The crawlspace is the area in your basement underneath your home that typically has a lower roof and sometimes an unfinished floor or walls. Most people don't spend a lot of time in their crawl space or thinking about their crawl space, but it is very important to pay attention to this under-used area if problems begin to develop.
Leaks or cracks in your crawl space can have a significant impact on the rest of your home. For one thing, the crawl space is a part of the foundation of your house. If it is leaking or otherwise compromised, this can compromise the entire foundation and structural integrity of your whole house. For another, a damp crawl space is an attractive environment for bugs, mold, mildew, bacteria and other unwanted invaders. These things can make you sick, or simply be downright unpleasant as no one wants a bug infestation from their crawl space moving up into their home or bacteria and mold spores traveling from the crawl space into the ductwork and through the house. It can also be impossible to sell your home with a leaky crawlspace or a crawlspace with cracks and other problems since your house won't pass inspection.
Finding Crawlspace Solutions
Since a wet or crumbling crawl space has so many different negative consequences, it is very important to take action if you are having crawlspace problems. Fortunately, there are solutions to these problems and some of them are simple and easy.
One option you have for a crawlspace solution is a crack injection. This can be a good option if you have cracks in the walls of your crawl space and water is coming in. A crack injection uses a special polyurethane filler to give you a tight seal that is pretty much just as good as if the crack had never been there at all.
Another great option that many people choose as a crawl space solution is a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is a special type of fiber-reinforced membrane. This membrane or barrier is placed along the walls of your crawl space. The seams between the different pieces of the barrier should be overlapped by no less than six inches and then firmly secured using nylon fasteners to ensure that water can't come in. The barrier will then provide an impenetrable and waterproof seal around the crawl space area to help keep moist earth and water from coming in. The bonus of choosing a vapor barrier is that this product can also help to make your house more energy efficient and that it can increase the value of your home.
Finally, if your crawl space problem isn't a leak or a crack but is instead a musty and humid place that is growing mold or mildew, then an electronic dehumidifications system may be your best option. This type of system can help to keep the humidity level below 50 percent in order to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria and in order to help stop an infestation of dust mites.
Each of these different crawl space solutions will work in the right circumstances. Consider speaking to expert basement waterproofing contractors to find out what option is right for you.
Leaks or cracks in your crawl space can have a significant impact on the rest of your home. For one thing, the crawl space is a part of the foundation of your house. If it is leaking or otherwise compromised, this can compromise the entire foundation and structural integrity of your whole house. For another, a damp crawl space is an attractive environment for bugs, mold, mildew, bacteria and other unwanted invaders. These things can make you sick, or simply be downright unpleasant as no one wants a bug infestation from their crawl space moving up into their home or bacteria and mold spores traveling from the crawl space into the ductwork and through the house. It can also be impossible to sell your home with a leaky crawlspace or a crawlspace with cracks and other problems since your house won't pass inspection.
Finding Crawlspace Solutions
Since a wet or crumbling crawl space has so many different negative consequences, it is very important to take action if you are having crawlspace problems. Fortunately, there are solutions to these problems and some of them are simple and easy.
One option you have for a crawlspace solution is a crack injection. This can be a good option if you have cracks in the walls of your crawl space and water is coming in. A crack injection uses a special polyurethane filler to give you a tight seal that is pretty much just as good as if the crack had never been there at all.
Another great option that many people choose as a crawl space solution is a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is a special type of fiber-reinforced membrane. This membrane or barrier is placed along the walls of your crawl space. The seams between the different pieces of the barrier should be overlapped by no less than six inches and then firmly secured using nylon fasteners to ensure that water can't come in. The barrier will then provide an impenetrable and waterproof seal around the crawl space area to help keep moist earth and water from coming in. The bonus of choosing a vapor barrier is that this product can also help to make your house more energy efficient and that it can increase the value of your home.
Finally, if your crawl space problem isn't a leak or a crack but is instead a musty and humid place that is growing mold or mildew, then an electronic dehumidifications system may be your best option. This type of system can help to keep the humidity level below 50 percent in order to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria and in order to help stop an infestation of dust mites.
Each of these different crawl space solutions will work in the right circumstances. Consider speaking to expert basement waterproofing contractors to find out what option is right for you.
SHARE
