Glossary

Carbon Fiber Straps are products that support and stabilize a foundation wall.

Material made of fine ground powders that harden when mixed with water. Cement is just one part of concrete.

A check valve is part of the sump pump discharge line that closes to prevent a backward flow of water.

A cinder block or cement block is a hallow masonry lightweight building block made with cinders, sand and cement.

Fire class ratings classify materials by their ability to support and promote a fire. Class A, or Class 1, is the best fire rating, meaning any material with this rating does not burn well and is unlikely to contribute fuel to a fire. These materials include cement bricks.

This natural process occurs after soil is dug out during construction and then used to backfill around the foundation with the same soil. No matter how hard the soil is packed, the backfill soil is looser and fluffier than the untouched soil around it. This creates an artificial water table around your home where water will be collected.

Clay is a soil type with extremely small particles that has a massive expansion and contraction properties.

A type of insulation made out of completely closed cells. The cells therefore are pressed together so no air or moisture can enter. This makes closed cell foam insulation more rigid and have a higher density. This type of foam also typically has a higher R-Value, meaning it insulates better.

A rough building material made of sand, gravel or crushed stone. When mixed with a bonding agent, it can be poured, spread or made into forms.

A concrete footing is an essential part of your home’s construction that supports the foundation. It also plays a vital role in some of our foundation repair methods.

A reinforced concrete pile driven deep into the ground used to support a structure.

Condensation is the conversion from vapor to liquid. An example of condensation is when water drops form on a cold glass on a warm day. When warm air makes contact with a cold surface, water vapor turns into droplets of water on the cooler surface.

A construction joint is a tooled grove in a concrete slab to allow for movement and regulate the location of cracks.

The cove joints are located where the floor and the wall meet around the edge of your basement. They are created because the walls of your home were poured separately from the footing, so there is a gap or separation between the two. This is a very common location for basements to leak.

When concrete separates, either completely or incompletely. There are many reasons for cracked concrete, but excess water, which causes concrete to expand, is a common problem.

Also referred to as girders, crawl space beams support floor joists and run perpendicular to them.

Covering for the crawl space entrance. Typically builder grade doors are made of wood and tend mold and rot as they are exposed to the elements. Groundworks offers airtight crawl space doors to eliminate moisture and make it difficult for pests to enter.

Typically installed at the perimeter of the crawl space, the drain collects excess water that enters the crawl space and removes it to a safer, healthier location. This is commonly accomplished using a sump pump.

Get a comprehensive look at crawl spaces. Groundworks offers expert tips and insights to help with crawl space upkeep.

Often confused with drying, curing is actually a bit different. Curing occurs immediately after pouring concrete and involves maintaining desired moisture and temperature levels during a defined period of time. It helps ensure proper hardening occurs.