K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan. In addition, they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and the surrounding area. In their latest Trusted Saskatoon tip, K & S Contracting, Trusted Saskatoon General Contractors, and foundation specialists, discuss your home foundation.
Pay Attention to Your Foundation While Living in Saskatchewan
As a homeowner, you probably tend to prioritize home repairs based on how soon they need to be addressed. If your kitchen faucet is spraying water all over the room, for example, that’s something you’ll try to fix as soon as possible. If a tree branch falls and punches a hole through your roof, that’s something else you’ll probably work on right away.
On the other hand, if you start to notice tiny cracks developing in your foundation, you might not jump to fix them immediately. After all, all homes are expected to move a little from our adverse weather conditions to clay expanding or contracting up six inches with the fluctuation of moisture content. What’s more, a tiny crack that appears in your concrete doesn’t mean your house is in danger of falling anytime soon, does it? Basement crack repair may be one of those things you’d file under “keep an eye on it” rather than “call someone tomorrow,” but that can be the wrong idea.
Why Pay Attention to Your Foundation Living in Saskatchewan
With the weather extremes that we experience in Saskatchewan, from a 40-degree temperature swing in a matter of days to expanding clay that is affected by moisture in ways we never thought possible, home foundation repair is critical for your house. It should be taken care of as soon as possible. Although a few cracks in the foundation might not seem like a big deal, think of them as warning signs of something much more serious to come. Your home’s foundation may not be in any danger of crumbling to dust in the immediate future, but any signs that you may need foundation crack repair should be acted upon immediately if you want to avoid major foundation problems later.
Here are some of the best reasons why you always need to make foundation repair a high priority:
It Saves You Time and Money
Perhaps the most important reason to have your foundation repairs made sooner rather than later is cost. Although foundation repair may cost more than you’re expecting, it only gets worse when you wait. In addition to labour and material costs continuing to rise, the longer you wait to fix cracks in your foundation, the worse they will get. This is especially true if you’re planning on selling your home or making any significant home improvements. Ignoring the need for foundation repairs now will only make those projects much harder and result in more-expensive work to be done.
If you suspect you may need a foundation in Saskatchewan or wherever you are, it’s not a good idea to hesitate. The longer you wait for foundation repair, the more complicated and expensive those repairs are likely to be. Even if you think you have time to get that work done, don’t wait.
K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan, in addition, they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and the surrounding area. In their latest Trusted Saskatoon contractor tip, K & S Contracting Trusted Saskatoon General Contractors and foundation specialists, discuss vermiculite insulation.
Vermiculite Insulation - What Is It?
If you have never seen vermiculite insulating an attic, it looks similar to little squares of coloured glass or little grey beads. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral worldwide. When heated rapidly to high temperatures, this crystalline mineral expands into low density, accordion-like, golden brown strands. In fact, its worm-like shape is what gives vermiculite its name. The worms are broken into rectangular chunks about the size of the eraser on the end of a pencil. In addition to being light, vermiculite chunks are also absorbent and fire retardant. It also makes a good insulating material.
Where Was It Used?
Sold under various brand names, such as Zonolite Attic Insulation, the insulation came in big bags. Thousands of homeowners simply opened the bags and poured the vermiculite onto their attic floor and sometimes down exterior walls. It was generally not used in new construction.
When Was It Used?
Worldwide, vermiculite has been used in various industries as long ago as 1920. With the upsurge in homeownership during the baby boom, vermiculite insulation was a popular material in the 1950s and continued with the energy crisis into the late 1970s. In Canada, it was one of the insulating materials allowed under the Canadian Home Insulation Program from about 1976 to the mid-1980s. There have been some government-provided grants offered to homeowners to increase insulation levels, reducing energy consumption. Worthwhile checking in to see what may be available.
What Is The Problem?
The majority of the vermiculite used worldwide was from a mine in Libby, Montana, owned and operated since 1963 by W.R. Grace. The mine was closed in 1990. As well as being rich in vermiculite, this mine had the misfortune of having a deposit of tremolite, a type of asbestos. When the vermiculite was extracted, some tremolite came in with the mix. For Canadian use, the raw product from the Libby mine was shipped to Grace subsidiary F. Hyde processing plants in Montreal, St. Thomas, Ajax and Toronto, and Grant Industries in western Canada. At these plants, it was processed and sold as Zonolite.
What Is The Risk?
Asbestos minerals tend to separate into microscopic particles that become airborne and are easily inhaled. People exposed to asbestos in the workplace have developed several types of life-threatening diseases, including lung cancer. Workers in and around the Libby mine developed serious health problems.
Like any hazards, length and intensity of exposure are major factors in the risk of asbestos-related respiratory illness. To assess the risk of asbestos exposure at a house, a sample of the vermiculite would need to be analyzed by a lab. Since most of the vermiculite used in Canada was taken from the Libby mine, the odds are quite good that there is asbestos in the vermiculite in Canadian attics.
