When most people talk about waterproofing a home, the focus is on keeping water out of living spaces, be it the basement or the main floor with a slab foundation. For homes with crawl spaces, however, water problems can be just as damaging, even if it is just high humidity. That is why a form of crawl space waterproofing is a must for homes with them.
Here are a few of the reasons why crawl space waterproofing is essential.
1. Prevent Mold & Improve Air Quality
If high levels of moisture are allowed to enter your crawl space it can become a breeding ground for mold.
And the mold spores produced don’t just stay in the crawl space either. They will travel throughout your home.
Mold can cause respiratory problems, especially for those already dealing with respiratory issues such as asthma.
2. Avoid Structural Problems
Moisture in a crawl space can lead structural problems for your home, especially if it causes the wooden support structure to begin to rot.
If the beams in the crawl space or the floor joists they are supporting begin to rot, they won’t be able to provide proper support for the structure above them. At minimum, your floors will begin to feel spongy to walk on.
If this occurs, your home will need pier and beam repairs including either beam or floor joist replacement.
3. Get Rid of Annoying Odors
Dark damp places tend to have a musty odor. That wouldn’t be an issue for most, however, if the smell stayed in your crawl space.
It doesn’t.
The smell will infiltrate your home and be a frequent reminder of the potentially more serious problems lurking beneath your home.
4. Prevent Pest Infestations
Water in a crawl space attracts pests in multiple ways. First, the presence of water alone can help attract certain insects and other pests. Second, damage caused by crawl space moisture can not only make it easier for pests to enter the crawl space, but rotting wood attracts certain pests as well, including termites and carpenter ants. These can these cause even more damage to the already weakened wood.
By waterproofing your crawl space, you can limit the number of insects and small rodents that enter your crawl space and, through it, your home.
5. Keep Your Home More Comfortable
A damp crawl space is a humid crawl space, and air in a crawl space doesn’t just stay there.
If your crawl space is humid, the humidity levels in the rest of your house will rise as well. This can increase your energy costs and make your home less comfortable to live in.
Keep Your Crawl Space Dry With Crawl Space Encapsulation
If you are in need of crawl space waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation can keep your crawl space dry. Vapor barriers installed on the floor and walls of the crawl space along with other waterproofing measures can keep moisture levels low and prevent the damage that water can cause.
Need Crawl Space Waterproofing in Oklahoma City or Elsewhere in Oklahoma?
Pierman offers crawl space encapsulation services in Oklahoma City, Ada, Durant and elsewhere in Oklahoma. Contact us today for a free estimate.
