Du-West

Extra water prevents damage from droughts

2011-04-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

When your soil doesn't receive the moisture it needs, it contracts. When the soil gets too much water, it expands. This constant contraction and expansion of the soil beneath our foundation slab can lead to foundation instability.

One way to prevent this from happening is to install a watering system. Du-West has a watering system effective in keeping moisture around a slab. It's important to fight the damage that can happen when the soil around your foundation slab becomes dry. This system injects water into the soil around the slab. It is used to increase soil moisture and thereafter to moderate changes in soil moisture under foundations. By doing this, you could be adding years to the life of your foundation.

For more information about do-it-yourself watering, click here to learn more.

Prepare for the Texas Heat with a Soaker Hose

2011-03-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

God Bless Texas for finally bringing the sun and beautiful weather!

After a historic and ruthless winter, Texans are finally able to see some warm weather. The harsh winter has left our homes in state of limbo and now is the perfect time to recover. Time for gardening, spring cleaning and setting up the soaker house one of those things that should have been used all through the winter but absolutely needs to start now.

Wait… soaker what? For new homeowners that are unfamiliar how their home’s foundation reacts during Texas’ hot weather, setting up a soaker house can prevent unwanted foundation damage during the summer. When your soil doesn't receive the moisture it needs, it contracts. When it gets wet it will expand again but not as much as it was before contracting. This constant contraction and expansion of the soil beneath our foundation slab can lead to foundation instability. One way to prevent this from happening is to install a foundation watering system. Du-West has some do it yourself watering system instructions that are effective in keeping the moisture consistent around a slab.

It's important to fight the damage that can happen when the soil around your foundation becomes dry. This system allows the water to soak deep into the soil around the slab which will allow the soil to expand and thereafter to moderate changes in soil moisture under the foundation. By doing this, you could be adding years to the life of your foundation.

Click here for instructions how to set up your soaker hose. And if you’re a visual learner, below is a video on how to set up your soaker hose. If all else fails, feel free to call the Du-West office at (800)457-2966 with comments or questions on how to maintain your foundation.

Stay cool, Texans.

Operation Finally Home

2011-03-07T14:41:00.000-08:00

“Texas Home Improvement with Jim Dutton,” the largest Home Improvement show in the state, and Prestige Designer Homes are working together to build a home through Operation Finally Home for Army Specialist Hugo L. Gonzalez and his family.

In 2004, Spc. Hugo L. Gonzalez was the Turret Gunner on a Humvee in Iraq when a bomb exploded, hitting him with shrapnel. The injuries he sustained left him blind in his right eye and he has limited vision in his left eye. Now Spc. Gonzalez along with his wife and three children will have a home with donated products from the Texas Home Improvement sponsors, including a solar panel system that will minimize energy costs and maintenance for the Gonzalez family.

Carolee Kamesch, founder and company president of Prestige Designer Homes, has always leaned toward energy efficient construction so the company became a founding member of Green Built Texas with its inception in 2006. “We decided from the start that we were going to build the most energy efficient home possible” said Dutton, and “Carolee and the folks at Prestige Designer Homes will be perfect team partner to oversee this project”. A special ground breaking will take place this Thursday, March 10 at 2pm, at the Bridges at Preston Crossing in Gunter, Texas.

For more information, or to help Operation Finally Home, please email Brian@thipro.comBrian@thipro.com

Winterizing Your Home

2011-01-14T15:09:00.000-08:00

Winter in Texas varies every year but the one constant factor is the need to protect your home. Winterizing, or protecting your home from the winter, is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for the harsh months ahead. It doesn’t take much to get your home ready for Old Man Winter and it could make your energy bill friendlier too!

Here are a few tips to prepare your home for the winter:

1. Call a HVAC professional for a furnace inspection
Make sure that your furnace is working properly by having your HVAC professional inspect it. You should expect to have a short-lasting odd smell which is natural when first firing up the furnace. However, if it lasts for a long time, shut down the furnace and call your HVAC professional. Also, make sure to change the furnace filters regularly. A dirty furnace filter hinders air flow and reduces efficiency.

2. Check for leaks
According to the EarthWorks Group, an average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall. Lower your energy bill by using weather-stripping around the doors to prevent cold air from entering the home and caulk the windows. Another effective way is to seal crevice cracks and exposed entry points around the pipes. This will also prevent small animals from crawling in during the harsh winter.

3. Prevent plumbing freezes
A burst pipe from the Texas freeze is your worst nightmare. Look for all pipes that aren’t insulted, pass through unheated spaces or through crawlspaces and garages. Wrap them with pre-molded foam, rubber sleeves or fiberglass insulation. Insulating your pipes reduces heat loss and can raise hot water temperatures delivered through your water pipes. This reduces the energy on your boiler which will save money on your gas bill.

4. Don’t forget the chimney!
Thousands of fires each year begin from residential chimneys. Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean your chimney. A chimney sweep can check the structure of your flue and remove any combustibles that are trapped. Buy a protective cap for your chimney with a screen. Don’t compromise durability for appearance either; you’re going to need something very durable for the upcoming months.

