If your home has a crawl space, you need to make sure it’s properly taken care of. A damaged crawl space can cause structural issues for the rest of your home, among other serious issues. If your crawl space is already damaged, you need to start fixing it right away.
What are some common crawl space error repairs to avoid when fixing crawl spaces?
If you want to avoid costly repairs when fixing your crawl space, you’re in luck! Here’s how you can start repairing your crawl space.
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Installing Too Many Vents
You may believe that the more vents your crawl space has, the less humid your crawl space will be. However, this is not the case! Adding too many air vents into your crawl space will suck outside humidity into your crawl space; instead of forcing out humid air, you will be making your crawl space even damper.
Additional vents may also attract pests to your crawl space. Just stick to the vents you already have!
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Using Spray Foam Insulation
While spray foam insulation may help throughout the rest of your home, you should never use it in your crawl space. Spray foam insulation can trap dampness inside of your crawl space, promoting the growth of mold. It can also cause severe cases of wood rot.
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Neglecting the Drainage System
Standing water in your crawl space is one of the worst things for your home. Once groundwater gets into your crawl space, you need a way to quickly drain it out before it can cause damage to your crawl space. That’s where installing a good drainage system comes in handy.
You can’t rely on sealants alone to solve your standing water problems. Water can always find a way through the cracks; if you want your crawl space to stay safe and dry, don’t neglect the draining system!
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Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass is a low-cost form of insulation that many use in their homes. However, your crawl space should not be insulated using fiberglass! While many believe it gets rid of moisture in the area, it actually just absorbs and holds onto the moisture; with nowhere for that water to go, it can still cause damage to your crawl space.
A crawl space dehumidifier can help in place of insulation. It helps keep moisture out of the crawl space without risking the integrity of the crawl space.
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Adding Vapor Barriers to Floor Joists
Vapor barriers can provide some water protection to your crawl space. However, adding vapor barriers to floor joists can put them at serious risk. Humidity can build up underneath the barrier, causing damage to the floor joist over time.
This is especially dangerous during the summer when the humidity gets high. Condensation can build underneath the barrier, it can rot the wood and become a breeding ground for termites. Ask a professional how you can use vapor barriers properly instead of putting your home at risk!
Avoid these Crawl Space Repair Errors
Now that you know these common crawl space repair errors, you can get to work fixing your damaged crawl space. If you’re ever in doubt, contact a licensed professional to help with crawl space repair!
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