Can water come up through concrete basement floor?

Few things strike fear into homeowners like finding water on the basement floor for the first time. It is a legitimate concern as it can indicate bigger problems and should be taken seriously. Why and how water is coming up through the basement floor can vary, so some investigation is needed before panicking.

Before you enter your basement, evaluate the danger. Any plugs, outlets, or appliances in or near water can conduct electricity, so it’s critical to turn off the power supply and then get a flashlight to do some investigation.

Next, confirm that the water is coming up from the basement floor and not dripping down from any pipes above. Once you’re sure it’s not flooding from pipework, you can determine the cause of the leak.

Common Causes of Flooding 

There are a few questions to consider first:

• Does your area have known groundwater issues with basements and foundations? 
• Have you had heavy rain or fast-melting snow lately? 
• Is there a burst city pipe or construction by your property?
• Have you had wind or other weather issues that could have moved where downspouts are dumping rainwater?
• Have any pipes under the concrete burst?

Groundwater and the Water Table 

If water is not from pipes and plumbing, the leading cause of basement groundwater is the water table rising. The water table is where water saturation begins in soil, but it is not static, and it rises and falls depending on weather and seasons. For example, the water table near a lake is much higher and closer to the ground surface than in a plateau or desert area, and it rises quickly in poor weather, like flooding or seasonal snow melting.

With floods and snow melt the water saturation continues to increase, and water level in the soil keeps rising until it eventually meets the ground surface. If your basement is in the way, and there are any structural deficiencies or cracks in the concrete, then your basement becomes the path of least resistance, and the groundwater goes there.

Rising groundwater causes hydrostatic pressure, which causes soil to push on your basement walls and floor. This can cause cracks to form in basement concrete, particularly in wet seasons, and is usually why there’s water in your basement after rain.

Water Entry Points 

If groundwater and flooding are causing your basement water problems, it can be hard to identify where the water is entering the basement. Hydrostatic pressure makes water look for the easiest way into your basement. So, what’s failing and where? Things like mold, efflorescence, mildew and stains can indicate where a  water problem has been coming from over a longer period, but they won’t be there if this is a new problem for you.

Here are several points of entry that could be the source of your water issues:

• Window wells: These are intended to help more light come into the basement while keeping dirt and water away from the window. Unfortunately, they can become blocked or filled with debris over time, and if they are not draining well, water will make its way through flaws in the construction.
• Wall cracks: This can be serious. A crack in the wall can be a structural problem with the foundation, and everything in your home depends on foundation’s integrity. If water gets into the crack and the temperature drops, the water can freeze and further increase the crack. Hydraulic cement can be a very good patching solution, it is best to consult with a professional to guarantee that the foundation integrity has not been compromised.
• Honeycomb concrete: Poorly mixed concrete that was poured for your foundation can cause air pockets to form that can eventually give way under hydrostatic pressure. This gives water entry points of all sizes in random spots.
• Mortar joints: These are often found in older homes, mortar can eventually crumble or deteriorate, losing water resistance. This is a problem that can be repaired, but it can indicate multiple leaks, and each is quite hard to diagnose, as the cracks can be small and tricky to locate. 

Dealing With Water in the Basement 

Basement leak repair can be expensive. If you have cracks in your basement floor, and it’s because of hydrostatic pressure, the good news is that it can be mitigated, but it will be costly. Installing drain tile is the best solution. Concrete is cut to install a network of piping that guides the water build-up away from possible entry points into your basement. It relieves the pressure and saves your slab.

Waterproofing your walls and concrete floor is another good option. While there are products you can apply yourself, it is very labor intensive. You will need topatch all cracks first and then wire-scrub and clean all surfaces so the proofing sticks properly. Waterproofing is not as effective unless the exterior is also done, which must be completed by a waterproofing professional. 

Outside Solutions to Leaky Basements 

If the problem isn’t coming up from the underground water table, it is coming down to the basement, and a big cause of that is weeping and perimeter water damage. The primary cause can be clogged gutters. Debris blocking proper drainage down gutters means the water is overflowing and seeping down along your home’s perimeter and saturating the soil by your basement walls.

After that, consider the grading. Is your property’s pitch leading away from the house or leading to it? Some simple landscaping lets you alter the path water takes, easily guiding it away from your home.

Maintain Your Plumbing 

Sewer and water lines are big offenders in water damage of any kind in homes because they can clog and back up, creating water or waste leaks. Worse still, they can crack and break under pressure, creating a very expensive repair. Be proactive in your efforts to avoid this and have a professional flush your lines every 18 to 24 months. Warning signs are when water starts to drain slowly, or you hear gurgling in the pipes.

Never flush wipes even if they claim to be flushable. Never pour fats, oils, starches or coffee grinds down drains. Nothing larger than a pea should go down the kitchen sink.

