You probably don't spend much time down in your crawl space, but our water damage specialists in Cobb County are quite familiar with that area of the typical residence. The dirt-floored crawl space beneath your house is one of the primary target areas where moisture migration or water inundation frequently occurs. This makes it also a primary location for structural deterioration and growth of toxic mold, as well as a magnet for insect and vermin infestation. To minimize the effects of an either chronically or intermittently wet crawl space, here are some options recommended by water damage specialists in Cobb County.
- Untreated wooden structural components should not be in direct contact with the dirt floor of the crawl space.
- Make sure gutters and downspouts convey rainwater sufficiently far from the house so that it does not soak into the ground and infiltrate the crawl space.
- To divert water away, the landscape immediately surrounding the perimeter of the house should be sloped to form at least a 5 percent grade away from the house.
- Install a gasket around the foundation sill to ensure air-sealing the space.
- An EPDM synthetic membrane can prevent water wicking from the masonry that forms the foundation wall. Where the wall enters the earth, damp-proof the wall to prevent moisture absorption.
- Install a foundation drainage system around the bottom of the foundation footing, consisting of a perforated four-inch pipe surrounded by gravel and wrapped with filter fabric.
- Place a 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier over the dirt floor to prevent moisture rising from the soil and accumulating in the crawl space. Overlap the seams of the barrier and tape. Secure the edge of the barrier 6 inches up the crawl space wall.
For professional crawl space inspection by water damage specialists in Cobb County, contact Rytech, Inc.
