The Crackman Podcast

Follow The Crackman Podcast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

This podcast provides expert wall and basement crack repair tips for homeowners and businesses. A1 Foundation's valuable insight and information will help avert the disaster of a flooded basement and save you money.

crackman


    • May 21, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 56m AVG DURATION
    • 434 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from The Crackman Podcast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Crackman Podcast

    Episode 413 - The dangers of DIY basement waterproofing job

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025


    In this episode, Adam shares this cautionary tale of the dangers of mishandling the materials used to waterproof basements. Hopefully this helps other overeager homeowners from making the same mistake.

    Episode 412 - The consequences of pouring a concrete foundation on frozen ground

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025


    Is it okay to pour concrete in the freezing cold? This episode is a cautionary tale from the Crack Daddy about a new house build gone terribly wrong.

    Episode 411 - Is your house ready for the Spring thaw?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025


    Spring is right around the corner and we've had some pretty wacky weather in late winter. Now is the time for homeowners to be preparing their homes for the significant change in weather. In this episode, Adam shares important tips on preparing your house for the change of seasons.

    Episode 410 - The consequences of not repairing a basement wall crack

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025


    In this episode, Adam shares case study about a house with a serious termite problem and the consequences of not fixing a wall crack.

    Episode 409 - Should I worry about my non-structural basement floor cracks?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025


    Some cracks obviously need fixing because there's water pouring through them. Other cracks are tiny and have sort of a capillary type of bleed. Does a homeowner need to be concerned about those tiny cracks? Adam explains why even non-structural floor cracks need to be addressed sooner rather than later.

    Episode 408 - Do I have a leaky pipe in my basement or is it something else?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025


    In this episode, Adam explains how he detected, diagnosed, and fixed a leaky pipe penetration.

    Episode 407 - Why you don't spray foam insulate your walls before you waterproof your basement

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025


    In this episode, Adam explains why professional basement spray foam insulation will not fix a leaking wall crack and why it's necessary to fix those leaks BEFORE you use spray foam.

    Episode 406 - Why A1 Foundation Crack Repair is a realtor's best friend

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025


    We saw a review posted yesterday on A1's Google Business Profile from a realtor who praised their support as if they were a super hero. Why do realtors keep A1 on speed dial? Adam shares his thoughts.

    Episode 405 - I have cracks in my concrete floor–should I be worried?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025


    A1 Foundation Crack Repair gets a lot of pictures of feet. How does that relate to concrete floor cracks in your basement? Adam shares some unique insight.

    Episode 404 - What are the various types of basements and foundations serviced by A1 Foundation Crack Repair?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2024


    A1 services quite a bit of the New England area, and they run into all kinds of basements and foundations. In this episode, Adam explains the various types of basements and foundations A1 works on AND the areas they service.

    Episode 403 - What basement foundation conditions can affect the refinancing of my home?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024


    Those dang underwriters and appraisers can make it pretty difficult to get loans at times. In this episode, Rich, The Crackman, explains how basement foundation issues can affect your refinancing goals.

    Episode 402 - The devastating effects even a small basement wall crack can have in the winter

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024


    Winter is fast approaching and cold weather brings new concerns for even the smallest of cracks in a basement wall. Adam explains the effects freezing temperatures have on basement walls cracks and what should be done about them.

    Episode 401 - Self-healing concrete: could this put A1 out of business?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024


    Have you heard of this self-healing concrete? Is this really a thing? Adam explains the science behind it and sets the record straight on the future of self-healing concrete.

    Episode 400 - The top 3 things homeowners can do to avoid costly foundation repairs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024


    To celebrate the 400th episode of the Crackman Podcast, Adam shares the top 3 things homeowners can do to avoid costly foundation repairs.

    Episode 399 - My contractor is using a crack repair kit from Amazon to fix my basement wall crack. Does that work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024


    A1 Foundation Crack Repair runs into unscrupulous contractors who claim to be foundation crack repair specialists, but can it be true? Can contractors simply use an online crack repair kit to fix a foundation crack? In this episode, Adam explains why it's important to select an experienced and fully vetted foundation crack repair company to fix your foundation issues.

    Episode 398 - Should I have a foundation crack repaired even if it isn't leaking?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024


    There are 2 certainties in life: death and concrete will eventually crack. So when a crack appears in your foundation wall, do you need to get it repaired even if it isn't leaking? The Crackman explains in a special appearance.

