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Imagine entering your new home and carefully inspecting each corner, only to discover severe foundation problems.

Experts come out to your home to assess what’s happening. Unfortunately, it soon turned out there was a severe issue in your crawl space that needed urgent attention.

Around 15% of new homes constructed in the US include crawlspaces. Crawl spaces provide easy access to essential areas within a home and require regular maintenance, just like other parts of a residence.

Have you noticed poor air quality due to moisture and humidity in your crawl space? Mold spores could be present and pose a health risk, so foundation and crawl space repair may be needed, as well as other signs indicate this need for action.

Here are some indicators that it could be.

Excess Moisture in the Crawl Space

Your crawl space could contain standing water if there were recent rainfall, as any increase in crawl space humidity level could indicate that there is standing water present.

Standing water can also be caused by plumbing leaks and hydrostatic pressure; to check your crawl space for standing water, you may need to consult expert crawl space repair services.

Foul Odor

If you detect an unpleasant odor coming from beneath your house, this could be an indicator that something is amiss in your crawlspace. Mold growth often creates a musty odor; left unchecked, it could pose serious health risks to those living within. When you detect an unpleasant odor in your crawlspace area, address it immediately by hiring an experienced crawl space & foundation repair contractor.

Condensation

High humidity often results in condensation. Too much crawl space moisture will accumulate on surfaces – including floors, foundations, and joists – creating an unhealthy and potentially hazardous situation.

Condensation can leave crawl space insulation saturated with moisture, making removal difficult unless replaced by professionals. A crawl space repair solutions professional should inspect the crawlspace regularly to see if the insulation has fallen due to moisture exposure.

Foundation Cracks

Cracked foundations can be an indicator that there may be structural damage. If cracks larger than 1/8″ are present, further foundation inspection should be performed immediately to assess any signs of damage that could potentially lead to greater problems. If left unrepaired, foundation issues could result in even bigger issues and lead to costly structural repairs in the future.

Uneven Floor

Uneven floors are an indicator that it may be time to repair your crawl space, as when certain areas feel softer than others, it could indicate a potential issue like a cracked foundation, as well as cracks in walls and floors, which allow outside air and excessive moisture into your home through gaps or cracks, creating drafts into living areas. Professional crawl space repair services are available to address these problems to keep your family safe and prevent drafts from entering living areas.

Mold and Mildew

Crawl space owners should remain wary of mold growth in their basement systems. Mold often thrives there because it remains out of sight; you might detect the musty smell, but you should opt for professional consultation from an expert who knows how to manage it for effective mold remediation.

Symptoms of allergies could be related to mold and mildew build-up in your home; therefore, black mold should be eliminated immediately before it turns toxic.

Groundwater Sediment

Crawl spaces that experience groundwater seepage should also be addressed immediately, as it could lead to mold or damage to wooden beams, as well as potential water-related structural decay within your home itself.

Your wooden floors or structures could be warped, bent, or decaying. Even more alarming, even if you only recently noticed groundwater seepage, it could already have caused flooding in your crawlspace and may have already done significant damage to your home.

Mold can grow in crawlspaces that contain stagnant water sources.

Hire crawl space repair contractors to repair your crawlspace to stop groundwater seepage from continuing.

Want more information about our services? Get in touch with us.

Familiar Sources of Crawl Space Damage

Common structural issues with crawl spaces include inadequate support, sinking support systems, mold growth/damage/infestations, and termite or pest infestations. If you suspect any of crawl space solutions may be required in your basement systems, schedule a crawl space inspection with one of our specialists today!

• Pest & Termite Infestations

Florida crawl spaces are damp, warm, and dark – the ideal habitat for pests like termites. Unchecked termite colonies can quickly cause structural instability and irreparable damage to buildings if left alone for too long.

• Rot, Mold & Moisture Damage to Homes

Rot, mold, and moisture damage are three of the most prevalent wet crawl space issues. Mold thrives in humid, moist conditions that allow it to flourish; mold growth deteriorates the materials of buildings, causing their foundation to settle over time and eventually collapse.

• Crawl Space Sinking Supports

When soil is insufficiently strong to support the weight being transferred by crawl space supports, it will compress under its own weight, leading to sinkage of those supports and their associated crawl spaces.

• Too Few Crawl Space Supports Available

Many crawl spaces contain supports too far apart to adequately bear the weight of structures, potentially resulting in severe foundational damage if left uncorrected.

Crawl Space Encapsulation: A Solution for Crawl Space Issues.

Crawl space encapsulation is a long-term solution to avoid future issues and warning signs in your crawlspace. A high-quality vapor barrier will seal off this space from outside air and moisture sources to eliminate pests, mold growth, water damage, and energy losses that might otherwise exist there. Sealant materials provide another measure to protect against structural problems caused by soil conditions, such as foundation cracks. Furthermore, the waterproof sealant acts as an airtight barrier and reduces energy costs significantly. The material used in the crawl space encapsulation system can also help keep moisture out, thus reducing mildew and mold growth, improving indoor air quality, and keeping healthy crawl spaces for all living residents. As the crawl space encapsulation process is a vital part of maintaining safe homes, professional service for crawl space encapsulation near me should always be employed when undertaking this process to ensure all tasks are carried out effectively and safely.

Need assistance with your crawl space issues? Consult Affordable Foundation Repair.

After discovering the various signs of crawlspace problems, you may still require assistance. You may want to know whether the mold you see poses any risk to yourself and your family members. Employ a specialist from Affordable Foundation Repair to assess whether your foundation is at risk.

Affordable Foundation Repair is an expert at crawl space repair. Reach out today to discover more of our services!