It is safe to say that water and wood rot go hand in hand. Water intrusion into a crawl space quickly invites rot, mold and pests. It isn’t only leaking water that causes problems in a crawl space however, it is also the moisture from dirt flooring, failing liners, poor ventilation and higher environmental humidity levels.
This is why Wood Rescue provides a ‘water map’ with every crawl space assessment. This unique map was created by our teams in order to show you where water flows on your property, so you can better understand the potential areas to watch in the future for problems, and see what might be causing your current concerns.
We bring a multi-pronged approach of solutions to water mitigation in your home, including:
- Vapor Barriers – A vapor barrier is a strengthened polyethylene sheet that comes in several different thickness and a variety of reinforcement types for different terrain and uses.
The most commonly found vapor barrier is typically a 6 mil plastic sheet that is laid loosely over soil in real estate transactions and in new construction. At first glance, that doesn’t sound like a bad thing. However, a variety of recycled materials are ‘glued’ together and pressed to create a sheet. This glue quickly deteriorates and actually feeds the bacteria in the soil below, resulting in a plastic sheet that looks more like a strainer under a microscope – full of tiny holes. This type of sheeting creates problems and solves none.
Wood Rescue Team does not perform the loose laying of a ‘vapor barrier’ in this way, as most 6 mil vapor barriers are made from recycled material. We only use 12 mil virgin plastic liner that is just one pressed sheet. 12 mil is thick enough to be installed with much less risk of puncture or tears, and will do the job it was meant to do. - Dehumidifier – Placing a dehumidifier in your crawl space solves many crawl space moisture problems. Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, providing a drier crawl space environment. This process controls dust mites, mildew, and mold growth – resulting in longer lasting structural health.
Crawl space vents were designed to help facilitate the movement of damp air out of the crawl space. However, we now know that this is not usually enough, and humid air is remaining in your crawl space. The wood joists of your crawl space (the part that supports your floors and walls) act like a sponge to absorb this moisture from the air. This offers a fantastic growth environment for mold and can quickly undermine the strength of these wooden joists.
A dehumidifier greatly helps to reduce humidity, making the environment much less friendly to unwanted growth. - Sump Pump – Wood Rescue can install a sump pump in your home that will effectively pump out the water from your crawl space and away from your foundation.
Sometimes a dehumidifier alone isn’t the answer. If you have an otherwise healthy crawl space but large rain events and wet seasons cause puddling and standing water, it may be time to install a sump pump. A trench system to route water and a sump pump basin can solve many crawl space and basement flooding problems.