Foundation repair in AL

Meet the Huntsville Team: Chris Gabrielli

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:21:40 -0500

Tell Us About Your Home Show Experience

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:01:49 -0500

AFS Repair participates in home shows across the state of Alabama, as well as throughout the region. We like to think of home shows like a "hometown handshake tour." This is our chance to meet homeowners, learn about the issues you're having in your home, and help you learn about the best techniques for foundation repair and waterproofing.

We've had a great time at the Montgomery home show so far, and we're looking forward to the rest of the season. We hope that as you visit home shows, you are able to:

--Connect with professional contractors who take pride in their team's appearance, knowledge and demonstrations.

--Learn about what options are available to you by having qualitative conversations with potential contractors.

--Visit top booths twice so that you can spend additional time learning about your top choices for home repair.

--Gain local references from contractors who have helped neighbors and businesses in your very own community.

Home shows are a great resource to kick off the home improvement season, but it's important to weed out the good from the bad. There will be many highly-qualified local businesses with deep, local expertise within your community. And, there will be some not-so-reputable contractors with lots of freebies and glitter to distract you from the real issue: quality workmanship and integrity.

Thanks for taking the time to visit with us in Montgomery. To our homeowners in Huntsville, Birmingham, Florence and across the region... we look forward to meeting you soon too!

Montgomery, Here we come!

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:17:21 -0500

Home Show Season begins this week, and we're thrilled to make our way to the Montgomery Home & Garden Show. When visiting a home show, there's a lot of ways to make the most use of your time. It's not just about the freebies, giveaways and free candy.

Home Shows are a great opportunity to meet and to learn more about the home improvement partners who will help you with your home in the new year.

Here's a few helpful tips:

--Plan your stops in advance. While some people like to browse home shows "just to see what's there"...others attend with a specific purpose. If you have a project you want to accomplish or a repair that needs attention, plan to visit the contractor booths that are the best fits for you. You'll be able to make your way through the show, avoiding clutter and making great use of your time. Don't be distracted by odd-ball demonstrations when you know you need to begin interviewing a potential contractor.

--Have a meaningful conversation. Ask in-depth questions when you visit each booth. Ask abour recent succesful projects. Ask what their customers would say about them. Go beyond the brochure giveaways and ask about the company's approach to repair and service. Both you, and the exhibitor, will have a great time, and you'll learn in the process.

--Schedule an appointment if possible. After you make the rounds throughout the show, return to your top exhibitors. Ask if its possible to make an appointment to be seen right away. Not only will the exhibitor remember you directly from the show; you'll also be top priority as the home improvement season begins.

AFS Repair will be at the www.montgomeryhomeandgardenshow.com January 27th-29th, and we're ready to assist you with your questions about foundation, crawlspace and basement repair.

Bet You Didn't Know....

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:05:15 -0500

Fun fact:

AFS recently calculated how much support it has given to North Alabama and the state of Alabama in foundation repair. In a past operating year, AFS installed nearly 5,000 piers, each with a 60,000 lb. jacking capacity.

That means that in the past year, AFS has supported the equivalent of

….over 14 Eiffel Towers

…over 44 Saturn-V Rockets

…over 664 Statues of Liberty

…over 4,500 fully-loaded concrete trucks,

...and over 1 ½ times the weight of the entire population of Birmingham, Alabama!

Meet the Chattanooga Team: Scott Wilson

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:11:35 -0500

Sneak Peek at 2012!

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:30:37 -0500

Drumroll please...... we're excited to announce that our home show schedule for spring 2012 will include stops in the following cities:

-- Montgomery

-- Birmingham

-- Chattanooga

-- Muscle Shoals

-- Mobile

-- Decatur

-- Huntsville

-- Dothan

-- Pelham

-- North Dalton

We'll have special guests joining us in Huntsville and Birmingham.... stay tuned and we'll reveal the big news!

[hint... do you watch HGTV??]

