The Crackman Podcast

It's very concerning for a homeowner to find water in their basement when they never saw it before or haven't seen it in a very long time. Is it inevitable that a basement will leak at some point? Adam explains.

If a homeowner gets a quote to fix a foundation problem, and that quote is super high, like $45,000, for example, is it wise to get a second opinion? Check this podcast out for the answer.

In this episode, Adam shares an amazing and terrifying tale of a house blowing up because of a clogged regulator vent. 

In this very cool episode, Adam explains how basement floor thicknesses are are usually not enough to support lally columns….. and he shares a little tidbit about a time capsule he ran into on the job.

In this episode, Adam shares a very informative case study about a concrete cold pour and why it doesn’t always mean an expensive fix for the homeowner.

We’ve had a couple big snow storms in the past month in the Northeast.  What should homeowners be doing to prepare their homes for the inevitable melt that will occur in the coming weeks?  Adam explains.

The New England Patriots didn't really break the foundation.  A1 Foundation Crack Repair’s miracle work extended to fixing a foundation damaged by a vehicle that was coming from the New England Patriots AFC Championship game win.  Good luck in the Super Bowl!

It’s winter in the northeast and salted roadways are commonplace.  As the tires track salt into your garage, what kinds of corrosive effects can it have on your house?  Adam shares his experience with salt in the winter and how it can affect one's garage floor and what preventative things can be done do to avert its corrosive effects.

In this episode, Adam shares an experience with a DIY foundation crack repair kit. He sent a picture of a foundation wall crack that looks like a project that went…well…. really bad.  Suffice it to say, leave jobs like this to the pros if you want it done correctly.

It’s common to see hairline cracks in concrete.  Nevertheless, there a point where the crack is not just something to keep an eye on but something that needs repair.  Adam explains the difference.

Stone foundations are generally pretty old so it’s likely that at some point, homeowners will need to do some maintenance on them.  So, if mice have dug their version of the Ted Williams tunnel into your stone foundation, what can you do?

The Crack Daddy has talked in the past about how ineffective hydraulic cement is at stopping water leaks long-term.  But if you put enough hydraulic cement on a crack, eventually it’ll stop the water, won’t it?  Adam explains why that is faulty logic.

In this episode, Adam shares A1’s strategy for diagnosing a basement water problem and recommending a solution. HINT: Less sales and more fixing.

In this episode, Adam shares an interesting case study about a water leak that came at the same time and same spot every day.  It’s a good thing they thought to call A1 Crack for a second opinion.  It saved them about $25,000 on an unnecessary french drain system.

A1 Foundation Crack repair has been getting a lot of calls from people asking if they use lime-based mortar.  What is this lime-based mortar, some kind of super mortar?  Adam explains.

If you have water in your basement, one of the first things you need to determine is where the water is coming from.  In this episode, Adam explains how A1 Foundation Crack Repair detects water leaks using low cost techniques to quickly hone in on the source of the water.

A1 Foundation Crack Repair saves a lot of real estate deals. If the home inspector finds a problem with the foundation, should the buyer run like the wind?  Adam explains how most problems can be permanently fixed so the deal can go through.

In this episode, Adam explains the difference between basement waterproofing and water redirecting.  Yes, there is a difference as one is treating the symptom and the other is the cure.

Adam received a really nice voicemail from an extremely grateful homeowner that reads like this.  In this episode, Adam explains the circumstances surrounding the job they did.  For homeowners with foundation problems, A1 is the answer to many prayers.

Some foundation contractors would have you believe that you need helical piers to lift a house to solve foundation crack problems….that spot fixing foundation cracks is just a Band-Aid.  Adam, a civil engineer, explains what he thinks about these super high dollar repairs…and if they are really necessary.

This episode serves as a cautionary tale that warns of the ramifications of not addressing a foundation crack while it’s still relatively easy to fix.

A1 Foundation Crack Repair is on speed dial with many realtors for a good reason.  In this episode, Adam explains how a foundation crack can cause a costly delay in the home sale process.

In this episode, Adam explains what exactly is laser leveling when it comes to foundations and whether it is necessary to pay the exorbitant cost to do it when you have a crack in your foundation.

In this episode, Adam explains why a DIY sump pump job should be considered temporary, at best.  Something like that should be left to the pros.

In this episode, Adam recounts an interesting case study about a swimming pool, bulkhead, and cold joint. 