    Episode 396 - How A1 helped homeowners avoid a massive repair bill on a block foundation job

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024


    A1 Foundation Crack Repair has a long history of saving homeowners money on foundation repair jobs simply because they are reputable, experienced, and fair, not to mention the 10-year warranty and long track record of outstanding workmanship. In this episode, Adam shares an interesting case study on how A1 saved homeowners in Leominster Massachusetts bigtime on a block foundation repair job.

    Episode 395 - How to turn a simple foundation crack into a really expensive repair

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024


    If you have money to burn, it doesn't hurt to ignore small repair jobs until they become very expensive repairs. In this episode, Adam shares an interesting case study on how a customer turned a small repair job into a very expensive fix.

    Episode 394 - The case of the block foundation and leaky pipe penetration

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2024


    In this episode, Adam shares an interesting case study about a block foundation and leaky pipe penetration.

    Episone 393 - Why are lally columns so important?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024


    If a lally column has integrity issues or is improperly installed, can it cause problems with the structure of the house? Adam shares a cautionary tale about an improperly installed lally column.

    Episode 392 - Why is there water coming into my basement after a water line upgrade?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024


    Why would water start pouring into your basement after a water line upgrade? Did the plumber screw up or could it be something else entirely? The Crack Daddy explains what it could be and how A1 Foundation Crack Repair fixes problems like these.

    Episode 391 - Is there a DIY fix for my stone foundation?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024


    Stone foundations are often found in old homes and when things age, they often need repair. Is there a low-cost fix for most stone foundations issues? Adam discusses the issue.

    Episode 390 - What happens if you let a basement wall crack go unrepaired for 40 years?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024


    In this episode, Adam shares an interesting story about a wall crack that went unrepaired for 40 years.

    Episode 389 - What kinds of interesting things grow in basement wall cracks?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024


    In our last podcast, Adam shared a story about ants pouring out of a basement wall crack. Creepy, right? What other kinds of things does A1 Foundation Crack Repair see growing out of old wall cracks? Adam shares a funny story from Dedham MA.

    Episode 388 - The creepiest wall crack repair job you'll ever see

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024


    The wall crack repair business can be mundane at times, but all the years A1 Foundation Crack Repair has been in business, they've run into things that totally creeps them out. Check this story out!

    Episode 387 - Why is my precast bulkhead leaking at the bottom of the stairs?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024


    We're in the rainy season of Spring so the basement waterproofing industry business is picking up. In this episode, Adam explains why precast bulkheads leak and how you stop the water from coming in.

    Episode 386 - I have an older house that has a leak at the seam where the floor and wall meet. What can I do about it?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024


    It's kind of expected that an older home will develop a leak at some point. Is the floor & wall seam leak a normal issue A1 Foundation Crack Repair runs into? Adam explains why older homes can develop a leak at the seam where the floor and wall meet and what you can do about it.

    Episode 385 - What types of bulkheads give homeowners the most headaches?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024


    A bulkhead is a structure that provides access to the basement and there are several different types. In this episode, Adam explains the different types of bulkheads and how A1 Foundation Crack Repair maintains and waterproofs them.

    Episode 384 - My newer home is leaking at the seam where the floor and wall meet. What's happening there?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024


    Is it common to have a leak at the seam where the floor and wall meet in a newer home? One would think newer construction wouldn't have problems like that but occasionally, it does. The CrackDaddy explains why and how he fixes it.

    Episode 383 - My basement smells musty, is there a way to fix that?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024


    Does a musty basement mean you have a water leak somewhere? What could be the problem if a basement smells like mold or mildew? Adam Tracy, The Crack Daddy, explains.

    Episode 382 - How can I waterproof my basement before I finish it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024


    If a homeowner is spending a lot of money to finish their basement, it's only natural that they would want some kind of guarantee that they won't have to rip it up in a year to fix a water leak. Is there something you can do to waterproof a basement to prevent water leaks?

    Episode 381 - People say I need to waterproof my basement. How do I do that?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2024


    Basement waterproofing is quite a broad topic. How do you waterproof a basement? Adam explains basement waterproofing at the 30,000 foot level.

    Episode 380 - I have a sump pump, but what happens if my power fails?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2024


    Since sump pumps are operated by electricity, what happens if your power fails for a long period of time? Are you at risk of a flooded basement? Adam talks about battery back-up systems for sump pumps.