If you have further questions, feel free to call the Texas Home Improvement Show at 866-937-0003 during our weekend show or visit THI’s Freezing Weather Preparation & Damage Preventions Tips. We welcome all questions and look forward to speaking with you. Stay warm, Texans.

Happy Holidays from Du-West Foundation

2010-12-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

It’s the holidays and we’re getting in the spirit by having you post the most festive picture on our Facebook page. Post a picture of your Christmas tree, Christmas lights or even yard decorations for a chance to win. The most festive picture wins a $100 gift card to Home Depot. Simple as that!

Contest will begin on 12/7 and end on 12/21 and the winner will be picked by Jim Dutton himself! Good luck!

Don't Doubt the Drought

2010-11-29T10:32:00.000-08:00

According to the National Weather Service, October 2010 was ranked 5 as the driest October in Houston history. In the past five weeks, the small amount of rainfall has created a drought for Houston and surrounding areas. This will prevent your foundation to stay moist, and will cause the soil to contract. There are a few ways to manage the moisture, but keep in mind it’s not about keeping the soil dry or wet, it's all about stability. If you provide proper watering and keep it consistent year-round it will not only save your foundation but will save you money on numerous repairs.

Don’t start worrying about your foundation drying up; Du-West has a simple way to set up your own watering system for your home. Click here or go to the ‘Prevent Problems’ tab at the top of the site, then ‘do-it-yourself watering system’ link, and you will be guided on how to start your watering system.

Call Du-West Foundation today for your free consultation (800)457-2966

Buyer Beware with Jim Dutton

2010-08-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

In the market to buy a new home? Don’t let the pretty windows and white picket fences fool you. There are several daunting factors when it comes to buying a home that you may or may not be aware of. There are a few easy tips that you can use while you’re inspecting that near perfect home. Learn how a flashlight and level will save you money in the long run. These videos will show you the red flags to look for. Buying a home can be easy once you know what you’re looking for!

Best Time for Foundation Repair

2010-08-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

As the summer days are getting hotter and hotter, the soil around your foundation gets dryer and dryer! And even with these rainy days, it has not been enough to reach deep down in the soil where it counts. If you wait until the winter season, the problem is still there and still needs to be fixed. With our Exclusive Ultra-Pile System, we can hydro-jet those dry soils to get deeper in the ground giving you the right foundation repair for your home. So whether you call us now, or call us in the winter days, we’ll be glad to help you and your foundation reach its full potential.

Call Du-West Foundation today for your free consultation (800)457-2966

Bands for Brothers & Sisters

2010-06-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Du-West is putting down the tools and backing Bands for Brothers & Sisters Concert featuring Ted Nugent. 100% of these ticket sales will be going to Operation Finally Home. This is an admirable organization that builds and gives homes to troops. We’re proud to be part of an organization that helps support our troops even after they’ve finished their assignments. Du West will be sponsoring the concert to help raise funds so that we can build as many homes for as many troops as we can. These men and women have dedicated their lives to serving our country and we want to show our appreciation.

Click on the Bands for Brothers & Sisters banner on the website to buy tickets and to save $5 on your purchase. Memorial Day comes and goes but the gift of a home and essentially a better life will be a daily reminder of our never ending gratitude.

The Last Tool Time with Jim

2010-05-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

Well it's been fun, folks. Thanks to the many people that played our trivia and especially, our new fans. An especial thanks for those that won! For our last Tool Time with Jim, we have a tricky tool for you.

This week's trivia picture is below. It's a zoomed-in picture of a tool that any handyman should know of. Visit Du-West Foundation on Facebook to become a fan. The first person that answers the name of the tool AND a description of what you would use it for and WIN A $25 GIFT CARD to Home Depot!

Tool Time with Jim

2010-05-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

It's our third week for Tool Time with Jim! Last week's Compulevel was difficult but we did have a winner. This week's trivia picture is below. It's a zoomed-in picture of a tool that any handyman should know of. Visit Du-West Foundation on Facebook to become a fan. The first person that answers the name of the tool AND a description of what you would use it for and WIN A $25 GIFT CARD to Home Depot!

What could this tool possibly be? Remember, you must visit the Du-West Foundation Facebook page to post your answer!

Tuesday's Tool Time with Jim

2010-05-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

It's our second week for Tool Time with Jim! Last week's wood plane was just too easy. Today will be much more difficult but we know our handy fans can figure it out! See the picture below? It's a zoomed-in picture of a tool that any handyman should know of. Visit Du-West Foundation on Facebook to become a fan. The first person that answers the name of the tool AND a description of what you would use it for and WIN A $25 GIFT CARD to Home Depot!

What could this tool possibly be? Remember, you must visit the Du-West Foundation Facebook page to post your answer!

5/14/2010
Come on fans... No tries? How about now?

