Bernardsville – Concrete Repair and Lifting Services

SAY IT CORRECTLY

Bernardsville, N.J. is a small town. As of the last U.S. census, the population was a bit less than 8,000 people. As with many towns in the area, it was the site of several Civil War skirmishes and provided temporary housing for troops from both the North and the South – particularly during harsh winter weather.

After the Civil War many wealthy New Yorkers moved into the area, first as summer visitors, then as permanent residents of the Bernardsville Mountain.

The New Jersey State Review Board for Historic Sites recommended the creation of the Olcott Avenue historic district in February 2009. The Olcott Avenue School is only one historic building within Bernardsville’s first historic district area.

CONCRETE VERSUS COLD, SNOWY WEATHER

As previously mentioned, the winter weather in this area is severe – severe enough to have stopped the winter movement of Civil War troops. As the spring thaw begins, you would be wise to start inspecting your property for signs of concrete damage.

Here’s a problem many families miss until significant damage has occurred: You haven’t visited your basement since you pulled out the sleds, ski equipment, parkas, etc. in November. Now it’s time to put those things away until next winter. You plan to bring up summer equipment but, as you start down the basement steps, you can’t help but notice that the canoe you planned to take to the lake is already floating. This can’t be good.

You wade through the rest of your floating belongings in search of a leak. You find that the block wall above the water line is wet, and there are cracks in the grout joints. What should you do? The first thing to do is move water-sensitive materials such as file boxes, photo albums, important papers, and so forth to higher ground. And then you must…

CALL A CONCRETE REPAIR SPECIALIST!

Shortly after arriving on the scene the concrete repair specialist will tell you why the water in your basement is ankle deep. He asks you if you see the cracks in the joints of the concrete block. You reply, “Yes, I noticed them. But what caused the grout to crack?”

The Concrete Repair Specialist is happy to explain this to you. In fact, he has illustrations to help you understand what he is about to describe. He begins by telling you to take a close look at the (wet) wall, and see if you notice it is slightly bowed. You do see it, but don’t think you’d have spotted it without being directed.

WHAT MADE THE WALL CRACK?

Bernardsville – Concrete Repair and Lifting Services, Concrete ChiropractorYour concrete repair specialist shows you his diagram that illustrates how pressure builds up behind the wall from melted snow (aka water) and natural settling. The likelihood of this type of damage varies with the type of soil that comprises your home’s foundation.

If you’re thinking that the cracks aren’t a big deal and you could patch them with some spackle, you should put down the trowel and think again. The cracks in the grout and the bowing of the wall are signs of a structural problem. Patching the cracks cosmetically will NOT address the structural problems that may involve the foundation and will absolutely affect the value of your home in a negative way.

If you would NOT like to find your canoe floating in the basement again; if you would NOT like to discover pieces of the wall on the basement floor, let the CONCRETE REPAIR EXPERT fix it correctly. He knows exactly what to do, and has the right tools and materials.

AFTER THE WALL IS REPAIRED

The walking tour of the Olcott Avenue historic district is really interesting. Before you go, you should learn that Bernardsville is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable. This will show folks you meet that you are more than a mere tourist.