While it might be inconvenient to not pour things down the drain, repairing plumbing can be one of the most expensive problems homeowners deal with, depending how pervasive it is. Practicing good habits with what goes down may help prevent what comes out or up.

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How Much Does Face Painting Cost?

Face painting has become such a great entertainment option for children’s parties. It’s also not just kid’s parties – face painters are a big hit at adult birthday bashes, wedding showers, and baby showers (belly painting, anyone?!)  You can hire a professional painter for birthday parties, Sweet 16s, bat and bar mitzvahs, festivals, school events, holiday parties, corporate parties, and more. Many face painting pros can provide other types of entertainment including costumed guests (like Elsa or Olaf), clowns balloon creatures, caricature artists, and magicians. Sometimes you may even be able to secure a discount on party entertainment services if you book multiple entertainers from the same company.

Professional face painting is interactive and fun way to not only keeps people entertained, but also doubles as a party favor

The majority of face painters have an hourly rate or set price for their services. The artist’s hourly rate can vary depending on a number of factors including the age and number of guests, what they are painting (just cheeks, half or full-face designs) and location. Full face designs may come with a higher price than cheek or half face designs, as they require more face paint. The location of your event can also impact the price, as artists may travel depending on distance traveled. When you are booking a face painting professional, you will need to let them know how many guests to expect and what the age range will be. Young children under the age of 5 tend to take longer to paint, they are usually much more squirmy than older kids! Once you have provided the details of the event, the artist will estimate how many faces they can paint per hour and how long it will take for them to paint everyone in attendance.

Let your artist know if you have a particular theme or color scheme for your party. This allows them to prepare design, colors and embellishments to compliment your event. Your princess party will likely not require the same supplies as a dinosaur superhero party. If you have any preference on what the artist should wear, make sure to discuss that with them in advance. 

There are several cost factors that going into hiring a face painter, including:

Hours

Most face painting artists charge hourly rates. Their hourly rate takes into account business overhead (like insurance and taxes), the cost of materials (face paint, brushes, etc.), prep time for parties (including research and practice designs), special outfits or costumes they wear, the cost of travel and transportation, and actual time they spend painting faces at your party. Like most services, the longer you want to book your face painter for your event, the higher the total cost will be. Some face painting professionals offer discounts for longer events, so it’s best to ask how their rates vary depending on party length. 

Typically face painters require a minimum number of hours for their services. This ensures that their operating costs are covered when they accept a job, put on their costume or work clothes, pack up their paints, and get to your location.  

Variable Rates

Some face painting professionals may charge a variable rate for their services. For example, an artist might charge an average $85-$125 per hour depending on the number of people, travel distance to the event and the type of service provided. In order to avoid surprises the day of your event, be sure you clearly understand how your face painter charges. 

Set Rates

Professional face painters may offer a set hours rate that is not dependant on the number of guests or types of designs. Additional fees may still apply for travel, so be sure to clarify all charges. Some examples of set rate pricing would like like:

Artist A: $75 per hour, within service area

Artist B: $125 per hour, with a two-hour minimum

Artist C: Starts at $115 per hour

Travel

Often reflected in the cost for services will be time and expense required for travel to an even. Some artists may charge a higher price per hour or a separate travel fee or require a minimum number of hours for attending an event. For example, an artist may stipulate  a minimum of 2 hours for any event over 50 miles away.

Full-Face Vs. Cheek Painting 

Often times cheek art will require less time and less paint per guest than half-face or full-face art. When offering a price estimate, your artist will determine which service you prefer for your event and quote a higher or lower hourly rate that is appropriate for what you’re looking to have at your party. Face painting pros use professional products that blend well and have gorgeous color. The materials cost more than the cheap face paints you may have bought at the craft or Halloween stores,  and they also look much better. If you are looking to have very large or intricate designs, this will affect the cost. These types of designs will use more materials and the more elaborate the design, the fewer faces painted per hour.

Community Events and Festivals

Having a face painter at your festival, fundraiser or charity event is great entertainment option. When you are organizing a large event where you will not be covering expenses for attendees, you can pay the set-up fee for an artist, and then your guests can pay an individual fee for face painting. 

For example, an artist may charge a small setup cost to organizers of large fairs, then charge each customer $5-$20 depending on the type design they request. As usually, cheek painting costs less than full-face or half-face painting. As the event organizer, you can avoid the burden of the face painter’s full hourly rate while still providing entertainment for your guests. On average, artists can paint approximately 15 faces per hour, depending on the age of the guests and the designs requested. 

Safety

Face paint and novelty makeup is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure its ingredients are safe for direct application on your skin, including children’s skin. If you want more information about the safety of specific ingredients, it is recommended you do additional research. 

If your child has allergies, sensitive skin, or has never had face paint before, use extra caution to avoid rashes and adverse reactions. 

