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Dear JES: My home has a cracked brick, can I just repoint it or do I need foundation repair?
-Katie, Virginia Beach

So, your home has a brick crack. It could be giving you a clue that there’s a foundation problem. Take a look at the pattern to find out the source of the problem and if you need foundation repair. Brick cracks show up in three patterns: horizontal, vertical and stair-step.

Horizontal brick cracks are almost always a sign that your foundation is in serious danger. Call in an expert! Horizontal brick cracks are caused by expansive soil – soil that expands when it’s wet and pushes against your foundation. If it’s left alone long enough, the wall could collapse. And who wants to deal with that?

Vertical brick cracks are also another sign of serious foundation problems. These types of cracks are caused by shifting soil or settlement. If you see any shearing call in an expert. Shearing is when the two sides of the crack don’t fit evenly together, like a pu…

When Extreme Makeover Home Edition came to Virginia Beach, JES was there to lend a hand. Our team assisted with the foundation build, drainage and crawl space encapsulation. 

Did you know that your open crawl space vents are costing you money? 

According to Jesse Waltz, PE:

There is a problem with a dirt floor, vented crawlspace. As air rises in a home, it carries with it the air that was previously in the crawl space. That includes moisture and mold spores, as well as anything else that may be airborne down there. As this air rises in the home, replacement air is drawn through the vents. This replacement air is made up of unconditioned outside air that enters through vents and other leaks. 

This natural upward air movement is called the "stack effect" – similar to how a chimney works. Consequently, whatever is in the air at the lowest point of your home eventually flows up into the living areas. Almost half of the air we breathe on the first floor of our home comes from the crawl space. 

That humidity costs more to heat and cool. Plus if yo…

We received a letter from a concerned home owner in Chesterfield, VA about crawl space condensation:

Dear JES, I read that condensation in my crawl space could be because of my open vents. Is that true? And does the condensation matter? - Rick M.

Crawl space condensation can be caused by open vents in addition to loose doors and dirt floors. Vents were introduced back in the day when it was believed that venting your crawl space was the best way to keep it dry. 

We now know that this just isn't true. Venting your crawl space introduces moisture which can lead to mold growth, rotted floor joists and higher electric bills. 

Here's how it works: In the spring, summer and fall your crawl space is typically cooler than the outside air. The open vents let air into your crawl space. As the warmer outside air mixes with the cooler crawl space air, humidity forms and eventually condensation. And that moisture cre…