Crawl Spaces

Dry is Good!

Crawl spaces present some unique challenges. Moisture control or moisture management is almost always required to prevent growth of mold, prevent objectionable odors, prevent structural degradation and to make the space usable. A crawl space must be kept dry!
How do they get wet?
I'll just mention a few of the most common ways. Ground water tables may be high. They will likely vary with the rainfall, but if they rise and flood the crawl space at any time, problems will result. Drainage problems are common. These may include, improper ground slope, landscaping, roof drainage, anything that holds or diverts water into these areas. Warm moist air entering either of these spaces will deposit its load of moisture on the cool surfaces it finds there. Fans and venting only make matters worse!
What can be done?
There is often no single answer to moisture problems in a crawl space. A multi-pronged approach must often be taken. Moisture control or management is key.
For a crawl space:
An impermeable barrier must be installed, to prevent moisture from entering the crawl space. This is refered to as "crawl space encapsulation.

In addition drains along with a sump pump are sometimes required to properly remove the ground water from the crawl space.
A properly sized dehumidifier ( Portables do not usually have the capacity to maintain proper humidity levels) is required in some cases to take care of maintaining the proper humidity levels 24/7.

Exterior drainage issues must also be addressed.

The crawl space may require additional modifications other than those mentioned, to prevent moisture from entering.
The point is moisture must be controlled and managed.
If proper moisture management is not implemented, extensive damage to the structure can result. Issues with mold and structural degradation due to materials failing when they become wet (such as insulation and drywall) will occur.

We can provide the moisture management system you need. Call Us!