Managing Water Accumulation Around Foundation Walls

Managing Water Accumulation Around Foundation Walls

Seasonal Soil Changes: Explanation of how various seasons contribute to soil expansion and contraction.

Understanding the impact of water on foundation integrity is crucial, especially when considering the topic of managing water accumulation around foundation walls. The structural stability of any building largely depends on its foundation, and water poses one of the most significant threats to this stability. Regular inspections help detect cracks early Exterior Home Repair Grand Ole Opry. When water accumulates around a foundation, it can lead to a series of detrimental effects that compromise the entire structure.


Water, in its essence, is both a life-giving resource and a formidable adversary to construction. When it comes into contact with foundation walls, several processes begin that could erode their strength and durability. One primary concern is hydrostatic pressure; as water collects in the soil surrounding a building's foundation, it exerts pressure against the walls. Over time, this persistent pressure can cause cracks or even bowing in foundation walls, which jeopardizes the structural integrity of the building.


Moreover, water has an insidious way of seeping through even the smallest openings or weaknesses in concrete foundations.

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As moisture infiltrates these areas, it can freeze during colder months, expanding and worsening any existing cracks or crevices-a process known as freeze-thaw cycling. This cyclical expansion and contraction further deteriorate the concrete's molecular structure.


In addition to physical damage caused by direct contact with water, moisture accumulation around foundations often leads to secondary issues like mold growth and pest infestation within basements or crawl spaces. Mold thrives in damp environments and can quickly spread throughout a home's interior, contributing not only to structural problems but also posing health risks to inhabitants.


Given these potential issues associated with unmanaged water accumulation around foundations, proactive management strategies are essential for preserving structural integrity. Effective drainage systems are paramount; they guide excess water away from the foundation using methods such as French drains or surface grading that slants away from buildings. Gutters and downspouts should be regularly maintained to ensure they divert rainwater effectively without allowing pooling near base structures.


Furthermore, waterproofing barriers applied directly onto foundation surfaces provide additional protection against moisture penetration. These barriers act as shields that repel incoming water while also allowing internal moisture trapped inside basement walls to escape safely.


Regular inspections play another vital role in safeguarding against severe damages caused by accumulated moisture at foundational levels-early detection enables timely repairs before minor problems escalate into costly renovations affecting entire homes' safety profiles.


In conclusion, understanding how detrimental accumulated water can be on foundational integrity emphasizes why addressing this issue remains critically important for homeowners everywhere who wish not only preserve their investment but also ensure safe living conditions free from unnecessary risks posed by unchecked environmental forces like excessive rainfall impacting underlying soil compositions beneath residential zones worldwide today more than ever before now given climate changes altering precipitation patterns globally across regions experiencing unprecedented shifts weather-wise currently beyond historical norms previously recorded past decades overall thus requiring adaptive measures mitigate anticipated impacts future scenarios likely arise continue evolving rapidly pace unforeseen developments unfold ongoing fashion necessitating vigilance preparedness accordingly respond adequately challenges presented times ahead confronting humanity collectively moving forward concerted efforts needed address pressing concerns shared common interest protecting built environments sustainably responsibly long-term benefit generations come ultimately achieving desired outcomes sought universally harmony balance coexistence natural elements surroundings inhabited terrains diverse landscapes planet Earth encompasses entirety vastness infinite possibilities contained therein await discovery exploration endless quest knowledge pursuit enlightenment understanding existence itself all-encompassing cosmic journey embarked upon together united spirit collaboration cooperation mutual respect appreciation beauty complexity intricacy interconnectedness life forms myriad manifestations observable universe beholden us cherish nurture care wisely judiciously carefully conscientiously lovingly devotedly purpose driven meaningful intentional purposeful deliberate conscious aware engaged active participation realization potentialities inherent every moment presence awareness awakens

Water accumulation around the foundation walls of a building is a common issue that can lead to significant structural problems if not addressed promptly. Understanding the signs of water damage and potential foundation cracks is crucial for homeowners and property managers who want to maintain their buildings in optimal condition.


One of the first indicators of water accumulation around foundation walls is excess moisture in the basement or crawl space. This could manifest as damp spots on walls, floors, or ceilings, or more overt signs such as standing water. Mold and mildew growth is another red flag; these fungi thrive in moist environments and can cause health issues aside from indicating potential water damage.


The presence of efflorescence-a white, powdery substance-on basement walls is also a telltale sign. This residue forms when water seeps through masonry work, dissolving salts which then crystallize on the surface as the water evaporates. While not structurally harmful itself, efflorescence indicates that moisture migration is occurring and should be investigated further.


Foundation cracks are another critical concern associated with water accumulation. These can vary from minor hairline fractures to significant structural breaks. Vertical cracks are often less concerning than horizontal ones but still warrant attention because they might allow water ingress. Horizontal cracks, however, might indicate serious pressure on the foundation walls due to soil expansion or improper drainage around the perimeter of the building.


Another warning sign includes doors and windows that suddenly stick or become misaligned. This can suggest that there has been a shift in the foundation due to changes in soil moisture levels affecting its stability. Similarly, sloping or uneven floors may also point towards foundational shifts caused by excessive moisture.


Managing water accumulation effectively involves addressing both internal symptoms and external causes. Ensuring proper grading away from the structure directs rainwater runoff safely away from foundations. Installing gutters with downspouts extending several feet away from the house can prevent roof runoff from pooling near foundations.


Furthermore, inspecting and maintaining your drainage systems regularly ensures they function correctly during heavy rains or snow melts. In some cases, installing French drains or sump pumps may be necessary for areas with persistent water issues.


In conclusion, identifying signs of water damage and potential foundation cracks involves vigilant observation and proactive maintenance strategies. By recognizing these early warning signs and implementing effective solutions for managing water accumulation around your home's foundation walls, you can protect your property investment from costly repairs while ensuring a safe living environment.

Spotting Early Hairline Fractures Before They Worsen

Spotting Early Hairline Fractures Before They Worsen

Spotting early hairline fractures before they worsen is crucial for both preventing further injury and ensuring a quicker recovery process.. These tiny cracks in bones, often caused by overuse, stress, or trauma, can be deceptively subtle yet lead to more significant issues if not addressed promptly.

Posted by on 2024-12-31

How Temperature Fluctuations Affect Foundation Cracks

How Temperature Fluctuations Affect Foundation Cracks

Temperature fluctuations can have a significant impact on the structural integrity of a home, particularly when it comes to foundation cracks.. These fluctuations, common in many regions due to seasonal changes or shifting weather patterns, can cause expansion and contraction in building materials, leading to stress and potential damage.

Posted by on 2024-12-31

Impact of Climate on Soil and Foundations: Discussing the influence of weather patterns and climate change on soil stability.

