How to Waterproof a Crawl Space

Posted by: Chris
Date: March 9, 2022

Waterproof a Crawl Space

Have you ever thought about how to waterproof a crawl space in your home? There are many reasons why this may be needed. The area is a very critical part of the structure of your home. Flooding in this area is always a possibility. If this happens, it can cost a lot of money to fix, not to mention time and energy.

What Are the Main Dangers of a Flooded Crawl space?

There are a lot of reasons why you need to make sure that your crawl space never gets flooded. The main reason is because this area is so crucial to the well being of your basic structure. If this area should get waterlogged, it can compromise its integrity. This can lead to it being evacuate or even demolished.

This is the area from which most of the air in your home will circulate. You can’t afford to let the air get contaminated by standing water. It will create humidity issues that can make the quality of the air suspect. It can also give mold and bacteria a free space in which to multiply and lead to health issues.

A Vapor Barrier Will Protect Your Soil

The soil in your crawl space needs to be kept as dry as possible. This is an area where flooding or excess humidity is very undesirable. Many crawlspace floors are left completely unprotected. Instead of keeping this area bare, you can cover it up with plastic sheets. This will prevent water from forming pools.

This is the kind of job that you may not be qualified to do on your own. Getting the plastic sheets laid just right can be a tricky operation. They need to cover the area in a symmetrical and effective fashion. They also need to be monitored to make sure they are doing their job. Your best bet is to hire a pro to do it.

You Need to Seal Up the Leaks

Your crawl space is not an area where you can afford to have too many gaps, leaks, cracks, and other fissures. You don’t want rain or flood water getting into this area and causing all many of issues. Water can also enter through the vents, piers, foundation, and many other points. The time to stop this is now.

This is all the more crucial if the house was not new when you bought it. One of the very first things you will need to do is give this area a thorough going over. It may not have received this kind of attention since it was first built. If this is the case, there may be problems that are just building up to occur.

Sealing off all of the areas where water can enter is a good way to extend the life of your home. You can use caulk and other materials to seal off some of them. However, there may be other areas, especially around your foundation, where you may need expert help. A crawl space drainage pro can handle this task.

You May Need to Use a Sump Pump

If water has already gotten into your crawl space, you may need to hire a sump pump to get it out. This is the kind of job that may require more than one person to handle. The main issue will be using the right size pump to cover the area. Your best bet will be to hire an expert service to gauge the details.

A sump pump is the best solution to handle flooding issues. This is true even if the water has been standing there for a long time. It may take a few hours to get every last drop of water out. However, the sump pump system is a complex and thorough one. It can remove water from even the most hidden nooks and crevices.

Make Sure Your Drainage System is Working

The last thing you need to make sure of is that each and every element of your drainage system is working in good order. This is crucial since, without the proper amount of drainage, you can expect your crawl space to flood on a regular basis.

You can hire a professional service to handle this task on your behalf. The goal will be to check the exterior and interior drainage systems in your home. This will certainly include your crawl space. Getting a clean bill of health in this area is essential to your safety.

Contact Drainage and Waterproofing to Waterproof a Crawl Space

Drainage and Waterproofing Solutions is here to be your one stop for all of your water drainage needs. We serve customers in Raleigh, Fayetteville, Southern Pines, and surrounding areas. We realize that these are critical issues that demand cost effective solutions. Get in touch with us today for more info about how to waterproof a crawl space.