The country’s economy is slowly recovering. Some markets are stronger than other.

In a recent market analysis, MetroMonitor ranked the strongest markets primed for an economic recovery as well as the weakest and everything in between.

Albuquerque, New Mexico was ranked as the strongest city ranked for an economic recovery, followed by Augusta, GA; Austin, Texas and Baltimore, MD.  The three weakest markets are Bakersfield, CA; Boise City, ID; and Cape Coral, FL.

MetroMontior tracks the economic recession and recovery in America’s 100 largest Metropolitan Areas. View their full report and project map here.

Today, Emecole.com launched a new online crawl space materials estimator for use with the EmeSeal Crawl Space Sealing System. The Crawl Space Estimator provides a fast and simple way for contractors to know how much material is needed for a given crawl space.

Contractors can submit the measurements of a crawl space, and within seconds know the material’s quantity, sizing and total cost for the projected job. This significantly shortens the amount of time contractors spend towards preparing estimates and making purchasing.

After using the estimator, registered Emecole Contractors may purchase materials from our 24/7 online store, or by phone during our normal business hours. For more information about becoming an Emecole Contractor and to purchase Emecole products online, please visit our Contractor Information section.

View the crawl space estimator and give it a try!

The idea of whole home health improvement is becoming more of a priority to not only homeowners, but our government as well. One example is New York City’s Safe Housing Act, which was expanded by the city’s council last week to add focus on health related issues such as mold, asthma, insects and rodents. According to an AllMediaNY.com report, the concern among city officials is the amount of hospitalizations as a result of asthma, especially in lower income neighborhoods.

The program targets 200 of the worst apartment buildings each year and forces landlords to make the necessary repairs per the city’s requirements. For landlords unwilling to comply, the city will make the repairs and send the bill to the landlord.

Unfortunately, the program has lost significant money so far since the city fails to “recoup” much of the money back from landlords. The success rate among landlords is also rather low, with only a 1/3rd of them throughout the city having “graduated” from the program.

Despite being a money loser, the city sees the program as a valuable long-term investment towards the whole home health improvement. While encouraging, we would like to see New York City, perhaps, make some necessary improvements to their overall strategy so that the program is not such a money loser. This deterrent may overshadow any positive results by discouraging other municipalities from enacting similar programs.

The November 2010 issue of Basement Health News (formerly Foundation News) includes two important informational articles in regards to whole home health – the first article pertaining to trouble spots associated with indoor air quality, the second about safety hazards within the crawl space.

The article “Air Quality issues in finished basements” by Jeffrey C. May reinforces the fact that the air circulating throughout the home has originated from the basement (or crawl space). This would not be a problem if it weren’t for the fact that the air quality within a basement is usually very poor. May adds that the backs and bottoms of furniture, carpeting, and various linens (i.e. furniture and bedding) are all susceptible to collecting biodegradable dust which supports mold growth.

Homeowners may gain needed space by finishing a basement, but in the long run, as far as I’m concerned, the expense ends up being a waste of money. It’s sad that most finished basements I investigate end up in a dumpster.

This is where basement pre-finishing comes in. Before the homeowner finishes the basement, it is wise to have a basement waterproofing contractor inspect for any existing or potential problems. An Emecole Certified Contractor has the expertise and resources to apply the necessary applications and systems to minimize the threat of moisture and soil gas infiltration – two of the main culprits in compromising indoor air quality. The common air quality problems found in basements often can be prevented when the necessary steps are properly applied.

The second article worth mentioning is Daniel Friedman’s “Safety hazards lurking in the crawlspace.” Standing water, debris, and contaminated fiberglass are a few of only many potential safety and health hazards a contractor may face when entering a crawl space.

You may view the entire Basement Health News online courtesy of the NAWSRC website.

The Basement Health Association (formerly known as the National Association for Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors)  just released the schedule of events for the World of Concrete and Mid-Year Meeting January 17-21, 2010.

Emecole’s founder and president, Lou Cole is speaking during the convention. Lou’s seminar “Different Injection Systems and the Chemistry Behind Them” is on Tuesday, January 18 at 2 p.m. in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The BHA Mid-Year Meeting is in conjunction with the World of Concrete but have separate registrations. You and any of your guests can get into the World of Concrete for free when you use Code A15.

For additional details, visit the Registration and Information page off the NAWSRC website.

While basement waterproofing is our primarily concern at Emecole, we also encourage overall efficiency and more importantly, safety when concerning not only the basement, but the entire home. Having said that, with winter on its way, furnaces throughout the country are beginning to get full use. With an increased in the usage of furnaces, comes an increase in the start of fires.

Whether using floor furnaces, space heaters or even candles, safety is an important component to remember. A lot more destructive fires are prone to forming – more than you may realize, as reported by KOTV-Channel 6 in Tulsa, OK.

• Floor Fire Damages Home…
• Winter Weather Brings Increased Fire Danger…

Please remember to be careful, and stay safe!

This blog entry is written by Emecole President Lou Cole…

While many basement waterproofing contractors look forward to relaxing at home during the holiday season, I’ll be rolling up my sleeves and tearing apart my basement.  No, I’m not Scrooge; I like to celebrate, too.  But by making my home a sealing system experiment, I hope to deliver a lucrative gift to contractors nationwide:  a wall panel covering system that promises to expand the scope of their services and income in the New Year.