Title: The Importance of Early Detection in Preventing Structural Damage: Managing Water Accumulation Around Foundation Walls


In the realm of home ownership and property maintenance, one cannot underestimate the significance of early detection when it comes to preventing structural damage. A primary concern for many homeowners is the accumulation of water around foundation walls, a seemingly innocuous issue that can lead to severe structural complications if not addressed promptly. Understanding the importance of early detection and implementing effective management strategies can save both time and resources while ensuring the longevity and safety of one's home.


Water accumulation around foundation walls primarily occurs due to inadequate drainage systems, poor grading, or excessive rainfall. When water pools near a foundation, it can seep through cracks and crevices into the structure, leading to dampness, mold growth, and eventually compromising the integrity of the building materials. Over time, this persistent exposure to moisture can cause foundational shifts, resulting in uneven floors, cracked walls, and doors or windows that no longer fit snugly in their frames.


The key to mitigating these risks lies in early detection. Regular inspections by homeowners or professionals can identify potential problem areas before they escalate into significant issues. Signs such as visible cracks in foundation walls, basement dampness or flooding after rainfall, efflorescence (white powdery residue) on walls, or even a musty odor are red flags indicating water intrusion. By recognizing these signs early on, homeowners have the opportunity to address them proactively.


Once detected, managing water accumulation involves several strategic measures aimed at redirecting water away from foundation walls. Ensuring proper grading around the home is crucial; soil should slope away from the house at an angle that facilitates natural drainage. Additionally, maintaining clean gutters and downspouts helps prevent overflow that could contribute to pooling around foundations. In some cases, installing French drains or sump pumps might be necessary to effectively manage excess groundwater.


Moreover, waterproofing solutions like exterior membranes or sealants can provide an added layer of protection against moisture penetration. These proactive measures not only protect against immediate threats but also add value to the property by enhancing its resilience against future weather events.




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In conclusion, recognizing the importance of early detection in preventing structural damage due to water accumulation around foundation walls cannot be emphasized enough. By staying vigilant for warning signs and employing effective management strategies promptly, homeowners can safeguard their investments while preserving their property's structural integrity for years to come. In essence, a little foresight today translates into peace of mind tomorrow-an invaluable return on investment for any homeowner dedicated to maintaining their home's health and stability.

Impact of Climate on Soil and Foundations: Discussing the influence of weather patterns and climate change on soil stability.

Methods for Monitoring Soil Movement: Techniques and tools used to track soil shifts around foundations.

Managing water accumulation around foundation walls is a crucial aspect of maintaining the structural integrity and longevity of any building. Excessive moisture near foundations can lead to a host of problems, including soil erosion, foundation cracking, and even basement flooding. To prevent these issues, it is essential to employ effective methods for managing and redirecting water away from foundations.


One of the most fundamental techniques in managing water around foundation walls is proper grading. The landscape around a building should be sloped away from the structure to encourage water to flow away rather than pool against the foundation. A slope of at least 5% over a distance of ten feet is generally recommended. This simple yet effective method utilizes gravity to naturally direct rainwater away, reducing the risk of water-related damage.


Another critical strategy involves installing gutters and downspouts. Gutters are designed to catch rainwater as it flows off the roof and redirect it through downspouts that carry it safely away from the foundation. It is important that downspouts extend several feet away from the house to ensure that water does not seep into the ground near the foundation. Regular maintenance, such as clearing debris from gutters, ensures they function optimally.


For areas prone to heavy rainfall or poor drainage conditions, French drains offer an excellent solution. These underground drainage systems consist of perforated pipes buried in trenches filled with gravel. They collect excess groundwater and channel it away from vulnerable areas like foundation walls. By effectively managing subsurface water levels, French drains help prevent hydrostatic pressure build-up against foundations.


In addition to these methods, waterproofing solutions can provide an added layer of protection for foundation walls. Waterproof coatings or sealants applied to exterior surfaces create a barrier that prevents moisture penetration. In more severe cases where groundwater infiltration poses significant risks, installing sump pumps inside basements can help manage accumulated water by actively pumping it out before levels rise too high.


Finally, landscaping choices play a vital role in controlling water accumulation around foundations. Planting native vegetation with deep root systems can enhance soil stability and improve drainage efficiency by absorbing excess moisture naturally. Conversely, avoiding plants or trees with invasive roots near foundations prevents potential damage caused by root expansion under structures.


In conclusion, effectively managing water accumulation around foundation walls requires various preventative measures tailored according to specific site conditions and climate patterns faced by homeowners or builders alike: correct grading techniques combined with functional gutter systems; strategic use of French drains; application-specific waterproofing solutions; thoughtful landscaping decisions-all contributing collectively towards safeguarding buildings against detrimental effects associated with excessive moisture exposure over time while ensuring their longevity remains intact throughout changing seasons ahead without compromising safety standards therein involved either way whatsoever along given circumstances encountered thereof accordingly henceforth ultimately benefiting everyone involved overall indeed eventually too finally conclusively so far thus far thereby achieving desired outcomes successfully thereafter evermore continuously consistently altogether!

Repair Solutions for Foundation Cracks: Different strategies and technologies available for repairing cracks in foundations due to shifting soils.

Managing water accumulation around foundation walls is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of any building. Water, while essential for life, can become a formidable adversary when it seeps into unwanted areas, especially around and beneath a home's foundation. This accumulation often leads to the development of foundation cracks, which if left unattended, can cause significant damage over time. Fortunately, there are several techniques available for repairing these cracks and preventing further issues.


One of the most common methods for addressing foundation cracks caused by water accumulation is the use of epoxy injections. Epoxy injection involves filling the crack with an adhesive material that not only seals the crack but also restores the concrete to its original strength. This method is particularly effective for small to medium-sized cracks. The epoxy not only blocks water from entering but also reinforces the structure against future stressors.


Polyurethane foam injections present another viable solution, especially for active leaks or where flexibility is required. Unlike epoxy, polyurethane foam expands upon contact with water, making it ideal for sealing wet and leaking cracks. Its ability to expand allows it to fill voids more effectively than rigid materials, creating a durable seal that prevents further water infiltration.


For larger or more severe cracks, underpinning may be necessary. Underpinning involves extending the foundation in depth or breadth so it rests on more stable soil or distributes its load across a wider area. This technique helps stabilize foundations that have been compromised by extensive water damage or poor soil conditions beneath them.


Beyond repairing existing cracks, managing surface water flow is essential in preventing future problems. Proper drainage systems such as French drains can be installed to redirect water away from foundation walls. These systems involve trenches filled with gravel and perforated pipes that channel excess water away from critical areas.


Another preventative measure includes grading the landscape properly around your home so that ground slopes away from the foundation rather than towards it. This simple yet effective tactic ensures rainwater naturally flows away from your house instead of pooling around its base.


Finally, regular maintenance and inspection play pivotal roles in managing water accumulation and mitigating potential risks before they escalate into costly repairs. Homeowners should routinely check their gutter systems to ensure they are directing rainwater appropriately and not contributing to unnecessary saturation near foundations.


