Your Complete Guide to Crawl Space Waterproofing

Often, basements and crawl spaces are dark and wet. They’re a natural breeding ground for contaminants such as mold and rodents.

These conditions can compromise the integrity of your HVAC system. They can also compromise your water heater and other mechanical components of your home.

Plus, they can cause serious air quality issues in your home. Crawl space waterproofing can protect your home from these kinds of problems.

How Much Does Waterproofing a Crawl Space Cost?

The cost of waterproofing your basement or crawl space varies, depending on what the contractor needs to do. For each service that the contractor performs, there are additional costs.

Other factors can also affect how much waterproofing your crawl space costs. The factors may include the location of your home, which services the contractor performs, and how much they charge for those services.

A small foundation repair may cost $2,000 but can cost $10,000 or more. If you need a sump pump, that alone can cost $1,000.

If there’s no sump pump basin, that’s an additional expense. If the job requires the installation of drain tile, that project can cost between $8,000 and $15,000.

Encapsulation, the installation of a vapor barrier over the exterior of your basement, is a better option. Basement encapsulation can cost between $2,000 and $15,000.

On average, homeowners pay between $4,000 and $8,000 to have their basement encapsulated. For crawl spaces, it can cost between $2,000 and $10,000 for encapsulation.

Waterproofing a Crawl Space in Your Home

Before waterproofing your crawl space, you must address any issues. To begin with, you must mitigate combustion, drainage, or mold problems.

Improper drainage around your foundation is a problem. It can indicate unsatisfactory grading or an unmaintained drainage system. Such conditions can allow water into your basement or crawl space. If you see standing puddles in your basement or crawl space, you’ll need to hire a structural engineer to resolve the issue.

You also need to watch out for mold growing in floor joists or your HVAC equipment. You cannot encapsulate your basement or crawl space before taking care of this matter.

You should also have your contractor check for back-drafting from combustion appliances. This inspection will ensure that your gas furnace and water heater are not giving off carbon monoxide.

Don’t encapsulate your crawl space or basement before attending to this matter. Leaky appliances can filter dangerous gases into your household. Most homes don’t have these kinds of problems, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Either way, you want to deal with these problems before the contractor starts their work. Encapsulation can trap mold – for instance – in your basement or crawl space.

A competent contractor will always inspect your basement or crawl space for mold beforehand. They will also check whether your gas furnace or water heater is giving off carbon monoxide.

Now, you know there’s no mold and you don’t have to worry about gas back-drafting into your house. Once the contractor verifies that your basement or crawl space is clear of all threats, they can begin the encapsulation project.

Preventative Maintenance: Making Your Crawl Space Waterproofing Job Last

Encapsulation isn’t the end of caring for your basement or crawl space. You must completely seal the floor, walls, and vents. The goal here is to create an envelope that protects your home from the outdoors.

A plastic vapor barrier attached to the foundation, walls, piers, and mechanical equipment will do the job. It will keep moisture out of your crawl space and out of your critical mechanical appliances.

In addition to attaching a barrier to the walls and piers, you should also have your contractor protect your air handler and water heater. The same applies to any vents or openings that lead outdoors.

The vapor barrier will prevent humid outdoor air from entering your basement or crawl space. For example, a contractor can seal off crawl space vents with foam board and spray foam insulation. They can also attach foam boards to the crawl space door.

Next, the contractor will attach foam insulation to all crawl space walls. Finally, they will air seal all cracks and gaps with spray foam, such as AC drain lines and band joints, as well as plumbing and electrical wiring openings.

Crawl Space Waterproofing Companies

As you can see, waterproofing your basement or crawl space goes beyond a weekend do-it-yourself project. It’s a wise choice to hire a contractor to do the job right the first time. Deciding to hire a contractor is a big decision, but so is choosing to waterproof your basement or crawl space.

You can find the right contractor by finding out who worked on your neighbors’ homes, paying attention to local advertisements, and checking out Yelp reviews. You can also check with services such as Angie’s List. There are many such online sources that you can use to research local contractors.

Once you’ve narrowed down the field, make sure to check contractor references. Look for a waterproofing contractor that offers a lifetime warranty on their services, such as crawl space waterproofing, crack repair, and interior drain tile.

For services such as exterior repair and other miscellaneous projects, look for a contractor that offers limited warranties. You also want to make sure your contractor has been around for a while.

If your contractor has been servicing local homes for a while, that’s a good indicator that they’ll still be there if you need them in the future. Talk to local homeowners and check with the Better Business Bureau to research a contractor’s longevity.

Sedona Waterproofing Solutions will care for your home as if it was our own. Call (704) 960-7906 today to schedule a consultation with one of our expert contractors to protect your home and your loved ones.

Learn more about Sedona Waterproofing Solutions.