    Episode 379 - The case of the bulkhead with a cold joint

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024


    In this episode, Adam shares an interesting case study about a bulkhead with a cold joint and how he solved this mysterious leak.

    Episode 378 - My neighbor thinks I need a sump pump. Do I really need one?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024


    Sump pumps are often used to pump water out of a basement when water leaks occur. Is that a prime solution or are sump pumps simply a Band-Aid for the real cause of the water problem?

    Episode 377 - The foundation on my new addition is leaking where it meets the old foundation. Why?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024


    Imagine the frustration a homeowner would feel if after all the expense of building an addition, the seam where the old foundation and new foundation meets suddenly starts leaking. What's going on there?

    Episode 376 - What are common issues found in block foundations?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2024


    Most foundations A1 Foundation Crack Repair deals with today are stone foundations and concrete foundations. But there are some structures they come across that have block foundations. What are the common issues they typically see with those?

    Episode 375 - When is it time to replace my lally column?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024


    Lally columns play an important role in holding up your home and keeping the flooring level. Since they're so critical, how do you know when it's time to repair or replace one? Adam shares his considerable experience with lally columns and when it's time to call in a pro to fix one.

    Episode 374 - Why is there always dust and sand by my Stone foundation?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024


    Stone foundations are found in old homes before the requirements of modern construction standards. So, if you are seeing dust and sand next to your stone foundation, is that a sign that it's failing? Adam explains what to do.

    Episode 373 - That leak in my basement, is it a cracked pipe or a leaky pipe penetration?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024


    Plumbers get a lot of calls to fix leaky pipes when in fact the pipe is fine, but the hole the pipe is going through is the actual culprit. In this episode, Adam shares his experience with leaky pipe penetrations and what you can do about them.

    Episode 372 - My old house has a stone foundation. What should I be doing to maintain it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024


    A home with a stone foundation would indicate that the home is pretty old. So, if you have a stone foundation, there are some things you should be doing to keep it in good shape. Adam explains.

    Episode 371 - Should I worry about my basement wall crack during the winter?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024


    Winter is here and as we know, homeowners like to postpone crack repairs until they start to leak. How much of a problem are the procrastinators looking at if they wait until Spring to fix a basement wall crack?

    Episode 370 - My basement floor has a crack that is heaving upward. What happened?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024


    A customer recently sent A1 Foundation Crack Repair some pictures of a basement floor that looked like an alien jumped out of it. Why would a basement floor do that?

    Episode 369 - I'm starting to find cracks in my basement floor, should I be worried?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024


    Cracks in concrete are as inevitable as death and taxes. So, if a homeowner starts seeing cracks in their basement floor, what should they do?

    Episode 368 - I'm selling a house with long-time foundation cracks, should I worry about them?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023


    So the scenario is this. A home seller has had a long-time foundation crack in the basement floor or foundation wall. Should they be concerned about it? The CrackDaddy explains the options available.

    Episode 367 - Should I be worried about foundation cracks in the home I am buying?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023


    Imagine a scenario in which a prospective home buyer notices a crack in the basement floor or foundation wall. How troubling is this? Is it something they should have fixed before they agree to a sale? The CrackDaddy opines.

    Episode 366 - With freezing temps on the way, should I hold off on my foundation repair project?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023


    We're starting to see some freezing temperatures at night. If someone has a foundation crack, should they hold off until Spring to do it given the temperatures needed to cure a repair job?

    Episode 365 - Why is water pouring in through my basement window?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023


    Adam sent over a video showing water pouring through a basement window around the edges. How can something like that happen? Adam explains how water can start pouring through a basement window and what you can do about it.

    Episode 364 - Is a concrete foundation in trouble if it becomes discolored in several places?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023


    So your concrete foundation wall or floor has become discolored in several places. Are you looking at an expensive repair bill or is this really nothing to worry about? The Crack Daddy explains.

    Episode 363 - Why should a foundation crack be repaired?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023


    As the Crackman has always said, there are 2 certainties in life: death and concrete will eventually crack. So if your foundation develops a crack, when should you think about fixing it? When water starts gushing in? The Crackman makes a special appearance to explain.

    Episode 362 - What is a cold joint as it pertains to foundations?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2023


    In the electronics world, a cold joint is a solder joint that looks good but doesn't actually conduct electricity. What in the world is a cold joint when it comes to foundations? Adam explains.

    Claim The Crackman Podcast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel