A first-time home buyer recently purchased a property in Temperance with a severely compromised crawlspace. Knowing that standing water and high moisture levels could cause long term damage to the structural integrity and indoor air quality of his home, he gave us a call before moving in so that we could take a look.
Upon initial inspection, it was clear that the crawlspace had numerous signs of moisture intrusion, including the visible standing water. Many homeowners aren’t fully aware of the potential issues caused by a damp crawlspace. This sort of moisture will eventually lead to:
- Structural Decay: Because wood is porous, the continuous exposure to high humidity and standing water will lead to rotting wood in joists, beams, and subflooring. This then weakens the home’s framing and can lead to issues like sagging floors.
- Poor Indoor Air Quality: We’ve talked about this a number of times, but your home is affected by something called the “stack effect.” As the warm air rises and eventually escapes through the roof, doors, windows etc, it pulls air upward from the lowest points of your home. In houses with a crawlspace, that means up to 50% of the air you’re breathing on the first floor of your home actually originates in that damp crawlspace.
- Biological Growth: Damp, dark environments are obvious breeding grounds for mold and mildew. These can start to spread upstairs, potentially causing health issues for people in the home.
- Pest Attraction: Insects and rodents love damp, decaying wood and standing water, so this sort of environment acts as a magnet to bring them.
Once we knew what the situation was, we implemented a multi-tiered solution to turn that damp crawlspace into a dry, controlled environment.
#1 – Cleanout and Preparation
Before installing modern mitigation systems, a crawlspace will required proper preparation. So our team cleared out debris, and ensured the space was dry.
#2 – Sump Pump and Interior Drainage System
To handle the active pooling of water, we installed a high-efficiency interior drainage system coupled with a heavy-duty sump pump. The drainage lines channel water away from the perimeter walls and direct it straight into the sump basin. The pump then forcefully ejects the water safely outside and away from the home’s foundation, preventing future pooling.
#3 – Encapsulation
To permanently seal out moisture, we installed a heavy-duty vapor barrier. The encapsulation process involved lining the entire crawlspace floor and running the durable membrane up the foundation walls. All seams, joints, and pillars were tightly taped and sealed. This created an impenetrable barrier that will stop water and moisture from entering the space. You can see some of our before/after photos here:
Click the above image for the full view.
This situation is incredibly common, particularly in parts of Monroe County where seasonal rains combine with a high water table to affect home foundations, basements and crawlspaces. If you would like us to take a look and see how we can help you, call Foundation Restoration today at 877-MAKE-DRY for a free estimate or fill out our contact form and we’ll come take a look at no charge to you.
