Benz and Associates LLC

Your home literally depends on the quality structure of its foundation. If you're even remotely concerned about the foundation in which your home sits on, you're better off having it professionally inspected. Even if there are minor issues or damage to your home's foundation, this could lead to larger issues down the road. Rather than attempting to fix the issues on your own, and possibly making the damage worse or causing more expense to you, here are several reasons why you should hire a St. Louis foundation repair specialist to address your foundation repair needs: EXPERIENCE When dealing with foundation issues, you should hire a contractor who services houses and commercial properties that has experience, training, and knowledge. Just as you’re an expert in your own field, you need to hire a company that can diagnose foundation damage and quickly create solutions. We’re contractors who are well known for doing an excellent job fixing foundations, and we know how ...

The foundation of a home or building is essential to the value and safety of the structure. At a minimum, a foundation must do three things well: 1) Support the structure above, 2) Keep out groundwater, and 3) Act as a barrier to water and soil vapor. That being said, Benz & Associates wants to share with you some common issues that are seen in residential and commercial building foundations in the Greater St. Louis Area , as well as some tips for identifying them. Warning Signs from Inside Your Home All homes settle over time, and this typically isn't cause for panic. However, you’ll want to still pay attention to these warning signs that could mean that there are bigger problems. If you notice that your doors begin to have problems closing properly or are not latching when you shut them, this could be an indication of foundation settlement. If cracks appear in walls, especially over doorways and windows or where walls meet the ceiling, that could also mean you have...

Benz & Associates, LLC  has worked on some incredible projects, many of which you may have even seen without knowing it. But our true passion is providing top quality services to homeowners in need. All too often we’ve seen leaky basements “fixed” by big brand waterproofing companies that were still leaking, or foundation “repairs” that are little more than a band-aid on a large structural problem. We’ll never steer a potential client in the wrong direction even if that means missing out on a sale, and that’s why we’ve been successful for over 30 years. This week, we want to educate you on the many services that we offer in St. Louis and the surrounding areas. Take a look! FOUNDATION REPAIR & INSTALLATION For anyone looking to lay the foundation groundwork on a new house or office building in the Greater St. Louis Area, Benz & Associates is here to help. With over 30 years of St. Louis Foundation Repair service history, we have the expertise required for laying qu...

Often times, we don’t notice sidewalks. They’re just the patch of concrete that gets us from one place to another. A properly installed concrete sidewalk, though, can do so much more - it can also add value to your property! Benz & Associates has the experience of working on many municipal and public projects, so we know how to create the best sidewalks to enhance the look and value of your property. Durable and Safe Sidewalks must be durable, because they are used so constantly. In St. Louis, concrete sidewalks are the fastest and safest path to walk in most residential neighborhoods. That safety and utility are challenged, though, if the sidewalks are not maintained, or were not installed properly. Allow Benz & Associates to repair your existing, damaged St. Louis sidewalks. Or, if your neighborhood needs a proper walkway, we can help with a new installation as well! More Than Just Practical Most sidewalks have heavy foot traffic, so they require a very practical...

A well-designed, professionally-installed concrete patio from Benz & Associates is a lasting way to add a touch of elegance and beauty to your home and landscape. As one of the most experienced concrete patio contractors in St. Louis , we offer a variety of attractive options for your concrete patio. We also know how to build the patio so that it withstands weathering and aging, making sure you can enjoy it for many years to come. The perfect transition between interior and exterior living spaces. Because of its durability and variable color palette, stamped and stained concrete is a popular choice for many homeowner's patios. Regardless of what your landscaping design is, a stamped and stained concrete patio can be designed to fit right in. Concrete or cement patios can create the perfect transition between interior and exterior living spaces. When designing a patio or porch, homeowners can match the overall look of their house and garden by using stamped or stained conc...

