Crawlspace Solutions
DAMP CRAWLSPACES CAN CAUSE ISSUES YOU MAY NOT REALIZE
What You Should Know
What Causes A Wet Crawlspace?
Many things can cause a wet crawlspace…
- Surface Water: Water from above the surface can enter your crawlspace due to overflowing gutters and poor grading around the perimeter of your home, roof drainage, and leaky windows.
- Groundwater: Water can trickle in from cracks, this is due to heavy rains and saturated soil around your home.
- High Humidity: Crawlspaces become notoriously humid, and should be regulated, over time this can affect the surrounding structures.
- Plumbing Leaks: leaky pipes and fixtures can cause water to pool and collect in your crawlspace.
What Are The Symptoms Of Crawlspace Issues?
Crawlspace moisture or other issues can cause a wide array of problems ranging from mildly annoying to hazardous to your health or your home’s structural integrity. Here are several:
- Musty Odors: The high levels of humidity can lead to a musty odor that rises from your crawlspace and invades the rest of your house.
- Mold and Mildew: Worse than an annoying smell, however, are mold and mildew. Mold loves dark, damp spaces, and a wet crawlspace is a perfect place for it to start to grow. Among other problems, mold spread from crawlspaces can be a cause of childhood respiratory issues.
- Sagging Floors: Moisture has a nasty habit of rotting wood. And what part of your home that comes in contact with your crawlspace is often made from wood? Your floor joists. Rotting weakens them, causing sagging spongy floors that will need additional support even if the moisture problems are solved.
How Can A Wet Crawlspace Be Fixed?
There are several options when it comes to fixing damp and wet crawlspace, and often depends on the level of repair needed. We offer the following solutions to our customers:
- Moisture Barriers: Moisture barriers, or vapor barriers, consist of sheeting that covers the inside of the crawlspace. The moisture barriers are thick enough to keep water and humidity out of the crawl space, ending further problems associated with moisture.
- Crawlspace Encapsulation: Moisture barriers are a key part of a larger scale Crawlspace Encapsulation. This combines a moisture barrier with other waterproofing solutions to create a comprehensive encapsulation.
- Crawlspace Jacks: If the crawlspace has caused the floor joists to rot, you are going to need more than just waterproofing and moisture barriers. You will need something to provide support for those joists and stabilize your sagging floors. That is where crawlspace jacks come in. They are placed strategically within the crawlspace to provide support for the joists.
At IWP, we also offer other options depending on your unique situation, including diverters, drainage systems, sump pumps and air quality control systems. We have the expertise to make sure you have the right solution for your crawlspace.
OTHER BASEMENT & CRAWLSPACE SERVICES WE PROVIDE
- Basement repair (floor cracks, wall cracks, bowed walls, basement leaks)
- Crawlspace repair
- Drain tile and sump pump installation and repair
- Basement window & window well installation and repair
- Commercial repair and waterproofing
- New construction waterproofing
HAVE PEACE OF MIND WITH IWP FOUNDATION REPAIR
With over 30 years of combined experience in the business, you know that you can trust our team to get the job done right the first time. We value the customer experience, which is why we take the time to listen to your concerns, answer all your questions, and explain the best plan of action for your home. If you’ve noticed any foundation issues at all, no matter how minor they seem, you should call a professional. Our expert team is waiting for you, so call today for a free evaluation!