In conclusion, while water accumulation poses significant challenges to structural stability through foundation cracking, various repair techniques offer practical solutions tailored to specific circumstances. From epoxy injections and polyurethane foams to underpinning approaches alongside preventive strategies like proper drainage installations-each method plays a vital role in safeguarding buildings against both current damages and future threats posed by encroaching moisture.

Preventative Measures: Tips for homeowners to minimize the risk of foundation damage from seasonal soil changes.

Managing water accumulation around foundation walls is a critical task for homeowners seeking to protect their property from the often subtle yet devastating effects of water damage. Foundations serve as the bedrock upon which homes are built, and safeguarding them ensures the longevity and structural integrity of the entire structure. Water, while essential for life, can be a formidable adversary when it comes to building foundations. Therefore, implementing long-term solutions to prevent water damage is not just prudent but necessary.


The first step in managing water accumulation is understanding how water interacts with the environment surrounding your home. Rainwater, melting snow, and groundwater all contribute to moisture levels in the soil adjacent to foundation walls. When this moisture accumulates excessively or infiltrates improperly designed drainage systems, it can lead to problems such as erosion, hydrostatic pressure buildup, and even cracks in the foundation itself.




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One of the most effective strategies for mitigating these risks involves installing proper drainage systems around your home. This typically includes gutter systems that direct rainwater away from the house and downspouts that channel this water at least five feet away from foundation walls. Additionally, French drains-a type of subsurface drainage system-can be installed around the perimeter of a home to capture excess groundwater before it reaches critical areas.


Beyond drainage systems, waterproofing measures on the exterior of foundation walls provide another layer of defense against water infiltration. This can include applying sealants or membranes that act as barriers between water-laden soil and vulnerable concrete surfaces. These materials are designed to withstand various environmental conditions over time, ensuring consistent protection even during heavy rainfall or thawing periods.


Landscaping also plays an integral role in managing water flow around foundations. By strategically grading land so that it slopes away from buildings, homeowners can help ensure that surface water runs off efficiently rather than pooling near structures where it poses a risk. Incorporating native plants with deep root systems can further enhance soil stability and improve natural absorption rates without compromising foundational safety.


In regions prone to high rainfall or flooding, sump pumps may be necessary as an additional precautionary measure within basements or crawlspaces. These devices actively remove accumulated water from interior spaces before it causes significant harm by pumping it away through designated pipes.


Ultimately though-while individual techniques offer valuable benefits-the most comprehensive solution involves integrating multiple approaches tailored specifically toward each property's unique needs and climate conditions; consulting professionals specialized in hydrology engineering might prove invaluable here too! By combining preventive maintenance efforts like those mentioned above alongside regular inspections conducted by experts familiarized with local environmental factors impacting properties nearby-you'll maximize chances securing long-lasting protection safeguarding investments made into both residences themselves along accompanying landscapes surrounding them alike!


In conclusion: investing time resources into addressing potential concerns regarding excessive moisture presence near home's foundational elements pays dividends down road preventing costly repairs restoring peace mind knowing everything possible done ensure solid footing beneath feet remains intact moving forward despite whatever nature throws way next!

 

Great Wall of China - Western Wall
Hadrian's Wall - Walls of Ston

A wall is a structure and a surface that defines an area; carries a load; provides security, shelter, or soundproofing; or, is decorative. There are many kinds of walls, including:

  • Border barriers between countries
  • Brick walls
  • Defensive walls in fortifications
  • Permanent, solid fences
  • Retaining walls, which hold back dirt, stone, water, or noise sound
  • Stone walls
  • Walls in buildings that form a fundamental part of the superstructure or separate interior rooms, sometimes for fire safety
  • Glass walls in which the primary structure is made of glass; does not include openings within walls that have glass coverings as these are windows
  • Walls that protect from oceans (seawalls) or rivers (levees)

Etymology

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"weall," an Old English word for 'wall'

The term wall comes from the Latin vallum meaning "an earthen wall or rampart set with palisades, a row or line of stakes, a wall, a rampart, fortification", while the Latin word murus means a defensive stone wall.[1] English uses the same word to mean an external wall and the internal sides of a room, but this is not universal. Many languages distinguish between the two. In German, some of this distinction can be seen between Wand and Mauer, in Spanish between pared and muro.

Defensive wall

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The word wall originally referred to defensive walls and ramparts.

Building wall

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The purposes of walls in buildings are to support roofs, floors and ceilings; to enclose a space as part of the building envelope along with a roof to give buildings form; and to provide shelter and security. In addition, the wall may house various types of utilities such as electrical wiring or plumbing. Wall construction falls into two basic categories: framed walls or mass-walls. In framed walls the load is transferred to the foundation through posts, columns or studs. Framed walls most often have three or more separate components: the structural elements (such as 2×4 studs in a house wall), insulation, and finish elements or surfaces (such as drywall or panelling). Mass-walls are of a solid material including masonry, concrete including slipform stonemasonry, log building, cordwood construction, adobe, rammed earth, cob, earthbag construction, bottles, tin cans, straw-bale construction, and ice. Walls may or may not be leadbearing. Walls are required to conform to the local building and/or fire codes.

There are three basic methods walls control water intrusion: moisture storage, drained cladding, or face-sealed cladding.[2] Moisture storage is typical of stone and brick mass-wall buildings where moisture is absorbed and released by the walls of the structure itself. Drained cladding also known as screened walls[3] acknowledges moisture will penetrate the cladding so a moisture barrier such as housewrap or felt paper inside the cladding provides a second line of defense and sometimes a drainage plane or air gap allows a path for the moisture to drain down through and exit the wall. Sometimes ventilation is provided in addition to the drainage plane such as in rainscreen construction. Face-sealed also called barrier wall or perfect barrier[3] cladding relies on maintaining a leak-free surface of the cladding. Examples of face sealed cladding are the early exterior insulation finishing systems, structural glazing, metal clad panels, and corrugated metal.

Building walls frequently become works of art, externally and internally, such as when featuring mosaic work or when murals are painted on them; or as design foci when they exhibit textures or painted finishes for effect.

Curtain wall

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Wall art in Budapest's Széll Kálmán Square.[4]
Glass curtain walls on a contemporary German skyscraper

In architecture and civil engineering, curtain wall refers to a building facade that is not load-bearing but provides decoration, finish, front, face, or historical preservation.

Precast wall

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Precast walls are walls which have been manufactured in a factory and then shipped to where it is needed, ready to install. It is faster to install compared to brick and other walls and may have a lower cost compared to other types of wall. Precast walls are cost effective compare to Brick Wall compound wall.

Mullion wall

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Mullion walls are a structural system that carries the load of the floor slab on prefabricated panels around the perimeter.

