Behncke Construction Inc.

10/07/2025

We spend a lot of time underground fixing foundations and handling tough basement water issues. Every once in a while it is refreshing to do something a little more decorative.

This exposed aggregate entryway turned out sharp. It is durable, beautiful and makes a perfect first impression.

09/23/2021

https://localsloveus.com/vote/69051/

Vote for Behncke Construction in Quad Cities

12/23/2020

https://youtu.be/5bH-cDGyW7k

An early industrial film showing how a modern house is constructed. To purchase a clean DVD of this film for personal home use or educational use contact us ...

12/21/2018

07/14/2018

How To Find Basement Leak Behind a Finished Wall

Find the wall that most water is coming from, clean up the water and start assessing your foundation. Go outside and look at the concrete above grade, see if there are any cracks, voids or irregularities. Remove the drywall, sheetrock or paneling on the troubled wall.

Key places that leaks happen:
- Wall cracks
- Corners of windows
- Dimples from tie rods
- Floor/wall seams
- Additions added
- Utility room - around electric panel (check for rust or a puddle), check around water/sewer/gas pipes, water tanks, furnace condensate pump box.

Go outside and find that problem area and check it with a hose to see if water is going through.

Water Hose Test:
1. Run water for 45 mins
2. Turn off for 15 mins
3. Try up to 3 times - If it doesn't show any leaks inside, the water issue might be the water table rising. Look under rugs, are there cracks in the floor and white powdery residue? If so, you may need to consider installing a sump pump or a drain tile system.

02/20/2018

Prevent Basement Flooding This Spring.

What can you do to prevent water intrusion this spring?

- Take a look at the foundation that is above grade outside, check for cracks.
- Check your gutters, make sure they are clean and clear of debris. And make sure downspouts are installed correctly.
- Inside - look at walls, are there water lines? They will show where the water is
coming from.
- Look at the tie rods - they rust and allow water to get through
- Check the sewer cleanout and floor/wall seam.

Homeowner insurance does not usually cover basement flooding - pay attention to the signs and get an estimate to remediate water leaks... You can get an insurance on your sump pump, this will cover damages is it fails for whatever reason(add-on regular homeowners insurance).

Basement Flooding Alarms:
1. Put on the floor, from the hardware store, battery operated $10-20. When water touches it will make a noise. The drawback, you might not be home.
2. Some security alarm companies offer a basement flooding alarm along with their security alarms.

All else fails, call the professionals! Behncke Construction will be happy to help! 563-332-6045

01/29/2018

Concrete Sealers?

Concrete is like a sponge, it absorbs water and holds it. When winter comes the absorbed water expands under freezing temperatures. This can destroy the surface of the concrete. Installing a sealer not only limits water absorption, it also limits staining from oils and salts.

Concrete sealers can extend the life of your driveway as well as keep it looking great for years. However, it is important to pick the right product and ensure its installed correctly.

This week we are reviewing different types of sealers.

The most common types of film-forming driveway sealers are acrylic-resin based. Acrylic sealers provide the best performance characteristics for the cost, and they often are blended with epoxies, polyurethanes or silicones to improve performance, durability and water resistance. Acrylics, themselves, are also available in different forms, with some types delivering better performance than others. Styrene acrylic, for example, is a lower-performance acrylic resin that may yellow and degrade when exposed to direct sunlight. The best type of acrylic is a virgin or pure acrylic resin. These sealers will last longer than styrene acrylics, with no yellowing.

Buying tips

Before buying any driveway sealer, read the technical data sheet as well as the product label. Most suppliers will have technical data available on their websites, and it can tell you a lot about what you're getting. Keywords or phrases to look for are non-yellowing, waterproofing, dust proofing, breathability and resistance to oil, grease, and acids. The product should have detailed instructions on how to apply it as well as recommendations for maintenance and re-application.

Also ask the people behind the counter at the concrete products supply store for their recommendations. Which concrete driveway sealer do they sell the most of and have the fewest number of complaints or call backs about? It's always better to spend a few extra dollars on a concrete sealer with proven performance than to go with a cheaper product that may fail early and require stripping and removal.

This project can easily be tackled by a homeowner however, Behncke Construction does provide a professional sealing service at an affordable cost.

(Information was taken from www.ConcreteNetwork.com)