Foundation Cracks a Common Problem for Homeowner

The Crack Team, foundation repair specialists, announces the grand opening of a second Boston-area location, just one year after the successful launch of the first. The company, based in St. Louis with additional branches in Chicago, Detroit and Kansas City, is currently celebrating its 20th year in business. The Crack Team specializes in fixing foundation cracks with a permanent, cost-effective solution using its proprietary injection-system treatment. The newest location, in Braintree, MA, serves Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Barnstable Counties. The existing Hampstead, NH office serves Rockingham, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Middlesex and Essex Counties.

“Generally, homeowners don’t realize that a cracked foundation is a common problem,” notes John McCarthy of The Crack Team’s Braintree location. McCarthy says that in most cases, a crack in a poured-concrete foundation does not indicate structural problems. Still, it is the source of leakage that can cause a wet basement. He recommends that homeowners check their basements for cracks now, before the rainy season, when the ground frequently becomes saturated and water seeps in.

“The end of winter means melting snow, and then we get hit with a rainy spring. Water takes the path of least resistance, and a lot of it will certainly find its way into basements through cracks,” he says. Treating the crack before spring avoids the potential for water damage and significant expenses that are caused by a wet basement.

While no homeowner wants to find cracks in his or her basement, the problem is inherent in poured concrete foundations. A cracked foundation is not due to improper building practices or other construction-related activity. Instead, over time, the concrete naturally shrinks or shifts, causing cracks in new and old homes alike. Nevertheless, many homeowners are frantic when calling The Crack Team after finding a crack, leaky or not. “They expect elaborate, invasive, expensive repairs that usually aren’t necessary,” says McCarthy. The Crack Team repair is a cost-effective and minimally disruptive process. It takes approximately one hour to fill one foundation crack, and the average cost of a Crack Team repair is in the hundreds of dollars, as opposed to thousands charged by other companies. Cracks are permanently sealed when injected, and all work carries the fully transferable Happy Crack “Life of Structure” warranty.

“Homeowners, Realtors and inspectors have trusted The Crack Team for two decades,” says McCarthy. “I look forward to providing the same service to residents of the Northwest suburbs.”

Franchise News Release: Braintree, MI - (May-2-2005)