The Crackman Podcast

in this episode we're going to ask Rich Comeras, the Science Guy, to put on his horn-rimmed glasses and pocket protector and answer this very interesting question.

It's story time again for the Crackman audience. In this episode Rich shares a story about a situation he ran into proving beauty really is only skin deep when it comes to lally columns.

Are the downspouts in your house properly installed? In this episode, the Crackman discusses what hr id seeing in the field and gives important recommendations to homeowners.

The Crackman has talked about stone foundations in the past. These are the foundations built way back when where the foundation was built with these large field stones. In this episode, he covers the most common issues he finds with them.

Everyone likes saving a buck when possible and most homeowners have a DIY instinct when it comes to home repairs, so we thought we would ask the Crackman what homeowners can do to prevent basement water problems from happening.

In this Crackman case study, Rich discusses a case where someone was selling an old home and an old lally column was threatening the deal.

Once again, we have the Crackman answering listener email. George in Waltham MA writes: "I've recently discovered a white fuzzy substance on my basement foundation walls. What in the world could it be?"

As we are watching what's happening to the poor folks in Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean Islands who have been affected by the wrath of all these hurricanes, one can help but wonder if their insurance will cover the water damage they have incurred. In this episode, the Crackman addresses these concerns.

In this episode, Rich discusses whether it is good idea to paint a concrete floor and for those daring enough to try, steps you need to consider before embarking on such a journey.

We typically have 2 different approaches when building foundations for new homes. In this episode, this episode the Crackman explains the advantages and disadvantages of Poured Concrete Foundations and Block Concrete Foundations.

Waterproofing vs Dampproofing - What you need to know before you decide between the two.

The Crackman runs into a lot of DIY disasters as he helps homeowners across New England deal with their basement water problems. In this episode, he shares two recent examples of desperate homeowners trying to solve their own problems.

It has been hot and downright soupy outside with all the seasonal humidity coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. This week, the Crackman has a timely case study for us regarding puddled water a customer discovered in her basement.

We've talked about the futility of using waterproofing paint on leaking concrete foundations before. This DIY disaster features a leak that looks like a water faucet. Check it out!

In this episode, the Crackman explains why someone would want to move their lally columns, and if they want to move them, important steps to take before doing do.

In the summertime when you have lots of thunderstorms AND hot humid weather you run into both foundation leaks AND condensation problems. How do you tell the difference? The Crackman answers in this episode.

Rich went to a structural engineering conference recently and lally columns were a particular point of concern. In this episode, he tells us about the primary lally column issues afflicting homes today.

One of our favorite subjects in the Crackman's arsenal of experiences is when he talks about DIY disasters. In this episode, Rich shares 4 horror stories to share with our listeners regarding basement waterproofing.

In our last episode, we discussed how you fix cracks in floating floors. But what if the homeowner discovers a concrete floor that has cracked and the concrete has started to sink?

In our last episode we discussed 3 different types of floor cracks homeowners face. Today, we are going to discuss the first of these types of cracks and that's the type of crack you find on a floating floor.

Floor cracks can range is size and style. In this episode, the Crackman talks about the 3 basic styles of cracks and how you get them. It is the first in a 4-part mini-series on this subject.

In this episode the Crackman talks about what parging is when dealing with stone foundations and they types of situations he faces to get parged foundations looking good again.

In this episode, the Crackman covers the top reasons why a homeowner would need a dehumidifier in their basement.

The Crackman has covered a lot of DIY disasters in this podcast series and he has a new one that is just...really...hard to believe. This time it deals with the lally columns or piers that hold up the support beams in homes.

How can you estimate how long it takes a concrete slab to dry? The Crackman gives practical advice.