Prevent serious issues in your Home

Crawl space Encapsulation

Many homes in Richmond and Williamsburg have crawl space foundations. From beautiful historic homes to new construction, a crawl space is a cavity underneath a home that provides access to plumbing and other utilities. Most homeowners have never been in their crawl space, whether due to the tight squeeze or fear of spiders and snakes. This allows for problems to arise under your home that can cause serious issues and the homeowner has no idea. Improperly sealed crawl spaces allow these issues to grow.

Common issues found underneath the home can be standing water, mold, termites, and excessive humidity. Often, standing water is thought by homeowners to happen closer to coastal areas like Williamsburg or other areas with a high water table, but unfortunately, it is also commonly found in the greater Richmond area as well. Standing water can devastate foundations by adding large amounts of moisture under the home and saturating clay rich soils causing settlement and shifting. High humidity under the home can be just as devastating. The humid air will bring moisture into the wood and insulation, weakening the wood framing and causing higher energy bills for the homeowner. Pest and mold can spread quickly in the dark, damp environment leading to rot and structural damage as well as damaging to your health from breathing in spores.

catch the problem before it begins

mold and mildew

Bad and musty odors can be a potential sign of mold and mildew, but some fungi emit no odor and continue to go undetected. Cracks in the drywall as well as doors and windows not closing properly can be another symptom of a foundation shifting and settling. Termites and carpenter ants common in Virginia are also drawn to wood that has a high moisture content and provide the perfect food source for their colony. High humidity in your crawl space will also make your home less comfortable for your family. Falling wet insulation allows more thermal losses and energy efficiency losses.

A properly installed and maintained vapor barrier will serve to stop moisture from diffusing from the ground up and will create a continuous layer of protection under the home. Properly sealed crawl spaces can stop humidity from entering into the crawl space. If groundwater is located, a drainage device similar to a French drain and sump pump can ensure that no groundwater seeps in. A dehumidifier can be installed after the crawl space is encapsulated to ensure the humidity stays low and the environment stays dry. Wet and falling fiberglass insulation can be removed and replaced. A custom fitted crawl space door will create a tight seal to keep out moisture and pests.

Keeping your crawl space dry will keep the wood structure from absorbing moisture. Wet wood bends and flexes, and by drying out the wood, we will ensure the home stays rigid and strong. Keeping groundwater from saturating the clay soil will also help to break the cycle of drying and saturating that leads to a shifting foundation. Forty percent of a home’s air actually comes from the crawl space, and the air filtered by the dehumidifier will provide better air quality to protect the health of your family. Additionally, having an encapsulated crawl space will keep pests and rodents from harboring in the crawl space and insulation. A clean crawl space can also provide storage space for your home and provide an environment where your stored goods can be safe and protected.