Partition wall

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Glass partition walls

A partition wall is a usually thin wall that is used to separate or divide a room, primarily a pre-existing one. Partition walls are usually not load-bearing, and can be constructed out of many materials, including steel panels, bricks, cloth, plastic, plasterboard, wood, blocks of clay, terracotta, concrete, and glass.

Some partition walls are made of sheet glass. Glass partition walls are a series of individual toughened glass panels mounted in wood or metal framing. They may be suspended from or slide along a robust aluminium ceiling track.[5] The system does not require the use of a floor guide, which allows easy operation and an uninterrupted threshold.

A timber partition consists of a wooden framework, supported on the floor or by side walls. Metal lath and plaster, properly laid, forms a reinforced partition wall. Partition walls constructed from fibre cement backer board are popular as bases for tiling in kitchens or in wet areas like bathrooms. Galvanized sheet fixed to wooden or steel members are mostly adopted in works of temporary character. Plain or reinforced partition walls may also be constructed from concrete, including pre-cast concrete blocks. Metal framed partitioning is also available. This partition consists of track (used primarily at the base and head of the partition) and studs (vertical sections fixed into the track typically spaced at 24", 16", or at 12").

Internal wall partitions, also known as office partitioning, are usually made of plasterboard (drywall) or varieties of glass. Toughened glass is a common option, as low-iron glass (better known as opti-white glass) increases light and solar heat transmission.

Wall partitions are constructed using beads and tracking that is either hung from the ceiling or fixed into the ground.[6] The panels are inserted into the tracking and fixed. Some wall partition variations specify their fire resistance and acoustic performance rating.

Movable partitions

Movable partitions are walls that open to join two or more rooms into one large floor area. These include:

  • Sliding—a series of panels that slide in tracks fixed to the floor and ceiling, similar sliding doors
  • Sliding and folding doors —similar to sliding folding doors, these are good for smaller spans
  • Folding partition walls - a series of interlocking panels suspended from an overhead track that when extended provide an acoustical separation, and when retracted stack against a wall, ceiling, closet, or ceiling pocket.
  • Screens—usually constructed of a metal or timber frame fixed with plywood and chipboard and supported with legs for free standing and easy movement
  • Pipe and drape—fixed or telescopic uprights and horizontals provide a ground supported drape system with removable panels.

Party wall

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Party walls are walls that separate buildings or units within a building. They provide fire resistance and sound resistance between occupants in a building. The minimum fire resistance and sound resistance required for the party wall is determined by a building code and may be modified to suit a variety of situations. Ownership of such walls can become a legal issue. It is not a load-bearing wall and may be owned by different people.

Infill wall

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An infill wall is the supported wall that closes the perimeter of a building constructed with a three-dimensional framework structure.

Fire wall

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Fire walls resist spread of fire within or sometimes between structures to provide passive fire protection. A delay in the spread of fire gives occupants more time to escape and fire fighters more time to extinguish the fire. Some fire walls allow fire resistive window assemblies,[7] and are made of non-combustible material such as concrete, cement block, brick, or fire rated drywall. Wall penetrations are sealed with fire resistive materials. A doorway in a firewall must have a rated fire door. Fire walls provide varying resistance to the spread of fire, (e.g., one, two, three or four hours). Firewalls can also act as smoke barriers when constructed vertically from slab to roof deck and horizontally from an exterior wall to exterior wall subdividing a building into sections.

Shear wall

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Shear walls resist lateral forces such as in an earthquake or severe wind. There are different kinds of shear walls such as the steel plate shear wall.

Knee wall

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Knee walls are short walls that either support rafters or add height in the top floor rooms of houses. In a 1+12-story house, the knee wall supports the half story.

Cavity wall

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Cavity walls are walls made with a space between two "skins" to inhibit heat transfer.

Pony wall

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Pony wall (or dwarf wall) is a general term for short walls, such as:

  • A half wall that only extends partway from floor to ceiling, without supporting anything
  • A stem wall—a concrete wall that extends from the foundation slab to the cripple wall or floor joists
  • A cripple wall—a framed wall from the stem wall or foundation slab to the floor joists

Demountable wall

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Demountable wall and door in an office building

Demountable walls fall into 3 different main types:

  • Glass walls (unitesed panels or butt joint),
  • Laminated particle board walls (this may also include other finishes, such as whiteboards, cork board, magnetic, etc., typically all on purpose-made wall studs)
  • Drywall

Solar energy

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A trombe wall in passive solar building design acts as a heat sink.

Shipbuilding

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On a ship, a wall that separates major compartments is called a bulkhead. A thinner wall between cabins is called a partition.

Boundary wall

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Stone wall of an English barn
A red bricks boundary wall intersection

Boundary walls include privacy walls, boundary-marking walls on property, and town walls. These intergrade into fences. The conventional differentiation is that a fence is of minimal thickness and often open in nature, while a wall is usually more than a nominal thickness and is completely closed, or opaque. More to the point, an exterior structure of wood or wire is generally called a fence—but one of masonry is a wall. A common term for both is barrier, which is convenient for structures that are partly wall and partly fence—for example the Berlin Wall. Another kind of wall-fence ambiguity is the ha-ha—which is set below ground level to protect a view, yet acts as a barrier (to cattle, for example).

An old Italian wall surrounded by flowers

Before the invention of artillery, many of the world's cities and towns, particularly in Europe and Asia, had defensive or protective walls (also called town walls or city walls). In fact, the English word "wall" derives from Latin vallum—a type of fortification wall. These walls are no longer relevant for defense, so such cities have grown beyond their walls, and many fortification walls, or portions of them, have been torn down—for example in Rome, Italy and Beijing, China. Examples of protective walls on a much larger scale include the Great Wall of China and Hadrian's Wall.

Border wall

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Berlin wall, July 1, 1988
Mexico–United States barrier in California

Some walls formally mark the border between one population and another. A border wall is constructed to limit the movement of people across a certain line or border. These structures vary in placement with regard to international borders and topography. The most famous example of border barrier in history is probably the Great Wall of China, a series of walls that separated the Empire of China from nomadic powers to the north. The most prominent recent example is the Berlin Wall, which surrounded the enclave of West Berlin and separated it from East Germany for most of the Cold War era. The US-Mexico border wall, separating the United States and Mexico, is another recent example.

Retaining wall

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Dry-stone wall - Grendon
Ashlar wall - Inca wall at Machu Picchu, Peru
View of the western enclosing wall of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (also called the Mosque of Uqba) in the city of Kairouan in Tunisia.

In areas of rocky soils around the world, farmers have often pulled large quantities of stone out of their fields to make farming easier and have stacked those stones to make walls that either mark the field boundary, or the property boundary, or both.

Retaining walls resist movement of earth, stone, or water. They may be part of a building or external. The ground surface or water on one side of a retaining wall is typically higher than on the other side. A dike is a retaining wall, as is a levee, a load-bearing foundation wall, and a sea wall.