We’ve all heard about the story of the boy who put his finger in a dam to stop a leak.  In this episode, Adam shares an interesting case study on how they were able to use their proven waterproofing processes to stop a leaky dam in their local municipality. 

In this episode, Adam shares this cautionary tale of the dangers of mishandling the materials used to waterproof basements.  Hopefully this helps other overeager homeowners from making the same mistake.

Is it okay to pour concrete in the freezing cold?  This episode is a cautionary tale from the Crack Daddy about a new house build gone terribly wrong.

Spring is right around the corner and we’ve had some pretty wacky weather in late winter.  Now is the time for homeowners to be preparing their homes for the significant change in weather.  In this episode, Adam shares important tips on preparing your house for the change of seasons.

In this episode, Adam shares case study about a house with a serious termite problem and the consequences of not fixing a wall crack.

Some cracks obviously need fixing because there’s water pouring through them.  Other cracks are tiny and have sort of a capillary type of bleed. Does a homeowner need to be concerned about those tiny cracks?  Adam explains why even non-structural floor cracks need to be addressed sooner rather than later.

In this episode, Adam explains how he detected, diagnosed, and fixed a leaky pipe penetration.

In this episode, Adam explains why professional basement spray foam insulation will not fix a leaking wall crack and why it’s necessary to fix those leaks BEFORE you use spray foam.

We saw a review posted yesterday on A1's Google Business Profile from a realtor who praised their support as if they were a super hero.  Why do realtors keep A1 on speed dial?  Adam shares his thoughts.

A1 Foundation Crack Repair gets a lot of pictures of feet.  How does that relate to concrete floor cracks in your basement?  Adam shares some unique insight.

A1 services quite a bit of the New England area, and they run into all kinds of basements and foundations.  In this episode, Adam explains the various types of basements and foundations A1 works on AND the areas they service.

Those dang underwriters and appraisers can make it pretty difficult to get loans at times.  In this episode, Rich, The Crackman, explains how basement foundation issues can affect your refinancing goals.

Winter is fast approaching and cold weather brings new concerns for even the smallest of cracks in a basement wall.  Adam explains the effects freezing temperatures have on basement walls cracks and what should be done about them.

Have you heard of this self-healing concrete?  Is this really a thing?  Adam explains the science behind it and sets the record straight on the future of self-healing concrete.

To celebrate the 400th episode of the Crackman Podcast, Adam shares the top 3 things homeowners can do to avoid costly foundation repairs.

A1 Foundation Crack Repair runs into unscrupulous contractors who claim to be foundation crack repair specialists, but can it be true?  Can contractors simply use an online crack repair kit to fix a foundation crack?  In this episode, Adam explains why it’s important to select an experienced and fully vetted foundation crack repair company to fix your foundation issues.

There are 2 certainties in life:  death and concrete will eventually crack.  So when a crack appears in your foundation wall, do you need to get it repaired even if it isn’t leaking?  The Crackman explains in a special appearance.

A1 Foundation Crack Repair has a long history of saving homeowners money on foundation repair jobs simply because they are reputable, experienced, and fair, not to mention the 10-year warranty and long track record of outstanding workmanship.  In this episode, Adam shares an interesting case study on how A1 saved homeowners in Leominster Massachusetts bigtime on a block foundation repair job.

If you have money to burn, it doesn’t hurt to ignore small repair jobs until they become very expensive repairs. In this episode, Adam shares an interesting case study on how a customer turned a small repair job into a very expensive fix.

In this episode, Adam shares an interesting case study about a block foundation and leaky pipe penetration.

If a lally column has integrity issues or is improperly installed, can it cause problems with the structure of the house? Adam shares a cautionary tale about an improperly installed lally column.

Why would water start pouring into your basement after a water line upgrade?  Did the plumber screw up or could it be something else entirely?  The Crack Daddy explains what it could be and how A1 Foundation Crack Repair fixes problems like these.

Stone foundations are often found in old homes and when things age, they often need repair. Is there a low-cost fix for most stone foundations issues? Adam discusses the issue.

In this episode, Adam shares an interesting story about a wall crack that went unrepaired for 40 years.

In our last podcast, Adam shared a story about ants pouring out of a basement wall crack. Creepy, right? What other kinds of things does A1 Foundation Crack Repair see growing out of old wall cracks? Adam shares a funny story from Dedham MA.