I’ve stated many times that basement contractors must offer more than concrete crack injection services if they want to succeed. By adding a new specialty to the menu, contractors are more likely to be hired repeatedly by the same client.  These value add-ons are extremely important when building a business because it relieves the contractor of always having to seek new clientele.  After all, selling a second service to a friend is a lot easier than winning the confidence of a stranger, right?

Here’s how it might work.  You would make a list of every homeowner who has been happy with your work over the last several years.  Then you call each one to have a friendly chat.  Ask how things are going.  Remind them of the importance of indoor air quality – 50 percent of the air we breathe upstairs originates downstairs in the basement.  And then before signing off, say, “Oh by the way, if I told you there was a way to transform raw basement space into a family room – for a fraction of  what it would cost to renovate – would you be interested?”  Why would they not at least listen?   They already trust you.

The wall covering system that I’ll be experimenting with in my 20-year-old home over the holidays – practice what you preach – will one day allow basement crack injection experts like you to expand revenue while doing a good deed.  You already know the importance of crack injection.  Without it, small cracks in concrete walls allow water to seep in.  Homeowners must protect against the health hazards of moisture presence and subsequent mold spore/allergen development – or suffer serious consequences.

My basement waterproofing system will simultaneously insulate and finish basement walls.  In my home, I have about 1,000 square feet to work with.  The area includes a modest gym, family space where we can entertain and a recreational corner for our pool table.  The goal is to provide wall panels that integrate with waterproofing techniques and technologies contractors like you are already familiar with.  In doing so, I’ll develop a complete waterproofing system that can be sold as a package or offered as a follow-up to homeowners who have already benefitted from your skills.

It should go without saying that converting a basement makes that space more appealing to children and adults.  Homeowners will be doubly please to know that quickly upgrading the raw concrete environment with insulated wall panels does not preclude doing a more expensive renovation at a later date – perhaps when the economy has improved and/or they are convinced that their basement is dry as hay.  Tell your clients that it makes no sense spending thousands of dollars on furniture, home theater components and carpeting unless the basement is properly sealed and flood-proof.

But the key to my success is not only making life better for homeowners and families.  I want this system to be easy to install.  The last thing you and other basement waterproofing contractors want is a hassle.  Complications slow down your ability to provide quality services and make a profit.

So kick back and enjoy the holiday.  You’ve earned it.   But while you’re relaxing, start dreaming of a lucrative New Year and what that will mean for you and yours.

Happy holidays.

Last week’s heavy rain and floods in the southeastern part of the United States should be a reminder to all homeowners how devastating floods are. Imagine a flooded basement with ruined items, to only then find out that you’re homeowner’s insurance policy or perhaps, an existing flood insurance policy is ineffective. A recent article from the Detroit News reminds homeowners to know exactly what their homeowners insurance covers.

Marketing can be the trickiest part of any business. How much to spend on advertising? Where to place ads? How to get your name out there? But marketing a niche is even harder. You need to word your advertising and marketing material so your services match the needs of your customers, to inform your potential market just what can be done and why, because the finishing of a basement is often the real reason for their waterproofing call to you.

Because we are in the business, we understand all that the term “waterproofing” encompasses. But do your customers?  Do they know the effect of basement humidity on the overall quality of the air throughout the home? Are you using terms like stopping leaks, drying out basements or fixing cracks to describe what you do and not linking it to air quality issues? Do they know that finishing a basement should not begin until the air quality and waterproofing aspects have been performed by you?   

Those reactive customers you are marketing to, using those “solution terms,” have a problem they call you to fix. But who wants to wait for the emergency call when you could get to those customers before they have a problem (especially when the problem has a better solution for the planned finishing of their basement). 

We know that one of the most common remodeling projects—next to the master suite and the kitchen—is the basement remodel. So, why couldn’t you market your waterproofing services as “pre-finishing” services to get their basement ready to remodel?  That way you attract the proactive customers who want to have a safe, dry basement and thus improve the air quality of the entire home for a healthier living environment (not just in the new TV room, game room or kids’ bedrooms).  The best time to improve air quality of the home is before the basement is finished.

 Have you considered diversifying your marketing tactics to open up a new clientele without changing your services?  We can work with you on developing Marketing literature.  We would appreciate your comments.

What do you do when you come across a bowing foundation wall? What system do you use to fix it? Or do you turn the work away?

If you are a basement waterproofing contractor and repairing bowed walls by another means or system, or, if you are passing up these types of repairs, you need to look into carbon fiber technology.

Emecole has partnered with Fortress Stabilizations to offer an alternative to expensive excavation systems. Carbon fiber systems are installed on the interior foundation wall to stop the wall or crack from moving or opening. Carbon Fiber technology doesn’t straighten the wall, but stops it from moving any more.

We have products for bowing walls as well as structural cracks from hydrostatic pressure and settlement. Carbon Fiber Grid braces a bowing or fractured block or concrete wall. Neckties keep a foundation wall from moving inward.

Carbon fiber staples hold a structural wall crack after it is filled with either epoxy or rigid polyurethane foam. We recommend using epoxy when the crack is less than 3/16th of an inch. When the crack is greater than 3/16th of an inch we recommend using rigid structural foam like Emecole 120. Carbon Fiber Stitching Dogs are designed for concrete floor crack repairs but the same guideline for crack injection material applies.

When you understand the products and what is available carbon fiber can be the strongest and least invasive option for structural repair.