Shared wall

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Special laws often govern walls that neighbouring properties share. Typically, one neighbour cannot alter the common wall if it is likely to affect the building or property on the other side. A wall may also separate apartment or hotel rooms from each other. Each wall has two sides and breaking a wall on one side will break the wall on the other side.

Portable wall

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Portable walls, such as room dividers or portable partitions divide a larger open space into smaller rooms. Portable walls can be static, such as cubicle walls, or can be wall panels mounted on casters to provide an easy way to reconfigure assembly space. They are often found inside schools, churches, convention centers, hotels, and corporate facilities.

Temporary wall

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A temporary wall is constructed for easy removal or demolition. A typical temporary wall can be constructed with 1⁄2" (6 mm) to 5⁄8" (16 mm) sheet rock (plasterboard), metal 2 × 3s (approx. 5 × 7 cm), or 2 × 4s, or taped, plastered and compounded. Most installation companies use lattice (strips of wood) to cover the joints of the temporary wall with the ceiling. These are sometimes known as pressurized walls or temporary pressurized walls.

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Walls are often seen in popular culture, oftentimes representing barriers preventing progress or entry. For example:

Fictional and symbolic walls

The progressive/psychedelic rock band Pink Floyd used a metaphorical wall to represent the isolation felt by the protagonist of their 1979 concept album The Wall.

The American poet laureate Robert Frost describes a pointless rock wall as a metaphor for the myopia of the culture-bound in his poem "Mending Wall", published in 1914.

Walls are a recurring symbol in Ursula K. Le Guin's 1974 novel The Dispossessed'.

In some cases, a wall may refer to an individual's debilitating mental or physical condition, seen as an impassable barrier.[citation needed]

In George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and its television adaptation, Game of Thrones, The Wall plays multiple important roles: as a colossal fortification, made of ice and fortified with magic spells; as a cultural barrier; and as a codification of assumptions. Breaches of the wall, who is allowed to cross it and who is not, and its destruction have important symbolic, logistical, and socio-political implications in the storyline. Reportedly over 700 feet high and 100 leagues (300 miles) wide, it divides the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms realm from the domain of the wildlings and several categories of undead who live beyond it.[8][9][10]

Historical walls

In a real-life example, the Berlin Wall, constructed by the Soviet Union to divide Berlin into NATO and Warsaw Pact zones of occupation, became a worldwide symbol of oppression and isolation.[11]

Social media walls

Another common usage is as a communal surface to write upon. For instance the social networking site Facebook previously used an electronic "wall" to log the scrawls of friends until it was replaced by the "timeline" feature.

See also

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  • Ashlar
  • Chemise (wall)
  • Clay panel
  • Climbing wall
  • Crinkle crankle wall
  • Fabric structure
  • Great Green Wall (Africa)
  • Great Green Wall (China)
  • Green wall
  • List of walls
  • Sleeper wall
  • Stone wall
  • Tensile structure
  • Terraced wall
  • Thin-shell structure
  • Wallpaper

References

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  1. ^ "Wall". Whitney, William Dwight, and Benjamin E. Smith. The Century dictionary and cyclopedia, vol. 8. New York: Century Co., 1901. 6,809. Print.
  2. ^ Committee on Damp Indoor Spaces and Health, Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Damp indoor spaces and health. Institute of Medicine, (U. S.). National Academies Press. Washington, D. C.. 2004. 34-35. Print.
  3. ^ a b Straube, J. F.and Burnett, E. F. P., "Driving Rain and Masonry Veneer". Water Leakage through Building Facades, ASTM STP 1314. R. J. Kudder and J. L. Erdly, Eds. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 1998. 75. Print.
  4. ^ Baróthy, Anna (2016). "Széll Kálmán square, Budapest, Hungary « Landscape Architecture Works". Landezine. Archived from the original on 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  5. ^ "PARTITION WALL". Principles of Design. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Partition Walls". Excellence in craftsmanship. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  7. ^ NFPA 221 Standard for high Challenge Fire Walls, Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls (2021 ed.). Table 4.9.2.
  8. ^ "Game of Thrones: Everything to Know About the Wall". Vulture. August 27, 2017.
  9. ^ "Game of Thrones Wall: How the Wall was built, and what its destruction means". Telegraph. April 15, 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12.
  10. ^ "'Game of Thrones' Season 8: How Was The Wall Built?". Newsweek. April 7, 2019.
  11. ^ Preuss, Evelyn (2005). "The Wall You Will Never Know". Perspecta 036: The Yale Architectural Journal. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. pp. 19–31.
[edit]

 

In law, a warranty is an expressed or implied promise or assurance of some kind. The term's meaning varies across legal subjects.[1] In property law, it refers to a covenant by the grantor of a deed.[2] In insurance law, it refers to a promise by the purchaser of an insurance about the thing or person to be insured.[3]

In contract law, a warranty is a contractual assurance given, typically, by a seller to a buyer,[4] for example confirming that the seller is the owner of the property being sold.[5] A warranty is a term of a contract, but not usually a condition of the contract or an innominate term, meaning that it is a term "not going to the root of the contract",[6] and therefore only entitles the innocent party to damages if it is breached,[6] i.e. if the warranty is not true or the defaulting party does not perform the contract in accordance with the terms of the warranty. A warranty is not a guarantee: it is a mere promise. It may be enforced if it is breached by an award for the legal remedy of damages.

Depending on the terms of the contract, a product warranty may cover a product such that a manufacturer provides a warranty to a consumer with whom the manufacturer has no direct contractual relationship because it is purchased via an intermediary.

A warranty may be express or implied. An express warranty is expressly stated (typically, written); whether or not a term will be implied into a contract depends on the particular contract law of the country in question. Warranties may also state that a particular fact is true at a point in time, or that the fact will continue into the future (a "continuing warranty").

Express warranty

[edit]

Express warranties are created when the seller makes a guarantee to the buyer that the product or service being offered has certain qualities. For there to exist an express warranty, a statement regarding the product or service must be made to the buyer and the statement must play a role in the buyer's decision to purchase the product or service. If, after purchase, the buyer feels that the given statement was a misrepresentation of the actual product or service, the buyer can file for breach of express warranty.[7]

Implied warranty

[edit]

Implied warranties are unwritten promises that arise from the nature of the transaction, and the inherent understanding by the buyer, rather than from the express representations of the seller.