Meet the Birmingham Team: Scott Kennemer

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:50:50 -0500

Alabama Foundation Services Finishes Construction on New Building

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:50:31 -0500

HUNTSVILLE, AL – Alabama Foundation Specialists is excited to announce the completion of their new office building in Huntsville. The foundation repair and basement waterproofing experts have expanded to better serve their customers by building an office building on Ryland Pike in northeastern Madison County.

The facility will house the foundation repair, waterproofing and CleanSpace installation teams. AFS currently operates out of two locations: one in Madison, Alabama, and another in Birmingham, Alabama, with regional offices in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well. The opening of the new office building was a strategic move on behalf of the company to better serve customers in Scottsboro, Jackson County and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The new 15,000-square-foot building sits on 4.5 acres of land and has space for outside storage and parking. The shop was built with a loading dock, an office for the production manager and lots of racking for indoor inventory stocking. The building has enhanced facilities for training foundation repair and waterproofing specialists as well as meeting space for the team to plan homeowner projects. The new building was laid out to maximize space and allow AFS to continue expanding in the future.

"There's two reasons why we're able to continue to grow in our region," said Ben Bayless, Jr., president of AFS. "First, it's our customers who give us the opportunity to repair and protect their homes every day, and the second is the dedication of the entire AFS team to delivering great service."

Alabama Foundation Specialists is a foundation repair, basement waterproofing, basement finishing and crawl space repair contractor serving Alabama. AFS is an authorized member of the Basement Systems international dealer network with offices in Birmingham and Huntsville. They also serve customers in Chattanooga, TN, and have more than 50 years of basement waterproofing and foundation repair experience. For more information about foundation repair in Huntsville, AL or a free estimate, visit http://www.alabamafoundationrepair.com.

Join AFS online and on the go

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:36:25 -0500

As part of our on-going commitment to delivering WOW Customer Service, our entire team is embracing social media to help reach our customers better.

Through social media, it is our goal to:

-- Help our homeowners get to know our team better

-- Share useful articles on home improvement

--Share tips for taking care of your home and protecting your most valuable investment

--Help homeowners continue to learn about the signs and symptoms of foundation & water damage

You can read more about AFS Repair via our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/afsrepair.

You can follow AFS on Twitter via @AFSRepair.

AFS's Technicians are on LinkedIn too! Check LinkedIn for our professional profiles so that you can learn more about each team member's training and credentials in home repair.

We're looking forward to a great 2012 and to helping more homeowners across Alabama and southern Tennessee.

As always, We Support Everything You Love.

Meet the Huntsville Team: Reid Cox

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:26:16 -0500

Wintery Weather on the Way!

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:47:20 -0500

It's hard to believe it... but winter weather is here! We're due to have another several weeks of the official Fall season, but forecasts for 1-2 inches of snow make it seem like the seasons have already changed!

On Sunday, November 27, areas of North Alabama received close to three inches or more of precipitation throughout the day. It's important to watch your home, your basement and/or your crawlspace for the signs of water damage:

--Standing water in basements or crawlspaces

--Musty or dank odors

-- Cracks in basement walls or floors

--Discoloration from mold or mildew

After a significant rain like the one we saw on Sunday, inspect your home carefully. If you have any questions, contact AFS Repair for a free visual inspection. Our certified technicians will check your home and offer you a report of their findings...and it's absolutely free.

As always...We Support Everything You Love.

Mudjacking 101

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 10:39:56 -0500

What is mudjacking exactly?

Mudjacking is also known as slab jacking, concrete lifting, concrete raising, grout pumping and slab leveling.

Mudjacking is the process of using a mortar mixture of mud and then injecting it under pressure underneath sunken concrete to stabilize it and lift it back up. The mortar cures and becomes a solid and stable fill that lifts the sunken concrete.

What can mudjacking fix?

Mudjacking can lift fallen or sunken sidewalks, driveways, patios, garage floors, and some concrete surrounding pools. What people don't often realize is that mudjacking can be used to fix sunken or tilting steps that have become tripping hazards around your property.

Mudjacking isn't just for homes. Business owners should take care to inspect the concrete sidewalks and paths around your business. Mudjacking can be a go-to resource to level concrete around your business and eliminate tripping hazards.

