Waterproofing your crawl space is important to keep moisture from causing damage to your home. There are many ways to do this, and not all of them require you to spend too much. This article will discuss some expert-approved tips for keeping your crawl space moisture-free!
Encapsulate The Space
This is considered to be one of the most effective methods of protecting this area of the house. Lots of homeowners opt for crawl space encapsulation once they see how beneficial it is. This area of encapsulation will be beneath the home, so it is important to make sure that it is properly done in order to avoid any moisture or water damage.
This involves putting a vapor barrier on the ground, sealing up any cracks or openings, and making sure that the space is properly insulated. This can be done by a professional, or you can do it yourself if you’re handy.
Encapsulating the space is a great way to keep your crawl space moisture-free. By sealing up any cracks or openings and making sure the space is properly insulated, you can create a barrier that will prevent moisture from entering and causing problems.
You can either hire a professional to do this for you or if you’re handy, you can do it yourself. Either way, encapsulating your crawl space is a key step in keeping it moisture-free.
Insulate Your Foundation
Water that comes through your foundation can cause serious problems like mold, wood rot, and flooding. Insulating your foundation can help prevent water damage and keep your crawl space dry.
There are two ways to do this: exterior insulation and interior insulation. Exterior insulation is a good choice if you have an unfinished basement or crawl space. Interior insulation is a good choice if your basement is finished.
Exterior insulation involves attaching insulating material to the outside of your foundation. This can be done with rigid foam boards, spray foam, or poured concrete. Interior insulation involves attaching insulating material to the inside of your foundation. This can be done with fiberglass bats, spray foam, or rigid foam boards.
Drain The Crawl Space
Another effective method would be to drain the crawl space. By doing this space, you can keep the area around your foundation dry and free of moisture. This will help to prevent any water or moisture from seeping into your home through the foundation.
In order to do this, you will need to install a sump pump and a French drain system. This will ensure that any water that does enter the crawl space is quickly removed. The sump pump will also help to keep the humidity levels down in the space, which will further prevent mold and mildew from growing.
If you are not comfortable doing this yourself, you can always hire a professional to do it for you. However, it is important to make sure that they are experienced in this type of work. Otherwise, you could end up causing more damage than good.
When it comes to draining the crawl space, it is always best to err on the side of caution or just call Xpert Foundation Repair. This way, you can avoid any costly repairs or replacements down the road. For example, if you were to allow water to seep into your home through the foundation, it could potentially cause major damage to the structure of your home. Therefore, it is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to this particular issue.
Cover The Floors And Vents
You should also use some waterproof materials to cover your floors and vents. These are the following:
- 6 mil polyethylene sheeting
- tar paper
- rubber matting
- carpeting
- epoxy paint
These materials can be placed on your floors and vents to help keep your crawl space moisture free. For example, polyethylene sheeting can be used as a vapor barrier to help prevent moisture from coming up through your floors. The tar paper can also be used as a vapor barrier and is often used under concrete slabs. The rubber matting can be used to create a moisture barrier between your floors and the ground.
The carpeting can be used to absorb moisture and prevent it from spreading. Finally, epoxy paint can be used to seal your floors and prevent moisture from seeping in.
Adjust Your Gutters
You should also go outside and check your gutters every few months, adjusting them as needed so they will slope slightly away from your home. This will ensure that rainwater flows away from your crawl space and foundation, instead of towards it.
The angle of your gutters may need to be adjusted as the seasons change and the amount of rainfall varies. In the spring and fall, when there is more rainfall, you will need to make sure your gutters are sloped more steeply so that the water can flow away from your home quickly.
Keeping your gutters clean and well-maintained is another important step in keeping your crawl space dry. For example, if your gutters are full of leaves, they won’t be able to do their job properly.
Invest In A Dehumidifier
Another fantastic addition you can make to your home in order to keep your crawl space free of moisture is investing in a dehumidifier. This machine will help to suck all of the moisture out of the air in your home, which will, in turn, make it much harder for mold and mildew to grow. Not to mention, a dehumidifier can also help to eliminate musty odors that are often caused by excess moisture.
High humidity is never welcome in a home setting because it can cause all sorts of problems, from mold and mildew growth to musty odors. If you’re looking for a way to keep your crawl space moisture-free, investing in a dehumidifier is a great option.
This machine will help to suck all of the moisture out of the air in your home, making it much harder for mold and mildew to grow. Not to mention, a dehumidifier can also help to eliminate musty odors that are often caused by excess moisture.
Your crawl space needs to be kept dry in order to stay safe in your home, so start by conducting encapsulation. You should also insulate your foundation and drain the space regularly. Make sure to use some waterproof materials to cover floors and vents and always adjust your gutter so it pours the water outside. Finally, invest in a dehumidifier so it dries the space additionally.