Sale of goods

[edit]

Warranties provided in the sale of goods (tangible products) vary according to jurisdiction, but commonly new goods are sold with implied warranty that the goods are as advertised. Used products, however, may be sold "as is" with no warranties. Each country, however, defines its own parameters with regard to implied conditions or implied warranties. The rules regarding warranties are largely standardised; i.e., the concepts of offer, acceptance, consideration, capacity to contract and intention to create legal relations. Those are the five elements to create a legally binding contract in the United States (all 50 states), England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, each of the seven states of Australia, and all other common law countries. Countries with civil law systems, however, recognise legally binding contracts which are not supported by consideration.[citation needed]

United States

[edit]

In the United States, various laws apply, including provisions in the Uniform Commercial Code which provide for implied warranties.[8] However, these implied warranties were often limited by disclaimers. In 1975 the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act was passed to strengthen warranties on consumer goods.[9] Among other things, under the law implied warranties cannot be disclaimed if an express warranty is offered, and attorney fees may be recovered.[9] In some states, statutory warranties are required on new home construction, and "lemon laws" apply to motor vehicles.

Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code, which has been adopted with variations in each state, provides that the following two warranties are implied unless they are explicitly disclaimed (such as an "as is" statement):

  • The warranty of merchantability is implied unless expressly disclaimed by name, or the sale is identified with the phrase "as is" or "with all faults." To be "merchantable", the goods must reasonably conform to an ordinary buyer's expectations. For example, a fruit that looks and smells good but has hidden defects may violate the warranty if its quality does not meet the standards for such fruit "as passes ordinarily in the trade". In most states, products inherently come with implied warranty of merchantability; however, in states like Massachusetts under consumer protection law, it is illegal to disclaim this warranty on household goods sold to consumers. (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 106: Section 2-316A)
  • The warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is implied unless disclaimed when a buyer relies upon the seller to select the goods to fit a specific request. For example, this warranty is violated when a buyer asks a mechanic to provide tires for use on snowy roads and receives tires that are unsafe to use in snow.

Defects In Materials and Workmanship

[edit]

A common kind of warranty on goods is a warranty that the product is free from material defects in materials and workmanship. This simply promises that the manufacturer properly constructed the product, out of proper materials. This implies that the product is not defective for the purposes for which it was made.

Warranties may be time limited, thus limiting the time the buyer has to make a claim for breach of warranty. For example, a typical 90-day warranty on a television gives the buyer 90 days from the date of purchase to claim that the television was improperly constructed. Should the television fail after 91 days of normal usage, which because televisions customarily last longer than 91 days means there was a defect in the materials or workmanship of the television, the buyer nonetheless may not collect on the warranty because it is too late to file a claim. Consumer protection laws implemented by statute, however, provide additional remedies as it is not usually expected that a television will last for only 90 days.

Time-limited warranties are often confused with performance warranties. A 90-day performance warranty would promise that the television would work for 90 days, which is fundamentally different from promising that it was delivered free of defects and limiting the time the buyer has to prove otherwise. But because the usual evidence that a product was delivered defective is that it later breaks, the effect is very similar.

One situation in which the effect of a time-limited warranty is different from the effect of a performance warranty is where the time limit exceeds a normal lifetime of the product. If a coat is designed to last two years, but has a 10-year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, a buyer who wears the coat for 3 years and then finds it worn out would not be able to collect on the warranty. But it is different from a 2-year warranty because if the buyer starts wearing the coat 5 years after buying it, and finds it wears out a year later, the buyer would have a warranty claim in Year 6. On the other hand, a 10-year performance warranty would promise that the coat would last 10 years.

Satisfaction guarantee

[edit]

In the United States, the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act of 1976 provides for enforcement of a satisfaction guarantee warranty. In these cases, the advertiser must refund the full purchase price regardless of the reason for dissatisfaction.[10]

Lifetime warranty

[edit]

A lifetime warranty is usually a warranty against defects in materials and workmanship that has no time limit to make a claim, rather than a warranty that the product will perform for the lifetime of the buyer.[11] The actual time that product can be expected to perform is normally determined by the custom for products of its kind used the way the buyer uses it.

If a product has been discontinued and is no longer available, the warranty may last a limited period longer. For example:

  • the Cisco Limited Lifetime Warranty currently lasts for five years after the product has been discontinued, but only if you know where you bought it from as the seller is responsible for administering it.[12]
  • HP Networking product lifetime warranties last for as long as one owns the product.[13]

Limited warranty

[edit]

A warranty may be limited in duration (as above) and/or in scope. In Avrora Fine Arts v Christie, Manson and Woods (a UK High Court case), the auctioneers had issued a "limited warranty" that a certain painting sold at auction had been painted by the Russian painter Boris Kustodiev, which experts subsequently stated was not the case. The sale was cancelled and the buyer was reimbursed, but further claims of negligence and misrepresentation were denied because they fell outside the warranty's scope.[14]

Breach of warranty

[edit]

Warranties are breached when the promise is not performed at all, or not performed in accordance with the contract. The seller may honor the warranty by making a refund or a replacement. The statute of limitations depends on the jurisdiction and contractual agreements. In the United States, the Uniform Commercial Code § 2-725 provides for a four-year time limit, which can be limited to one year by contract, starting from the date of delivery or if future performance is guaranteed from the date of discovery. Refusing to honor the warranty may be an unfair business practice. In the United States, breach of warranty lawsuits may be distinct from revocation of contract suits; in the case of the breach of warranty, the buyer's item is repaired or replaced while breach of contract involves returning the item to the seller.[15]

Warranty label on top of a hard disk
Warranty label on top of a hard disk
Warranty label lifted. The word "VOID" is shown multiple times
Warranty label lifted. The word "VOID" is shown multiple times.

Some warranties require that repairs be undertaken by an authorized service provider. In such cases, service by non-authorized personnel or company may void (nullify) the warranty. However, according to the Magnuson-Moss Act (a U.S. Federal law that governs warranties, which was passed in 1975), if the warranty does not provide full or partial payment of labor (to repair the device or system), it is the owner's choice who will provide the labor, including the possibility of DIY ("Do It Yourself") repairs, in which case the device or system owner will pay zero dollars for labor, yet the company that provided the warranty must still provide all the parts needed for the repair at absolutely no charge to the owner.

If the defective product causes injury, this may be a cause of action for a product liability lawsuit (tort). Strict liability may be applied.

Extended warranty

[edit]

In addition to standard warranties on new items, third parties or manufacturers may sell or offer extended warranties (also called service contracts).[16] These extend the warranty for a further length of time. However, these warranties have terms and conditions which may not match the original terms and conditions. For example, these may not cover anything other than mechanical failure from normal usage. Exclusions may include commercial use, "acts of God", owner abuse, and malicious destruction. They may also exclude parts that normally wear out such as tires and lubrication on a vehicle.

These types of warranties are provided for various products, but automobiles and electronics are common examples. Warranties which are sold through retailers such as Best Buy may include significant commission for the retailer as a result of reverse competition.[17] For instance, an auto warranty from a car dealership may be subcontracted and vehicle repairs may be at a lower rate which could compromise the quality of service. At the time of repair, out-of-pocket expenses may be charged for unexpected services provided outside of the warranty terms or uncovered parts. Extended Warranties are mostly back to back underwritten by underwriters, who are the actual bearer of the risk.