To learn more about mudjacking, click here to read more on our site.

As always, We Support Everything You Love.

AFS Celebrates as BBB Ethics Finalist!

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:32:10 -0500

[Huntsville, Alabama] - The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of North Alabama celebrated the Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics on November 17, 2011. For the 2nd year in a row, AFS Repair was honored as a Finalist for the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. The awards recognize companies of all sizes for ethical operations with customers, vendors, and employees.

AFS Repair was named a Finalist in the mid-size company category for 26-99 employees.

More than 375 companies and non-profit organizations were nominated for the awards, and 61 businesses accepted their nomination by submitting an entry for consideration in the awards program.

AFS President Ben Bayless Jr. notes, "We are extremely proud and honored to receive this distinction. It's reinforcement of what we do every single day. We treat each customer's home as if it was our own, and we maintain completely open relationships with all of our vendors."

Congratulations to the entire AFS team!!!

One Last Chance to Landscape!

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:17:21 -0500

Fall is generally considered a good season to plan trees, and the gardeners at your local nursery can help you select the varietals that will add the most visual effect to your yard, as well as the most value. Good landscaping does add to your curb appeal and to the overall value of your home.

We're always thinking about what you do in and around your yard...and how it affects your home's foundation.

It's important to look for trees that have deep root systems... both for overall tree stability and to protect homes with shallow foundations. If you select trees that have shallow root systems, they may grow in a spreading pattern and can actually grow underneath a shallow foundation. These shallow root systems can cause upheaval and damage to your home's foundation.

It should also be noted that trees with shallow root systems can affect the soil conditions surrounding your home. They'll draw upon the water in the localized soil which can change soil composition, and perhaps affect the stability of your home.

Examples of Shallow Trees:

- Weeping Willow

- Mesquite

-Cottonwood

Plant trees with shallow root systems no closer to your home than the tree's long term height. (Source: Department of Housing and Urban Development).

As always, if you see a crack in walls or brick surrounding your home, call on our team for a free visual inspection. A AFS Repair, We Support Everything You Love... even trees.

Sneak Peak at 2012

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 10:17:25 -0400

Wow! 2011 has been a crazy year and it's not over quite yet. We've had lots of great opportunities to grow our team (training events, conventions) and we've helped lots of homeowners across Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. We've had some pretty big accomplishments to celebrate too:

-- Finalist, Small Business of the Year, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce

-- Opening of our new 15,000 square foot facility in northeastern Madison County

-- Best in Business Award

--Top sales for Basement Systems

But, 2012 is looking even better and our team is more excited than ever. We're planning for a special guest (from shows you know on HGTV) at our Home Shows in the spring, and we're about to launch a new campaign too. Keep an eye out for 3 furry tv stars, all a part of the AFS campaign.

As always, we thank our team for their dedication throughout the past year and we thank our customers for their support. Without our customers, we wouldn't be where we are today. Everything we do is for AFS homeowers. We support everything you love.

First frost means winter is near

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:17:03 -0400

This past weekend, North Alabama homeowners were surprised with the first frost of the year from Saturday night into Sunday morning. Now that Fall is in full swing, we thought we'd revisit these winterization tips to help you take the best care of your home:

-- Have you changed your furnace filter? Remember to change it once per month during the winter in order to keep your system operating at maximum efficiency.

-- Outlets can be like holes in the wall letting in cold air. Consider installing insulated covers to help slash your energy bill this winter.

--Perform a thorough clean in the fall. This way, the dust, pollen, and dirt brought in during the summer months can be eliminated before the house is closed up for the winter.

And, don't forget.... Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend, so give yourself a reminder to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday night. Cheers to an extra hour of sleep!

Changing Temperatures throughout the Southeast

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:54:24 -0400

As the 2nd half of October sets in, fall is bringing all of us cooler weather, changing leaves and it's becoming clear that winter will be on its way before we know it!

Changing fall temperatures are a good cue to homeowners to think about the following things for their home:

--As leaves begin to fall around your yard and property, be sure to clean your gutters to maintain proper drainage. Clogs in gutters and spouts can cause water leaks and could actually channel water back towards your home's foundation, basement and crawlspace.

--Changing temperatures are a natural part of the cycle of the year, and the cycle of changing soil conditions. As temperatures rise and fall, soil expands and contracts with related moisture. Fall is a good time to walk around the perimeter of your home to look for cracks in bricks, stair-stepping cracks, or even a leaning chimney. These are all signs that your home might need foundation repair.

From the entire team at AFS, stay warm and contact us at any time for a free visual inspection of your property. We're here to help and we support everything you love.

Moving to our new offices

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 18:28:20 -0400

We're growing and changing to serve our customers better! AFS is excited to announce that we have almost completed our move into our new office building. We'll have enhanced facilities for training our foundation repair and waterproofing specialists as well as meeting space for our team to plan homeowner projects.

The entire team is thrilled to have a new home, and lots of new space to get work done. Our new address is:

2415 Jordan Road

Huntsville, AL 35811

We'll post pictures as soon as the move is complete! In the meantime, there are no interruptions to customer service or current projects. Reach out to us at any time for a free visual home inspection and report.

AFS Honored as Finalist for Small Business of the Year

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:58:50 -0400

[Huntsville, AL] - On September, 1, 2011, AFS celebrated as we were recognized as a Finalist for the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year. The competition within the Professional Services category is always very strong, and we consider ourselves fortunate to be surrounded by so many strong businesses in our region. By working together, we're all able to grow in North Alabama!

Alabama Foundation Specialists Wins Award at International Convention in Connecticut

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:45:21 -0400

Birmingham, AL – Alabama Foundation Specialists was recently honored at a meeting of over 600 guests from all over the United States and Canada at this year’s Team Basement Systems Convention. The annual convention is held each year between Seymour, Connecticut, (where the Basement Systems headquarters is located) and Hartford, Connecticut, and brings together dealerships of the international network for classes, seminars, training, parties and networking.

This year Alabama Foundation Specialists ranked as the Number 1 CleanSpace Dealer in the United States and Canada at the International Convention. They also ranked in the Top 50 Foundation Supportworks Dealers.

The convention also featured guest speakers Krish Duhnam (of the Zig Ziglar corporation), and the “Pit bull of Personal Development”, Larry Winget. A sports-themed party at the Connecticut Convention Center ended the convention week with music, food and performances by the Harlem Wizards and the New England Patriots Cheerleaders.

Alabama Foundation Specialists is a certified Basement Systems dealer specializing in structural repair, basement waterproofing and sump pump installation in Huntsville and nearby. They are accredited by the Better Business Bureau and service all of Alabama and parts of Tennessee and Georgia.

Basement Systems is an international network of basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and basement finishing contractors. The international headquarters, based in Seymour, Connecticut, also provides sales and service throughout Connecticut and Westchester County, NY. Larry Janesky's Basement Systems has been helping homeowners increase their usable living space for over 20 years across the United States, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. They have 27 patented basement and crawl space products, designed to help homeowners get more out of their basements and increase their home's value.

Tropical Storm Lee drenches the South

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:27:31 -0400

Labor Day Weekend 2011 turned into a cool and wet holiday for most of the Southeast. Tropical Storm Lee, combined with a cold front, brought excessive rains to most of Alabama, Georgia and now Tennessee, as the storm moves inland. Many areas received as much as ten inches of rain and flash flood warnings remain in effect for many cities.

Alabama Foundation Specialists offers the following tips to help you protect your home:

--Keep an eye on your gutters and downspouts. Make sure that they aren't overflowing excessively and that they're pointed to direct water at least several feet away from your home.

--Watch for excessive pooling of water near your home's foundation. Your home should ideally be built upon a crown of land that naturally directs water flow away from your home. However, improper land grading or even landscaping can actually direct water towards your home...increasing the potential for it to seep into your basement or crawlspace.

--Check your basement or crawlspace for signs of leaks or running water. As rain around the area continues, monitor your basement or crawlspace for running water or standing water.

