times Highlights Californian Retrofit Company After Big Quake Hits Japan

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:17:07 -0400

Van Nuys, CA Weinstein Retrofitting Systems, Inc. is a locally owned and operated earthquake, foundation and crawl space repair specialist that has recently featured in an LA Times article as the earthquake in Japan has created droves of weary retrofit customers.

The article, having appeared in the April 15, 2011 issue, aimed to compare world catastrophes and the increase in retrofitting. Jonathan Weinstein, the vice president of Weinstein Retrofitting Systems, Inc. references a noticeable three fold increase in business since the Friday quake hit Japan.

"Whenever there's a big disaster anywhere in the world, it puts safety in the front and center of people's minds," said Weinstein.

One of Weinstein's recent clients, Jacqueline Boucher, is the typical earthquake residual client. Her budget that had been intended for window treatments and other cosmetic upgrades is now being used to ready her foundation for any future disasters to hit California.

Such decisions "just went to No. 1 on my priority list," said Boucher, "It's not like it wasn't a priority before. But now I believe one is coming, and it'll be bad."

Strengthening foundations comes in various forms, from crawl space repair to stability reinforcements; a cracking, bowing or settling foundation in San Fernando and surrounding areas, can be a huge upset for any homeowner. But, such repairs should be made once the problem is sighted to make for a speedy recovery and prevent a heftier price tag.

Weinstein Retrofitting Systems offers services such as water in your basement in Oxnard, foundation cracks in Los Angeles, and sump pump installation in Torrance. Weinstein has solutions to any and all your basement and foundation problems in greater Los Angeles.

Contact Weinstein Retrofitting Systems, Inc. today to prevent earthquake damage in CA.

California Earthquake Authority

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:17:54 -0400

Weinstein Retrofitting Inspectors will be participating in the upcoming regional scoping session commissioned by the California Earthquake Authority to discuss development of a residential earthquake retrofit program.

This discussion will be facilitated by former Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) Director James Lee Witt.

James Lee Witt Associates is a crisis management and preparedness consulting firm that provides disaster recovery and mitigation- management services. Mr. Witt's professional highlights include service as FEMA director from 1993-2001. And from 2003 to 2006, he served as chief executive officer for the International Code Council, which developed building codes that guide construction of residential and commercial buildings.

We will keep our customers updated on the outcome of this session in the next 4 weeks.

Weinstein Retrofitting offers earthquake retrofitting, foundation repair, basement waterproofing, sump pump installation, and crawl space repair in Torrance, Oxnard, Glendale, Long Beach, and surrounding CA areas. Contact us today for a free estimate.