Crawl Space Repair: Here’s What You Need to Know

The crawl space is a part of your home you should maintain. If it suffers damage, it may contain mold infestation, pests, electrical wiring, plumbing issues, and warped materials. Such things can impact your home’s structural stability and lower your house’s market value. 

This page explores what you need to know about crawl space repair.

How to Prepare for Repairs 

Luckily, with professionals in Baltimore, MD, you won’t need to do many things before the repairs begin. There are only two important steps. The first one is to schedule an inspection with crawl space repair experts. Although you might be tempted to fix the damages on your own, repairing the crawl space should never be a DIY project. It is best to contact professionals who have experience with assessing the damage and determining the cause of it. 

The second thing you will need to do to help ensure efficient repairs is to clear out the crawl space. A lot of homeowners use this space as a tool shed, which is not recommended. Some even use it as a second pantry, which is a bad idea since easy access to food can easily attract rodents and other pests. If you are using your crawl space as storage, you will need to remove all your belongings so installers can get to work. 

Fixing the Crawl Space 

If you are wondering about the whole repair process, it will mostly depend on the type of damage you are dealing with. For example, if your foundation has been damaged, there could be some excavation. On the other hand, if moisture has damaged the support beams in the interior of your crawl space, there may not be any digging involved. Regardless of what your installers need to do, some things are common to all repairs. 

Structural Repairs Are a Priority 

What is more important, that your house is stable or that it looks nice? When it comes to repairs, experts will always prioritize those tasks that will ensure the structural stability of your home. Do not worry if your house looks more like a construction site than a home for a couple of days. When installers have made your home stable and safe, they can turn to the finishing touches. After they leave, your home will be in much better shape than it was when they came. 

There Are No Universal Solutions 

Experts do not recommend the DIY approach, since the crawl space area can be tricky to fix. There can be unexpected complications, and there are probably several issues that co-exist that require a mixture of different solutions. Only experienced professionals can recommend long-lasting solutions that work best for your problem, so do not attempt to fix the damage on your own. 

Encapsulation Is Recommended 

If you haven’t encapsulated your crawl space, your team of installers will probably suggest that you waterproof this area. This is a good investment since water damage can cause a wide variety of problems and seriously impact the health of your house. By installing a vapor barrier, you will keep your home safe from water damage and prevent your current issues from happening again. However, even if you encapsulate this space, you cannot relax, hoping it will keep the moisture out for the next 20 years. You must maintain it properly and check on it at least once a year. If you notice air leaks around the crawl space door or vents, you need to seal them. Otherwise, your clean crawl space could quickly turn into a moldy mess. You also shouldn’t use your crawl space to store certain items. Sharp tools and other objects could easily damage the barrier and make it ineffective. 

What Should You Do After the Repairs?

If your crawl space has been repaired by a team of professionals, there are not many things you need to do after they are done. They will clean as they progress, and your home will look even better than it did before. If you moved personal belongings out of the crawl space before the crew came, you must put them back or find a new place for them, especially if you encapsulated the space. In some rare cases, you will need to check the repair solution after some time passes, but in that case, the repair team will thoroughly explain what you need to do. 

After experts have repaired your crawl space, schedule annual maintenance appointments for your waterproofing solutions. This way, you will avoid preventable problems, notice warning signs on time, and ensure your home stays strong for many years. 

If you have noticed any signs of crawl space damage, schedule a free inspection as soon as possible. After experts from JES Foundation Repair have assessed the situation, they can suggest economical crawl space repair solutions that meet your needs.

Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for almost 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.