The good news is that we don’t live in our attics. In addition, as long as it is undisturbed, neither the asbestos fibres bound up in the vermiculite chunks nor the dust will be released into the air. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the U.S., “Most people who get asbestos-related diseases have been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time.” Lastly, most of the time the air in your house flows from the house into the attic, rather than into the house from the attic.
The bottom line is, like most household products that may contain asbestos, and there are many, doing nothing is often the best approach. Naturally, the risk of exposure increases with the amount of time spent in the attic.
Our Recommendations
If the attic or walls of a house contain vermiculite insulation, leave it alone. Avoid disturbing the material. Do not sweep it or vacuum it up. Do not store belongings in the attic.
If work is planned that involves these areas, for example installing pot-lights in a room below the attic, send a sample of the vermiculite to a private lab. Send several samples, and use a lab specializing in asbestos analysis. If it is found to contain asbestos, or if you just assume it does, precautions should be taken. The safest approach would be to have the insulation in the affected areas removed by a qualified environmental contractor.
For smaller jobs, it may be sufficient to isolate work areas with temporary barriers or enclosures to avoid spreading fibres, use disposable protective clothing, and use proper respiratory protection. An important note – disposable respirators or dust masks are not appropriate for asbestos. Again, it is best to consult a qualified contractor.
K & S Contracting specializes in foundation repair for homeowners across Saskatchewan, but they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and surrounding area.
In this Trusted Saskatoon Tip, K & S Contracting discusses preparing your basement for renovation.
Preparing Your Basement for Renovation
A finished basement is a great space to entertain, relax, or pursue hobbies. Turning a cold, empty, concrete basement into an enjoyable living space takes work and planning. There are a lot of design and functionality options which are up to personal choice, but there are some basic considerations to keep in mind for anyone planning a basement renovation. Before you start, take these tips into consideration for a smooth and successful Renovation.
Start with the Layout
Plan how the room(s) in the basement will be laid out. Any bedrooms must have windows for safety. Put the main socializing area in a spot with good natural light to draw people in. If you are planning on having a TV viewing room it can be in the darker area away from the windows to reduce glare.
What to Fix Before You Start Renovations
Check for moisture by taping some squares of plastic over the walls and floors. If moisture forms underneath, your basement foundation is likely not sealed. If moisture forms on top, the basement needs dehumidifying.
Small leaks in the foundation can be dealt with yourself using some concrete-patching compound. Landscaping considerations such as sloping away from the foundation and installing gutters that send the water far from the foundation will also help. Any cracks in the foundation wider than a pencil should be checked by a professional structural engineer.
Insulate any exposed water pipes with foam insulation sleeves, and insulate any exposed wiring with high-temperature grade red silicone. If you feel uncomfortable working around electrical wires, have a professional take over this part. Have a professional check the integrity of floor joists, and inspect any fuel burning equipment and the ventilation system to ensure you won’t have carbon monoxide buildup.
Now You are Ready to Start the Renovations
Now that the basement is ready to go, you can start the actual work! If you would rather not DIY a major project like a basement renovation, the Trusted Contractors at K & S Contracting are ready to help!
Their services include:
The Trusted Saskatoon Directory Team are thrilled to welcome Steve and Karen Ostapiw, owners of K & S Contracting are Saskatoon’s Trusted Contractor for ICF Foundations and you will find them in the the Saskatoon Contractors, Exteriors & Roofers category
K & S Contracting specialize in foundation repair for home owners across Saskatchewan; but they also offer general contracting services to Saskatoon and surrounding area including decks, fencing, custom building ( residential as well as light commercial ) and more! What really sets Steve and his company apart from the rest is the care and attention to detail that he displays to each of this clients.
As part of the in depth Trusted Directories verification process - see it all here, we speak to many of the applicant companies clients. We are always EXTRA vigilant when it comes to contractors, as we have all HEARD or dealt with horror stories in that category. WE were absolutely amazed with the comments, stories and experiences that K & S Contracting clients shared with us. All mentioned how great the communication was with Steve, his wife Karen and their team. They said that they made the construction process EASY! All rated K & S at least a 9 out of 10 ( most were 10/10) !
One lady we spoke to hired K & S Contracting after she suffered a house fire. If that wasn't bad enough, 6 of her pet animals perished in the fire. The team made sure not only to get her home repaired, but they also went to the trouble of getting pictures of each of her lost pets and hung those pictures in frames on the wall of her stairs to surprise her when she moved home....WOW!
When we asked Steve what his philosophy on business was , he smiled and said simply ... " I like to do good things for good people"
K & S Contracting are Trusted Saskatoon General Contractors and foundation specialists Contact them today "They will get you back on solid ground!"
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