Representations versus warranties

[edit]

Statements of fact in a contract or in obtaining the contract are considered to be either warranties or representations. Traditionally, warranties are factual promises which are enforced through a contract legal action, regardless of materiality, intent, or reliance.[18] Representations are traditionally *pre*contractual statements which allow for a tort-based action if the misrepresentation is innocent, negligent or fraudulent.[19] In U.S. law, the distinction between the two is somewhat unclear;[18] warranties are viewed as primarily contract-based legal action while negligent or fraudulent misrepresentations are tort-based, but there is a confusing mix of case law in the United States.[18] In modern English law, sellers often avoid using the term 'represents' in order to avoid claims under the Misrepresentation Act 1967 (although English law will look to the substance rather than the form of the representation to decide what it is), while in America 'warrants and represents' is relatively common.[20] Some modern commentators suggest avoiding the words and substituting 'state' or 'agree', and some model forms do not use the words;[19] however, others disagree.[21]

Product types

[edit]

Appliance warranty

[edit]

Canada and United States

[edit]

Written warranties on new major appliances, such as refrigerators, kitchen stoves and dishwashers, usually cover the cost of parts and labor to repair defects in materials or workmanship which appear under normal home use.

Warranties often cover defects up to a year after purchase or delivery.[22] However some exclude new owners when a house or appliance is sold within the year (Frigidaire,[23] LG,[24] Samsung[25]). Others do let warranties transfer to new buyers (Amana,[26] General Electric,[27] Whirlpool). Some manufacturers cover refrigerators' sealed parts (compressors, tubing, etc.) for five years (General Electric,[27] Samsung,[28] Whirlpool)[25] or seven years (LG[24]) or ten years (KitchenAid[29]).

Warranties on water heaters cover parts for 5 to 12 years in single family residences, one year otherwise. They do not cover new owners when a house or heater is sold; nor do they cover the original owner if the heater is moved to a second location.[30][31][32][33][34] Tank models from A. O. Smith do not allow heating elements to be replaced with lower (or higher) wattages, and do not cover renter-occupied single family. They end if the unit is flooded or ever uses desalinated or deionized water, such as municipal desalination plants or reverse osmosis filters.[32][33] Smith's tank models for manufactured housing do not provide coverage if a whirlpool or hot tub is connected.[33]

Tank water heater warranties exclude labor, liability for water damage, and shipping cost to return the old heater or parts. Tankless warranties do not exclude water damage; they cover labor for a year, and Ruud/Rheem covers return shipping on tankless models.[31][34] Smith's tankless water heaters do not restrict coverage to a single family, and require professional installation.[34]

Implied warranties under US law could extend for longer periods. However, most states allow the written warranties to include clauses which limit these implied warranties to the same time period as the written warranty.[35]

Car warranty

[edit]

United States

[edit]

New car factory warranties commonly range from one year to five years and in some cases extend even 10 years, with typically a mileage limit as well. Car warranties can be extended by the manufacturer or other companies with a renewal fee.

Used car warranties are usually 3 months and 3,000 miles.

United Kingdom

[edit]

In the United Kingdom, types of warranties have been classified as either an:

  1. original manufacturer warranty,
  2. insurance warranty underwritten and regulated as insurance or
  3. obligor warranty, typically written by a car dealership or garage.

In the United Kingdom, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which began to regulate insurance contracts in this context in 2005, determined that additional warranties sold by car dealerships are "unlikely to be insurance".[36] Insurance warranties may offer greater protection to the consumer.

Home Warranty

[edit]

A home warranty protects against the costs of home and appliance repair by offering home warranty coverage for houses, townhomes, condominiums, mobile homes, and new construction homes. When a problem occurs with a covered appliance or mechanical system such as an air conditioning unit or furnace, a service technician repairs or replaces it. The homeowner may have to pay for a service call fee and the home warranty company pays the balance for the repair or replacement of the covered item.

Intellectual property right warranty

[edit]

An intellectual property right (IPR) warranty provides contractual protection against breach of rights in software development and other fields where IPR is protected. Increasing reluctance on the part of suppliers to offer an IPR warranty or indemnity has been noted in recent years.[37]

Warranty data

[edit]

Warranty data consists of claims data and supplementary data. Claims data are the data collected during the servicing of claims under warranty and supplementary data are additional data such as production and marketing data.[38] This data can help determine product reliability and plan for future modifications.[38]

See also

[edit]
  • Business law
  • Collateral TORT
  • Consumer protection
  • Due diligence
  • Extended warranty
  • Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
  • Surety
  • Warranty deed
  • Warranty tolling

