The Ultimate Guide to Crawl Space Waterproofing
Most people don’t realize how common water damage is. In fact, a full 98% of basements end up experiencing some sort of water damage at some point. On top of that, nearly 15,000,000 homes around the United States are at serious risk of flooding.
Crawl space waterproofing is one of the most powerful ways to prevent this extremely common kind of home damage. Like many other investments, crawl space waterproofing requires an upfront cost that will more than pay for itself in the long run.
However, many people do not know that much about crawl space waterproofing. What exactly does the process consist of? How do you find someone to perform a quality waterproofing job?
Read on to learn all about the most important things to understand about crawl space waterproofing and how to get it for your home!
The Importance of Crawl Space Home Waterproofing
As we have already discussed, water damage is extraordinarily common in the United States. That means that it is a predictable cost to maintain your home in the long run.
Anything that can help you decrease your long-term water damage costs is a potential way to save money. Of course, water damage doesn’t only cost money.
While you are waiting for the damage to be repaired, you may have to live with the inconvenience of a flooded basement or otherwise damaged home. On top of that, chronic water damage can lead to the development of unwanted organisms like mold.
If anyone in your home attempts to develop allergies in the spring, it is possible that it is actually the result of mold in your home. Children who grow up in the presence of mold in the home are more likely to develop permanent breathing conditions. These include mold allergies and asthma.
Anybody who has respiratory problems of any kind will probably find them exacerbated by the presence of mold in the home. Even if mold, mildew, and water damage do not cause acute health problems, they will affect your indoor air quality.
There is a big difference between the stuff or stagnant air and the kind of fresh air you can enjoy in your home with high indoor air quality. That means that crawl space waterproofing is a great way to save money, avoid inconvenience, and improve your quality of life all at the same time!
Find a Company With Quality Waterproofing Methods
Of course, no matter how good crawl space waterproofing is in theory, you will not be able to properly enjoy the benefits without proper installation. That makes it essential that you find a quality company to help you with your crawl space waterproofing.
But how can a layperson without experience in the industry know how to choose a great crawl space waterproofing company? One of the most important things to do is consider the range of options available to you.
After all, if you only look at two options, it doesn’t really matter how effectively you choose between them. The odds that the best company for you was among your original two options are not that high.
You may enjoy greater success if you first consider a wide variety of options. Then you can quickly narrow your options down by looking at things like online ratings and reviews.
The past experiences of customers may be the best way to assess whether a waterproofing company will do good work for you as well. You might also consider asking around for recommendations.
Anybody you know who has dealt with a waterproofing company may be able to tell you if you should hire or avoid hiring them.
Understanding the Crawl Space Waterproofing Process
Once you have found the right company, what will the waterproofing installation process look like? The most important part of the process is probably encapsulation. But your chosen company will have to prepare for encapsulation first.
That means that they will potentially need to clean the space and eliminate mold and other contaminants. On top of that, your combustion appliances might be producing carbon monoxide. Your contractors should check and resolve the problem if your appliances are creating carbon monoxide.
Once all of that is taken care of, your chosen contractors can start the encapsulation process. Encapsulation consists of laying a strong barrier of plastic out all around your crawl space. If done correctly, this will create an impenetrable barrier that will permanently solve water damage to your home.
The cost of waterproofing a crawl space can be very a lot. Sometimes, it might only cost about $2,000 for the encapsulation part of the process. On the other hand, it can sometimes cost as much as $15,000 instead.
However, encapsulation alone will not complete the process. You will also have to have contractors install a vapor barrier to keep moisture out of your home.
You may also need them to set up protection for your air handler and water heater. Lastly, contractors may need to use foam insulation and spray foam to create a perfect seal for your crawl space.
Understand the Most Important Principles of Crawl Space Waterproofing
We hope learning a little bit more about crawl space waterproofing has been helpful for you. Many people struggle with chronic water damage and other issues for many years without realizing that they can resolve the problem once and for all. The more you know about crawl space waterproofing, the more you will appreciate how it might be a valuable purchase for your home.
To learn more about crawl space waterproofing and what it might be able to do for you, feel free to reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!
