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More than 27 million homes in the U.S. have crawlspaces. And even though they’re exceedingly useful for extra home storage, it’s absolutely essential to keep them protected and dry to avoid the possibility of water and mold damage. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), 100% of all types of mold have the potential to cause some health effects. This can be minor to severe and even result in death in some rare cases. That’s why many homeowners are investing in crawl space vapor barriers to keep water out. Here’s part one of our homeowner’s guide to installing a crawl space vapor barrier. Do You Need Extra Crawl Space Insulation For Your Home? Before investing in any type of crawl space dehumidifier or basement waterproofing system, you need to determine your home’s needs. In order to ascertain whether or not your home’s basement or crawl space has a problem with accumulating excess moisture, look at the pipes and concrete walls that surround the space. If they’re wet to the touch or even have gathered a small amount of moisture, it’s a sign that you’re experiencing a common problem that does require a solution such as a crawl space vapor barrier. […]

More than 27 million homes in the U.S. have crawlspaces, and experts estimate that about 30% of American homes have basements as well. But whether you have a crawl space or basement in your home, it’s important to keep it dry, and to understand why it needs to stay dry. Wall-vented crawl spaces cannot maintain relative humidity below the 70% threshold; therefore, they routinely experience condensation and mold growth. If you have a crawl space or basement, keeping it dry is essential. Here’s part one of our homeowner’s guide to understanding the benefits of basement waterproofing. Remove Odors First, many basements that aren’t adequately waterproofed have a distinct stench of moldiness or mildew permeating from their walls. This musty smell can be very unpleasant and deter you from wanting to go into the area at all. Removing this odor alone can help to improve the basement or crawl space’s functionality, and a dry basement won’t have this mildew smell at all. Remove Pests If you’ve ever dealt with a wet basement, you may also be familiar with the many pests that always seem to find a way to enter and make your basement or crawl space their new home base. This is […]

Over 20 million houses in the United States still have crawl spaces. It’s a term you may hear fairly often, but might not fully understand. A crawl space can refer to a variety of unfinished areas of your home, but in this article we’re going to focus on one particular type of crawl space: that small, spiderweb-filled space between the ground and the raised first floor of your home. Usually, it’s no more than 3 feet in height, hence it can’t be entered standing and is aptly named a crawl space. Why are they a big deal? Well, basements and crawl spaces are notorious places for unwanted moisture to creep in and cause trouble. Crawl spaces are more worrisome because they’re obnoxiously small areas that tend to sink to the bottom (get it?) of the home maintenance list. Neglecting them can cause health and structural issues that’ll have you wondering how you could’ve avoided mold removal or foundation damage in the first place. There are two common ways to prevent moisture from collecting in ground floor crawlspaces, crawl space encapsulation and crawl space sealing. However, many homeowners are confused about the differences between these techniques. We’re here to clear up confusion […]

Of all homes with basements, over 98% will experience some type of water damage. Many homeowners have invested in a crawl space drain system or another type of basement or crawl space waterproofing method in order to ensure stability with their home’s foundation. Of course, if you’re considering a DIY job, it’s imperative to be aware of and avoid some common mistakes that can lead to your project’s downfall. Here’s part one of our homeowner’s guide to avoiding some common basement waterproofing mistakes. Not Ensuring The Space Is Moisture-Free Before Starting It shouldn’t come as a surprise that many homeowners take on the challenge of waterproofing or installing a basement or crawl space insulation system only after their home has sustained some type of water damage. That being said, it’s absolutely essential to make sure the space is completely dry before starting your project to avoid trapping water in between layers of your waterproofing system. Furthermore, even small amounts of water and moisture can cause health issues when left unresolved: according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), 100% of all types of mold have the potential to cause some health effects. This can be minor to severe and even death in some […]

Of all homes with basements, over 98% will experience some type of water damage. That’s why many homeowners are very preoccupied with ensuring that their basement or crawl space stays dry. A wet basement can cause all sort of problems regarding home and health, including mold. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) 100% of all types of mold have the potential to cause some health effects. This can be minor to severe and even death in some rare cases. Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to help ensure that your basement remains as dry as possible year round. Here’s part one of our homeowner’s guide to maintaining a dry basement. Use Dehumidifiers Dehumidifiers are just one effective moisture removal strategy. While they aren’t ideal for initial basement waterproofing, they’re typically implemented once your basement or crawl space is mostly dry to help keep control of the humidity level. Depending on the size of your basement, you may need to invest in multiple dehumidifiers, but this technique works — as long as you make sure to keep the dehumidifiers emptied and running. Consider Water Resistant Paint Water resistant paint is a great way to prevent what’s […]