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Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from homeowners in Cape May County. We believe in empowering our customers with the knowledge they need to make the best decisions for their homes.
Working With Us
Can I stay in my home during repairs?
Yes, in many cases, you can live in your home while repairs are being made.
- Josh Wise
Common Crawlspace Problems
Why are my floors sagging if there isn't any rot or decay?
Over-spanned or undersized lumber is often the cause of sagging floors. In older homes, the original floors may not have been designed to handle the weight of modern-day items like washers, dryers, refrigerators, granite counter-tops, or exercise equipment. These items can put undue pressure on your floor joists, causing them to sag over time.
Learn more about our solution: Structural Repair
What causes doors and windows to stick?
Doors and windows stick primarily due to humidity or foundation issues, which can be caused by the settlement or heaving of expansive soil. With humidity, moisture soaks into the wood, causing it to swell and bulge against the frame. With foundation issues, undue pressure from the soil is transferred up through the foundation and into the home's frame.
Learn more about our solution: Structural Repair
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What causes rot?
The cause of wood decay fungi like brown wood rot, white wood rot, and soft rot is moisture in the crawlspace. This includes high humidity and flooding. High humidity can also affect indoor air quality in the rest of the home by producing excess dust mite colonies and contributing to the spread of viruses.
Learn more about our solution: Mold Remediation
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Is wood rot a fungus?
Yes. Wood-decay fungus is a living organism, and it must have the triangle of life to survive. I’m referring to shelter, water, and food. Inside a crawlspace, these living organisms have everything they need to survive, grow, and develop.
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What type of environment does fungi grow in?
Moisture content above 19% for approximately one week is required for significant surface mold growth to occur on wood structural components. Mold growth on wood surfaces occurs on most species of wood when the moisture content by weight is between 20% and 28%.
Learn more about our solution: Mold Remediation
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About Your Foundation
What is a pile foundation?
A pile foundation is a deep foundation that uses structural piles—long cylinders of a strong material—inserted into the ground to support a building. This type of foundation is used when the shallow ground is not strong enough to safely support the building's weight.
Learn more about our solution: Structural Repair
Resource: Click here to learn more.
Why were pilings installed below my home?
Pile foundations are often the solution for your foundation requirements if you have poor soil conditions with a layer of weak soil at the surface. Since this layer may not be able to support the weight of the building, the loads have to be transferred to a layer of stronger soil or rock below the weak layer.
Learn more about our solution: Structural Repair
Resource: Click here to learn more.
What are common pile foundations?
There are three common types of pile foundations:
Driven pile foundations
Cast-in-situ pile foundations
Combined pile foundations
Learn more about our solution: Structural Repair
Resource: Click here to learn more.
What are piling caps?
Pile caps are large reinforced concrete blocks placed on top of piles to provide support and stability for a structure's foundation. They act as a transfer point for the loads from the structure to the piles and can also provide resistance to lateral and uplift forces.
Learn more about our solution: Structural Repair
Resource: Click here to learn more.
What causes pilings to rot?
Natural decay is the primary cause. Under certain conditions, microbes consume the strong fibers of the wood, causing rot and destroying the pile's strength. These conditions usually include sufficient water, temperatures above freezing, and oxygen.
Learn more about our solution: Structural Repair
Resource: Click here to learn more.
Make The Wise Choice
Have a question we didn't answer? Don't let an unknown issue compromise your home's integrity.
Contact us today for a professional, on-site inspection.
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