Your driveway creates one of the first impressions for your home or place of business. As the focal point for passersby and visitors, an attractive driveway with curb appeal adds value to your investment. By far the two most popular driveway materials in the U.S. are concrete and asphalt. When deciding to install a new driveway, homeowners often wonder what the differences are. Many times, the choice comes down to three main concerns: climate, maintenance, and cost. Climate Affects In the hot summers, St. Louis driveways made of asphalt will be much hotter to the touch than concrete, due to the dark color of the material. Asphalt can also become soft in the high heat of summer and can become tacky and even deform in some cases. Concrete does have the tendency to crack and suffer from frost heaving in cold and freezing winters. And salt used for ice melting can create pits in concrete leaving blotches across the driveway. Both options react to climates in their own way, but wi...

Having the luxury of a basement within your home is quite nice when it comes to having extra space for the family to enjoy and expand. A wet basement not only prevents you from enjoying additional space in your house, but can also turn your basement into a giant petri dish perfect for growing unhealthy molds and fungi. If your basement is wet and musty, then it may be time to consider waterproofing your basement. Now, you could attempt to do this task on your own, but since fewer than 20% of DIY basement waterproofing projects are completed successfully, it's probably best to have a professional contractor to do the job right the first time. What a Contractor Knows That You Don't When performing any basement waterproofing, it's important that you first identify exactly where the water in your basement is coming from and what's causing the seepage. Failure to diagnose your problem correctly means you could put in all the work of waterproofing for nothing. A profes...

Home ownership is one of the top American dreams that every family strives to accomplish, whether it's buying or building. Regardless as to which route you take to achieving this goal, one thing you should make certain of is that your dream home is sitting on a structurally sound foundation. It may seem like a simple part of the overall construction process, but getting the foundation right on any building project is incredibly important. Importance of a Foundation The foundation of a home or building is essential to the value and safety of the structure. At a minimum, a foundation must do three things well: 1) Support the structure above, 2) Keep out groundwater, and 3) Act as a barrier to water and soil vapor. That being said, Benz & Associates wants to to share with you three common foundations used in residential and commercial building projects in the Greater St. Louis Area, as well as some issues that could arise if the foundation is not structurally sound. Let...

We understand that these days people want the most for their money and will try to cut corners wherever they can by attempting to do construction projects on their own. While it can be enjoyable and fulfilling to be able to say you did a concrete repair and installation on your own, it would be best to let a pro handle it. Whether it is a construction, remodeling, or repair project, it requires tremendous measurements and calculations. Something that only trained people can do effectively. Here are 5 solid reasons why hiring a licensed concrete contractor is the best thing to do: 1. Cost-effective While you think by doing a concrete job on your own you'll be saving money, that can actually be quite costly in the long run. While you may save on labor costs by doing it yourself, you could be spending more on materials than a professional contractor would, since most contractors are able to get bulk materials for much less than you can pick them up for at your local home impr...

Benz & Associates, LLC has worked on some incredible projects, many of which you may have even seen without knowing it. But our true passion is providing top quality services to homeowners in need. All too often we’ve seen leaky basements “fixed” by big brand waterproofing companies that were still leaking, or foundation “repairs” that are little more than a band-aid on a large structural problem. We’ll never steer a potential client in the wrong direction even if that means missing out on a sale, and that’s why we’ve been successful for over 30 years. This week, we want to educate you on the many services that we offer in St. Louis and the surrounding areas. Take a look! FOUNDATION REPAIR & INSTALLATION For anyone looking to lay the foundation groundwork on a new house or office building in the Greater St. Louis Area, Benz & Associates is here to help. With over 30 years of St. Louis Foundation Repair service history, we have the expertise required for laying qualit...

Hello all! Benz & Associates, LLC is excited to be joining the blogger world to share with you what we do, and our knowledge of the concrete construction and contracting world. If it involves concrete, we can handle it. We pride ourselves in providing St. Louis homeowners with top quality concrete services at fair prices. If you want your job done right, and on budget, trust a concrete contractor with over 30 years of experience. Our business goal can be summed up with two words, “REPEAT CUSTOMERS”. This says it all.  Mark C. Benz, owner and operator of Benz & Associates, LLC , started out at a young age working in the trades on countless large commercial projects. Many St. Louis landmarks gave Mark his first important experiences in the construction industry. Mark has collaborated and worked for multiple construction firms in St. Louis prior to starting Benz & Associates. His own firm was created in 2011 after spending over 30 years in the construction business....