Removing face paint

If you are a party host providing face painting for all the kids — big or little — be sure to tell your guests how to safely remove the paint once the festivities are done. According to the FDA, leaving face paint on overnight can lead to possible skin or eye irritation. Ask your face painter to let each guest (or their parent) know the appropriate way to remove that brand of paint once the party’s over. The FDA explains that it’s important to follow directions to the letter: use cold cream if the directions say so, or soap and water, or eye makeup remover. Each company uses different formulas for their novelty makeup and has researched the appropriate way to safely remove it.

How To Qualify For Home Health Care

If you have a medical condition that makes it difficult for you to get out and about, home healthcare could be a more comfortable, cost-effective, and effective option.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) may sometimes cover medical care provided to you at home if you are homebound. Following an illness or injury, Medicare may pay for some in-home assistance with your daily needs for a limited time.

However, if you need long-term assistance with everyday tasks in your home, you should be aware that Medicare usually does not cover those services.

Is there any coverage for caregivers under Medicare?

The type of treatment you need, the reason you need care, and the amount of time you’ll need it all determine if Medicare will cover in-home caregivers.

Health treatment delivered to your home

If any of the above applies to you and you’re homebound due to an illness or accident, you can use Medicare home health benefits:

• You are only allowed to leave the house for brief outings, such as to the doctor or religious services. One exception: if you go to adult day care, you will always get in-home care.
• The doctor confirms that you need at-home treatment and drafts a plan detailing the services you will need.
• You need professional nursing assistance (less than 8 hours per day and no more than 28 hours per week, for up to 3 weeks).
• Your doctor believes your condition will improve in a fair, or at the very least predictable, time frame.
• •You’ll need a professional physical, occupational, or speech therapist to come up with a plan to help you improve, preserve your current health, or avoid getting worse.
• You need a home health aide to help care for you while you recover.
• The home health agency providing your care is Medicare-approved or certified.

You must see your doctor less than 90 days before or 30 days after you begin accessing home healthcare services to be eligible for in-home treatment.

What types of services will I get at home?

Medicare provides a wide range of programs, some of which can be delivered right to your door. Some programs and the Medicare regulations that apply to them are mentioned below.

Physical therapy 

If you see a physical therapist in your house, Medicare is likely to provide the following services:

• assessment of your condition
• gait training and exercises to help you recover from surgery, injuries, illnesses, or neurological conditions like stroke
• postoperative wound care
• wound care for injuries, burns, or lesions

Occupational therapy 

If you are treated at home by an occupational therapist, you can continue to receive the following services:

• assistance in developing regular schedules for taking drugs, meal preparation, and personal care.
• showing you how to carry out everyday tasks safely 
• assisting you in regaining the ability to work, considering your needs and condition 
• assisting you in carrying out your doctor’s orders

Speech therapy 

• Here are some of the services you can receive if a speech therapist visits you at home:
• education about alternative ways to talk if you can’t understand 
• education about different ways to communicate if you’ve lost your hearing
• therapy to help you recover the ability to swallow 
• therapy to help you eat and drink as naturally as possible

Nursing assistance

If a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse visits you at home to provide treatment, they may: 

• change your wound dressings
• change your catheter 
• inject medications
• administer IV drugs
• teach you how to use your drugs and take care of yourself

Home Health Aides

In contrast, home health aides are more likely to assist you with the following services:

• checking that you’re eating and drinking in a healthy way, such as tracking your vital signs including heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature 
• ensuring that you’re taking your drugs as prescribed
• determining if your home is safe for you, given your needs and condition

Other Services

In-home social services may also be available to you. If you qualify, you may receive assistance in locating community services to assist you in adjusting to your condition. You may also undergo social, mental, or psychological therapy as a result of your illness.

In-home Custodial Care

Caregivers who assist you with activities of daily life are normally not covered by Medicare unless they are required for a limited time as you recover from an illness or injury.

Food delivery or preparation, shopping, washing, housekeeping or cleaning, assistance bathing and dressing, and assistance using the toilet are all examples of custodial care. If these are the only services you need, Medicare will not pay for a caregiver to provide them in your home.

Medicare has a website to help you locate a home health agency in your region.. If you’ve found a local provider, you can use Medicare’s home health agency checklist to see whether they’ll have the quality of treatment you need.

Your state survey department maintains an up-to-date study on the quality of home healthcare services provided. To find the phone number or email address of the agency in your state, consult Medicare’s resource guide or the survey agency list.

You can only receive treatment from one home health agency at a time if you have Medicare. You will need a new recommendation from your doctor if you plan to switch agencies. You will also need to inform your old agency that you’re switching providers.

If you just need custodial treatment including housekeeping and personal care, Medicare won’t pay for an in-home caregiver. If it’s medically necessary and your doctor certifies that you’re homebound, Medicare can cover some short-term custodial care.

If you’re homebound due to surgery, sickness, or accident, Medicare will cover home health services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, professional nursing care, and social services.

Your doctor must sign off on the services as medically required, and your home health agency must be Medicare-approved.