Tool Time with Jim

2010-05-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

It's our very first Tool Time with Jim trivia! See the picture below? It's a zoomed-in picture of a tool that any handyman should know of. Visit Du-West Foundation on Facebook to become a fan. The first person that answers the name of the tool with a description of what you would use it for and WIN A $25 GIFT CARD to Home Depot!

Hmmm... What could this tool possibly be? Visit the Du-West Foundation Facebook page to post your answer!

Prepare for the Summer With a Soaker Hose

2010-03-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Freezing Weather Preparation and Damage Prevention Tips

2010-01-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

■ Insulate your walls and attic. In most homes you do not have a way to add insulation to the walls however you can add insulation to the attic. It is recommended that the attic have around 15 inches of insulation. I also recommend the Energy Q Radiant Barrier lay on top of your insulation as a blanket to keep the heat in your home.
■ Caulk and weather-strip all doors and windows to reduce any wind drafts.
■ Install vinyl replacement windows or cover windows with plastic film from the inside during freezing weather.
■ Detach all garden hoses from the hose bibs and shut-off water supply to outside faucets if you can.
■ Keep the heat on in the house, even if you're leaving the house for an extended period of time.
■ Open cabinet doors on outside walls below sinks to allow heat from the home to circulate.
■ Install faucet covers on all external faucets, if you do not have regular covers use a towel and wrap around the faucet to protect it.
■ Know where your main water valve is and make sure you can easily turn it on and off in case it becomes necessary.
■ Wrap pipes near exterior walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or with heating tape.
■ Keep garage doors closed to help eliminate drafts in the attached house.
■ Should your power go out disconnect your electrical appliances to avoid damage from power surges, which can occur once the power is restored.
■ If you are going to be away from home for an extended period of time, shut the water off to the home.

Monitor Freezing Pipe Conditions

■ The first sign of freezing is reduced water flow from a faucet.
■ Check your faucets for water flow and pressure before you go to sleep and again when you wake up.
■ Check pipes around your water meter, in unheated areas, near exterior walls and in crawl spaces.
■ These tend to be vulnerable to freezing conditions.
■ Identify cold air drafts coming in from a flue or chimney chase and caulk gaps that are near pipes.

If a Pipe Freezes

■ If a faucet or pipe inside your house freezes, you can thaw it using a good hair dryer. (For safety purposes, avoid operating a hair dryer around standing water.)
■ To thaw a frozen pipe, heat water on the stove, soak towels in the hot water and wrap them around cold sections of the pipes.
■ When thawing a pipe, start thawing it nearest to the faucet. Make sure the faucet is turned on so that melted water can drip out.

If a Pipe Bursts

■ Shut off water at the main valve.
■ If the break is in a hot water pipe, the valve on top of the water heater should be closed.
■ Call a plumber. Keep an emergency number nearby for quick access.

Raise a Home with Du-West

2009-12-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

Being in the foundation industry for quite some time, I’ve come across many ways that you can fix a foundation problem. There are minor cases where people try to fix it themselves which we don’t recommend due to safety hazards, and in the case that the job was done wrong, the repair to reverse it is very expensive. Then there are the major cases where the homes have to be lifted from the ground by using jacks. The Du-West processes range from the patented Ultra-Pile system to the system of jacks in which we lift the home completely off the ground. Most foundation companies do not know how to raise a home in the air to get it out of flood waters. Moreover, Du-West was the first to specialize in lifting a home, and even now, there are few companies that can do this. We do what ever it takes to get it done the right way.

Reasons why a homeowner would need to be raised are to keep it from flooding. If your flood damage is more than 50 percent of the value of your home, you must raise it to the current elevation standards in order to get permits to rebuild. Another factor to keep in mind is that your flood insurance may no longer pay for flood damages time after time. After a couple of floods, your insurance company may drop you or help you pay for the raising.

Above is a house that Du-West fixed 20 years ago. This home would flood at the sight of gray skies. In the severe cases, water would reach over the counter tops. At the time, the value of the home was approximately $85,000 due to the constant flooding in the home. Once the home was raised, the value increased to $300,000. In many cases, the value of the home will raise to what its actual value is and not the lower flood value.Du-West physically raised this home 9 feet off the ground and has since then helped many homeowners facing flood problems.

Watch our mini-video to learn more on how Du-West can raise your home!

Welcome Home!

2009-11-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

Du-West would like to welcome you to our world of cracked walls, sticking doors and bulging floors. Your home speaks a language that we at Du-West understand. Our family-owned company has been servicing Houston for home repairs since 1978. From plumbing to foundation repair, we are not only dedicated to repairing your home but we strive to educate our customers. Most foundation companies will try to do needless work on your foundation that can cause problems down the road, but instead, we’re able to help repair your foundation and offer maintenance solutions. That is why we created a series of mini-videos for our customers and a forum for your questions and concerns. These videos should give you a better background to our process of foundation repair and tips for maintenance.

We also believe at Du-West that no question is a dumb question, feel free to leave us a message or call our office at 1-800-457-2966.