What Are the Different Foundation Services Virginia Beach Offers?

Foundation is the most important part of your home as it carries the weight of the whole structure. Problems or damages to the foundation may cause a depreciation in your property’s value. They may also expose your property to the risks of failure.

Fortunately, there are many ways where foundation damages could be fixed in order to restore the house’s structure to its original health.

In this post, we will show you the different foundation services Virginia Beach offers today.

So, if you’re living in Virginia Beach and think that there is something wrong with the foundation of your home, read on

4 Common Foundation Services in Virginia Beach

1. Steel Piering

Steel piering refers to the process of driving some pilings of steel pipes to correct the clearance of the foundation. This foundation service is commonly used when the structure of the property comes in a downward movement. Foundation contractors in Virginia Beach are typically using a hydraulic lifting system and steel piers in order to lift the foundation. It will also correct the elevation, resulting in a more stable foundation.

2. Slab Jacking

It is a high-quality technology of fixing concrete where sunken pieces of concrete slabs are elevated by pumping a substance through the concrete that will lift it effectively.

On the other hand, access holes will be drilled into the concrete as well as other void spaces are then filled. This foundation repair service is very popular among property owners in Virginia Beach as it offers many benefits such as aesthetics, cost-saving, and timeliness.

However, if slab jacking isn’t available, polyurethane injection can be used as an alternative. The same with the process involved in slab jacking, polyurethane will be injected into the holes to fill voids underneath. Rather than filling the space with a natural element, a lightweight and dense material is utilized.  

Both slab lifting techniques offer the same function. They even work very well on a smaller project. But they are short-term repairs that need to be changed after a few years.

3. Masonry Patches and Sealant

Sometimes, cracks in your foundation can be fixed by patching the cracks and concealing them with a water-resistant masonry sealer. As mentioned, your foundation supports your whole house. Thus, spotting and fixing cracks before they become worse is crucial.

Some of the sealers used for fixing minor cracks are polyurethane, silicone, epoxies, vinyl concrete, and hydraulic cement. But usually, the needed mixture will depend on the severity of the cracks.

Nevertheless, it’s better to determine the issue ahead of time and fix it to avoid water infiltration as well as costlier damage.

4. Pressed Concrete Piling

This foundation service is ideal for both exterior and interior repairs. A pressed concrete piling works on beam houses and piers and a concrete slab foundation. To attain great stability, pressed concrete piers should be driven deeply into the ground around 12 feet deep.

Conclusion

These are only a few of the many foundation services you can get in Virginia Beach today. Nevertheless, whatever service you will need, make sure that you choose a reliable and experienced foundation contractor so that you can rest easy knowing that your home’s foundation is in good hands.

6 Ways You Can Modernize Your Kitchen without Breaking Your Bank

Did you know that the average American spends 37 minutes preparing food and cleaning the kitchen every single day?

When you spend this much time each day in the kitchen, you want to make sure that this part of the house becomes a lovely place to spend time in, and it is as easy to keep clean as possible!

With this in mind, here are our top seven simple ways you can renovate your kitchen, making it an enjoyable place to cook and prep your family’s meals.

1. Remodel Your Kitchen by Installing a Glass Sheet Backsplash

A glass backsplash in your kitchen is an affordable way of modernising your kitchen and protecting against food, grease and water splashes. 

Glass splashbacks come in a variety of different colours and finish to match your home decor. A shimmering finish or light shade is fantastic for smaller kitchens as it catches the light and makes the room look larger. 

Alternatively, why not try a bright, contrasting colour for a contemporary look that will be a talking point amongst your friends when they come to visit?

When considering a backsplash, we recommend solid glass over glass tiles. Solid glass is easier to keep clean, and you don’t have to worry about dirt and grease getting in the gaps or the grout getting discoloured

Glass Genius offers fully customisable backsplashes for every kitchen. Choose your shape, size, colour and thickness, and we will ship the backsplash of your choice straight to your door, ready for you to install!

2. Refresh Your Countertop

Replace your tired, scuffed kitchen countertops with brand new ones to refresh your kitchen and make it look brand new.

You chop, clean and prepare all your food on your countertop, so you need to make sure it is easy to clean and suits your lifestyle.

There are a variety of different countertops available to suit all styles and budgets, from laminate and solid wood, all the way through to granite and marble.

3. Update the Cabinet Glass on Your Kitchen Doors

If you want to update your kitchen cabinets but do not have the money or time to replace them entirely, why not replace the glass in them? 

It’s a lot easier than you may think, all you need to do is remove the old glass, prep the cabinet and install the new glass using silicone and a caulking gun.

There are a wide range of different types of cabinet glass, from frosted or patterned glass if you want to add a touch of elegance to your kitchen, all the way through to clear glass if you want a quick reminder of what is in each cabinet before you open it!

4. Add Window Shelves (And Your Favourite Plants!)

A quick way to add colour and fragrance to your kitchen is to install a glass or wooden window shelf. This shelf can sit below, beside or even across your kitchen window. You then have a lovely bright space for your favourite plants that will add a vivid pop of colour and delightful smells to your kitchen space.

If you want something even more practical, add pots of herbs like basil, oregano and rosemary that you can use in your cooking!

5. Add Lightness and Brightness with Natural Lighting And Bright Colours

Natural lighting is perfect for making your kitchen space lighter and brighter and will help you save money on your energy bills too.

Move things around in your kitchen and change out your curtain and blinds to make the most of the natural light you get. Of course, adding new windows and skylights is an option too, but this depends on your budget and the space you have.

Painting your walls a lighter colour will not only give your kitchen a brand new lease of life but also make it look bigger. 

Use special scrub-able kitchen paint or a satin or semi-gloss finish to make the walls easier to clean. Our favourite colours at the moment are pale yellow and green!

If you want to update your flooring, large light coloured tiles can give the illusion of a wider kitchen space. 

6. Install a Functional Ventilation System

A ventilation system is essential in any kitchen. If you do not have something to catch and extract grease, smoke and cooking smells, not only will you end up with a stinky kitchen, but also everything from your light fittings to your cabinets will end up coated in sticky, gunky grease that you will have to clean away regularly.

The best way to ventilate your kitchen is to install a range hood above your stove. A range hood contains a mechanical fan that will remove fumes, smoke and steam when you cook, keeping your kitchen space clean and grease-free!

If this is not an option (for example, if you live in a rental) or you do not have the budget, then a fan or air filter will help extract any strong smells when you cook.