A house with a crawl space instead of a full basement may have excess moisture underneath. Water in the soil evaporates, and the resulting condensation rises through the house. Too much moisture coming from the crawl space can lead to problems with rust, corrosion, rot, and mold.
A professional like those at Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake can help a homeowner keep the house safe, clean, and dry.
Excess moisture can also devastate any subfloor or building material made from wood, such as floor joists, subfloors, posts, and beams. Wood, constantly exposed to water, will rot. Floors that rot can be expensive to fix and often one that the homeowner’s insurance policy won’t cover.
Mold can be a big problem in damp houses, and unmitigated mold can cause many health problems, including allergy attacks, respiratory problems, eye or skin irritation, coughing, and wheezing. Removing mold isn’t enough. The mold will grow back over time without removing the extra moisture.
A vapor barrier can help prevent excess moisture from entering a home through the crawlspace. Vapor barriers are sheets of plastic securely placed over the damp soil. Thicker plastic is more durable and will better protect the house from moisture. When the crawl space is dry, the house will be too.
Vapor barriers can also help with radon mitigation. If a home is tested and found to have a problem with radon, a good vapor barrier in the crawl space used in conjunction with pipes and fans can suck the radon out of the crawl space to the outdoors.
When installing a vapor barrier, most people leave it to the professionals. Navigating a crawl space and laying down plastic is a difficult job. The professional, experienced technicians at Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake can install a vapor barrier with no leaks that will protect the home from the damaging effects of moisture and keep the crawl space clean. Contact us for an appointment to learn more about vapor barriers and their benefit in crawl spaces.
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Accurate Builders of the Chesapeake provide foundation, basement, and crawlspace installation and repair for the greater Baltimore area homeowners.