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gilmore, Grant; Black, Jr., Charles L. (1975). The Law of Admiralty. Foundation Press. p. 63. ISBN 0882774093.
  2. ^ Black's Law Dictionary (15 ed.). Thomson Reuters West. 2015. p. 1344. ISBN 9780314642721.
  3. ^ Black's Law Dictionary (15 ed.). Thomson Reuters West. 2015. p. 1345. ISBN 9780314642721.
  4. ^ Gordons Partnership Solicitors, Guarantees, Warranties and Indemnities – Spot the Difference, accessed 2 February 2023
  5. ^ Johnson, M., Warranties in share purchase agreements, Rocket Lawyer, accessed 2 February 2023
  6. ^ a b Hogg M. (2011). Promises and Contract Law: Comparative Perspectives, p. 48, Cambridge University Press.
  7. ^ Bagley, Constance; Dauchy, Craig (2018). The Entrepreneur's Guide to Law and Strategy (Fifth ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, Inc. pp. 313–315. ISBN 978-1-285-42849-9.
  8. ^ Warranties in Sales of Goods. LexisNexis Study Outlines.
  9. ^ a b 12 Reasons to Love the Magnuson-Moss Act. Journal of Texas Consumer Law. Reprinted with permission from the National Consumer Law Center.
  10. ^ Andreoni J. (2005). Trust, Reciprocity, and Contract Enforcement: Experiments on Satisfaction Guaranteed.
  11. ^ Lifetime Warranties. Warranty Week. WebCite Archive.
  12. ^ "Cisco Limited Lifetime Hardware Warranty Terms". Retrieved 2008-09-10.
  13. ^ "HP Networking warranty information". Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  14. ^ Maitland Chambers, AVRORA FINE ARTS INVESTMENT LTD V CHRISTIE, MANSON & WOODS LTD (2012), accessed 23 December 2022
  15. ^ Davis T. (2009). UCC Breach of Warranty and Contract Claims: Clarifying the Distinction. Baylor Law Review.
  16. ^ "Appliances - 247 Home Rescue". 247 Home Rescue. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  17. ^ Baker T, Siegelman P. (2013). Protecting Consumers from Add-On Insurance Products: New Lessons for Insurance Regulation.
  18. ^ a b c West G D, Lewis W B. (2009). Contracting to Avoid Extra-Contractual Liability—Can Your Contractual Deal Ever Really Be the "Entire" Deal? The Business Lawyer.
  19. ^ a b Primack MA. (2009), and it was relied upon by a party to enter into the contract. Representations, Warranties and Covenants: Back to the Basics in Contracts, and do not form part of the contract. National Law Review.
  20. ^ Ferara L N, Philips J, Runnicles J. (2007). Some Differences in Law and Practice Between U.K. and U.S. Stock Purchase Agreements Archived 2013-05-14 at the Wayback Machine. Jones Day Publications.
  21. ^ Telman J. (2012). Representations and Warranties. ContractsProf Blog.
  22. ^ Moor, Tom (2016). "Are Extended Warranties on Appliances Worth It?". Angies' List (published 2016-07-22). Retrieved 16 January 2017. Most manufacturers offer warranties for appliances that last from three months to up to one year.
  23. ^ "Frigidaire, All about the Use & Care of your Refrigerator" (PDF). Electrolux. p. 20. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  24. ^ a b "LG OWNER'S MANUAL FRENCH DOOR REFRIGERATOR". LG. pp. 55–58. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  25. ^ a b "WHIRLPOOL® REFRIGERATOR WARRANTY" (PDF). Whirlpool. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  26. ^ "AMANA® MAJOR APPLIANCE WARRANTY" (PDF). Amana. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  27. ^ a b "GE Appliances, Refrigerators, Owner's Manual" (PDF). General Electric. p. 11. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  28. ^ "Refrigerator Product Info". Samsung. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  29. ^ "KITCHENAID® REFRIGERATOR WARRANTY" (PDF). KitchenAid. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  30. ^ "Certificate of Limited Warranty, Rheem and Ruud Water Heaters". ruud.com/product/ruud-residential-electric-water-heaters-professional-achiever-series-standard-electric/#specs-docs. 2014-09-01. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  31. ^ a b "Rheem Limited Warranty For the RHEEM®, RUUD®, Richmond®, Paloma®, and Sure Comfort® Residential Tankless Gas Water Heaters". ruud.com/product/ruud-condensing-tankless-professional-ultra-series-96-direct-vent-indoor/#specs-docs. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  32. ^ a b AO Smith (2017-08-01). "Limited Warranty [nor manufactured housing]" (PDF). hotwater.com/resources/product-literature/warranty-sheets/residential-electric/. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  33. ^ a b c "AO Smith Water Heaters, Residential Electric Warranty [Manufactured Housing]" (PDF). hotwater.com/resources/product-literature/warranty-sheets/residential-electric/. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  34. ^ a b c A. O. Smith. "Warranty" (PDF). hotwater.com/resources/product-literature/warranty-sheets/tankless/. Retrieved 2017-10-13.
  35. ^ "What you need to know about warranty laws". Consumer Reports. 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  36. ^ What is a contract of insurance? Archived 2012-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. Financial Services Authority.
  37. ^ Simon Halberstam LLP, Difference between an IPR indemnity and an IPR warranty, published 2009, accessed 27 December 2022
  38. ^ a b Wu S. (2012). Warranty Data Analysis: A Review. Quality and Reliability Engineering International.
[edit]
  • Federal Trade Commission: Warranty Information (United States)

 

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Driving Directions in Cook County


Driving Directions From Comfort Inn Hoffman Estates - Schaumburg to United Structural Systems of Illinois, Inc
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Reviews for United Structural Systems of Illinois, Inc


United Structural Systems of Illinois, Inc

Paul Gunderlock

(4)

The staff was helpful, very nice and easy to work with and completed the work timely and cleaned up well. Communications faltered a bit at times and there was an email communications glitch which was no fault of anyone, but no big deal and all ended up fine. We sure feel better to have this done and hope that is the end of our structural issues. It does seem like (after talking to several related companies), that it would be great if some of these related companies had a structural engineer on staff vs using on the job expertise gained over years - which is definitely valuable! But leaves a bit of uncertainty - and probably saves money for both sides may be the trade-off? So far, so good though! Thank you.

United Structural Systems of Illinois, Inc

Jim de Leon

(5)

It was a pleasure to work with Rick and his crew. From the beginning, Rick listened to my concerns and what I wished to accomplish. Out of the 6 contractors that quoted the project, Rick seemed the MOST willing to accommodate my wishes. His pricing was definitely more than fair as well. I had 10 push piers installed to stabilize and lift an addition of my house. The project commenced at the date that Rick had disclosed initially and it was completed within the same time period expected (based on Rick's original assessment). The crew was well informed, courteous, and hard working. They were not loud (even while equipment was being utilized) and were well spoken. My neighbors were very impressed on how polite they were when they entered / exited my property (saying hello or good morning each day when they crossed paths). You can tell they care about the customer concerns. They ensured that the property would be put back as clean as possible by placing MANY sheets of plywood down prior to excavating. They compacted the dirt back in the holes extremely well to avoid large stock piles of soils. All the while, the main office was calling me to discuss updates and expectations of completion. They provided waivers of lien, certificates of insurance, properly acquired permits, and JULIE locates. From a construction background, I can tell you that I did not see any flaws in the way they operated and this an extremely professional company. The pictures attached show the push piers added to the foundation (pictures 1, 2 & 3), the amount of excavation (picture 4), and the restoration after dirt was placed back in the pits and compacted (pictures 5, 6 & 7). Please notice that they also sealed two large cracks and steel plated these cracks from expanding further (which you can see under my sliding glass door). I, as well as my wife, are extremely happy that we chose United Structural Systems for our contractor. I would happily tell any of my friends and family to use this contractor should the opportunity arise!

United Structural Systems of Illinois, Inc

Dave Kari

(5)

What a fantastic experience! Owner Rick Thomas is a trustworthy professional. Nick and the crew are hard working, knowledgeable and experienced. I interviewed every company in the area, big and small. A homeowner never wants to hear that they have foundation issues. Out of every company, I trusted USS the most, and it paid off in the end. Highly recommend.

View GBP

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary causes include poor drainage systems, inadequate grading that directs water toward the foundation, clogged gutters and downspouts, and high groundwater levels. These factors can lead to increased hydrostatic pressure on foundation walls and potential cracks.
To prevent water accumulation, ensure proper grading away from the house, install or maintain functional gutters and downspouts with extensions directing water away from the foundation, employ a French drain system if necessary, and consider waterproofing the exterior of your foundation walls.
Yes, accumulated water increases hydrostatic pressure against foundation walls. Over time, this pressure can lead to cracks in the walls or exacerbate existing ones. Proper drainage is essential to mitigate this risk.
First, address any drainage issues contributing to water build-up. Then repair existing cracks using appropriate techniques such as epoxy injection for structural repairs or polyurethane for sealing leaks. Consider consulting a professional for an accurate assessment and effective repair strategy.