Alabama Foundation Specialists is your basement & crawlspace waterproofing expert in Alabama and Chattanooga, TN. We're ready to help you get through the storm. Call us for a free inspection and report, and we'll be ready to assist quickly.

AFS Honored as Finalist for Small Business of the Year

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 15:06:06 -0400

On Thursday, September 1st, The Huntsville-Madison Chamber of Commerce held the annual Small Business Awards celebration, which commemorates excellence in the small business community in Madison County. Hundreds of small businesses are nominated for the awards each year and dozens submitt applications to become contenders.

Out of the contenders, 3 finalists are selected in each category and the announcements are made at the chamber celebration. Hundreds of business professionals are in attendance each year.

Alabama Foundation Specialists was honored as a top-3 finalist for the Small Business of the Year Award in the Professional Services Category. The distinction marks AFS's strong customer service, innovation in the home improvement industry, and commitment to economic development for the region. AFS recently competed the construction of a new facility in northeastern Madison county and has continued to create new jobs each year.

Owner Ben Bayless Jr. commented, "We are truly proud to have been recognized as a finalist among so many strong companies in Madison County. AFS is successful today, and will be in the future, due to the commitment of our team members to delivering WOW customer service in all that they do." He continued, "We congratulate the other finalist companies, as well as the winner, for all of their accomplishments throughout the past year."

Savvy Advice for homeowners & homebuyers

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 09:53:08 -0400

Real estate is an emotional purchase, after all... a house becomes your home. And your home is the place where you'll raise your family, have lots of memories and spend your free time outside of work. When you're looking for a new home, one of the first things you'll notice is a property's curb appeal.

Relying only on curb appeal is like "judging a book by its cover." There's so much more to be found inside, and the real strengths of the book-- or a home-- are in its foundation. Although you can't always see it...or perhaps you can only see portions of your foundation or crawlspace... it is one of the most important aspects of a home.

The foundation is the most important system in the home, because it provides support to all other systems in the home. From electrical, to HVAC to water and beyond, all of them rely on a strong foundation. When you're looking for new home properties, look for the following to check out the foundation's condition:

--Do you see stairstepped cracks in the walls or around the exterior of the house?

--Do you see cracks near fascia, windows or door frames?

--Is the chimney leaning?

--Are there musty odors in the basement or crawlspace?

These are just a few of the signs you can look for as you evaluate a new home. You can learn so much more by reading our free homeonwer's book from Basement Solutions. It's called "Foundation Repair Science" and you can request a copy by calling our office. Better yet, call us to help you evaluate a property's foundation, and we'll bring a copy for you.

Is your basement ready?

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:47:58 -0400

As fall approaches, so does the arrival of the 2011-2012 SEC Football Season... a must-see and must-do event every weekend for football fans in our area. Real fans know that the most important thing other than the game itself, is having a spacious and comfortable place to watch the game.

Does your home have a basement or extra room that is unfinished?
Do you need more space around the house for recreation, storage or office space?
Would you love a place to host all of your fellow fans for football season and game viewing?

Then, its time to take a look at Total Basement Finishing from AFS. Finishing your basement or extra room adds usable square footage to your home and thus increases its value. Finishing your basement or extra room costs significantly less than an addition to your home, and it can be completed in less time. Want to know more? AFS Repair can visit your home, and give you a free inspection report and estimate to finish your basement. It's really easy and one of the best investments you'll make in your home.

Now, the only question is... are you ready for football season???

Excited for Convention 2011!

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:55:32 -0400

Team members from both Huntsville and Birmingham are attending the 2011 Team Basement Systems Convention in Connecticut this week through the weekend. The convention is where we look forward to learning about the newest repair trends, techniques and best practices across the industry. We get a chance to network with our peers across the country and then bring back the latest innovations to the AFS customer family.

Convention 2011 is also a great time to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our team throughout the last year; we love to share stories about how our technicians went above and beyond the call of duty in helping our customers.

When we return, we'll be sure to post the latest updates, new ideas, home tips and more! Stay tuned!