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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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Thursday, January 26, 2012
Indianapolis, IN Foundation Repair & Waterproofing
Basement / Crawl Space Waterproofing & Foundation Repair in Indianapolis, Indiana American Basement Solutions offers all of our basement waterproofing, crawlspace encapsulation, and foundation repair services to the great city of Indianapolis, Indiana (46258, 46260, 46256, 46236, 46250, 46240, 46268, 46278, 46220, 46216).
If you are experiencing a wet crawlspace, a leaky, wet basement, or a settling foundation, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions & The Crawl Space Company to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our foundation repair services for Indianapolis, IN:
Crawlspace Drainage & Encapsulation Systems
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Systems
Sump Pumps & Battery Backup Systems
Crawlspace and Basement Mold Remediation
Floor Joist, Sill Plate, and Center Beam Repair
Uneven and Sagging Floor Repair
Foundation Settlement & Crack Repair
With the 2012 Indianapolis Home Show and Super Bowl XLVI upon us, what better time to highlight our services to the great city of Indianapolis, IN. Indianapolis is the capital of the great state of Indiana. According to the 2010 US Census, the city's population is 829,718. It is Indiana's largest city and is the 12th largest city in the United States. It is also the second largest city in the Midwest behind Chicago. The metropolitan Indianapolis area is dear to the hearts of the Ralph family and we look forward to serving the great people of Indy for many years to come.
For all your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
If you are experiencing a wet crawlspace, a leaky, wet basement, or a settling foundation, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions & The Crawl Space Company to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our foundation repair services for Indianapolis, IN:
Crawlspace Drainage & Encapsulation Systems
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Systems
Sump Pumps & Battery Backup Systems
Crawlspace and Basement Mold Remediation
Floor Joist, Sill Plate, and Center Beam Repair
Uneven and Sagging Floor Repair
Foundation Settlement & Crack Repair
With the 2012 Indianapolis Home Show and Super Bowl XLVI upon us, what better time to highlight our services to the great city of Indianapolis, IN. Indianapolis is the capital of the great state of Indiana. According to the 2010 US Census, the city's population is 829,718. It is Indiana's largest city and is the 12th largest city in the United States. It is also the second largest city in the Midwest behind Chicago. The metropolitan Indianapolis area is dear to the hearts of the Ralph family and we look forward to serving the great people of Indy for many years to come.
For all your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Rockwell Basement Egress Wells
American Basement Solutions recently installed a Rockwell elite egress well with 4'x4' basement egress window. Below are pictures of the installation and the Angie's List Review of the work by the homeowner. Give us a call today 1-877-409-2837 for a free quote
Angies List Review:
Angies List Review:
Description Of Work:
American Basement Solutions installed an egress window in our basement. They had to dig a hole to install a 72"H X 66"W egress window well, cut a hole in the 10" thick poured foundation wall and install a window.
Member Comments:
Considering it was January, there were climate conditions of cold weather and muddy ground which they were completed prepared for. They arrived on time, well equipped with all necessary materials. They estimated three days and finished in three days.
The first day the dug the hole and put in new tile (which was not in the original estimate). They made several trips to inform us of the progress and ask our opinion on situations where we had a choice. The night before the second day we experienced thunderstorms and received over an inch of rain which made the site difficult to navigate. They had planned for this rain and there was no water in the hole next to the house. Temperatures dropped to 30 degrees that day but they stilled cut the hole and installed the window as planned. But the muddy ground made the third day necessary.
On the third day they completed all weatherizing for the new window and cleaned up the surrounding area completely and finished grading the outside yard and left it ready for grass seed.
We are completely satisfied in every way. We would definitely use them again.
The first day the dug the hole and put in new tile (which was not in the original estimate). They made several trips to inform us of the progress and ask our opinion on situations where we had a choice. The night before the second day we experienced thunderstorms and received over an inch of rain which made the site difficult to navigate. They had planned for this rain and there was no water in the hole next to the house. Temperatures dropped to 30 degrees that day but they stilled cut the hole and installed the window as planned. But the muddy ground made the third day necessary.
On the third day they completed all weatherizing for the new window and cleaned up the surrounding area completely and finished grading the outside yard and left it ready for grass seed.
We are completely satisfied in every way. We would definitely use them again.
2012 Indianapolis Home Show
Visit American Basement Solutions and The Crawl Space Company at Indiana State Fairgrounds for the 2012 Indianapolis Home Show (January 20-29, 2012). Also, do not forget to check out the centerpiece home built by Fischer Homes. A list of vendors & exhibitors is available at the Indianapolis Home Show Website.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Lebanon, IN Waterproofing & Foundation Repair
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Company in Lebanon, IN
American Basement Solutions offers all of our basement waterproofing, crawlspace encapsulation, and foundation repair services to the great city of Lebanon, Indiana (46052, 47991).
If you are experiencing a wet crawlspace, a leaky, wet basement, or a settling foundation, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our repair services for Lebanon, IN:
Crawlspace Drainage & Encapsulation Systems
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Systems
Sump Pumps & Battery Backup Systems
Crawlspace and Basement Mold Remediation
Floor Joist, Sill Plate, and Center Beam Repair
Uneven and Sagging Floor Repair
Foundation Settlement & Crack Repair
Visit our website @ www.americanbasementsolutions.com for more info.
Lebanon, Indiana is known as the 'friendly city' the county seat of Boone County, and the population of Lebanon is estimated at about 15,792 residents. The Major employers in Lebanon include General Foam Plastics, Hachette Book Group USA, Hendrickson International, the Parkwood Health Care Center and Witham Health Services. Fun Fact: The city was named Lebanon because a stand of hickory trees on the site reminded one of the town's commissioners of the Biblical cedars of Lebanon. The community of Lebanon is dear to the hearts of the Ralph family and we look forward to serving the people for many years to come.
For all your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
American Basement Solutions offers all of our basement waterproofing, crawlspace encapsulation, and foundation repair services to the great city of Lebanon, Indiana (46052, 47991).
If you are experiencing a wet crawlspace, a leaky, wet basement, or a settling foundation, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our repair services for Lebanon, IN:
Crawlspace Drainage & Encapsulation Systems
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Systems
Sump Pumps & Battery Backup Systems
Crawlspace and Basement Mold Remediation
Floor Joist, Sill Plate, and Center Beam Repair
Uneven and Sagging Floor Repair
Foundation Settlement & Crack Repair
Visit our website @ www.americanbasementsolutions.com for more info.
Lebanon, Indiana is known as the 'friendly city' the county seat of Boone County, and the population of Lebanon is estimated at about 15,792 residents. The Major employers in Lebanon include General Foam Plastics, Hachette Book Group USA, Hendrickson International, the Parkwood Health Care Center and Witham Health Services. Fun Fact: The city was named Lebanon because a stand of hickory trees on the site reminded one of the town's commissioners of the Biblical cedars of Lebanon. The community of Lebanon is dear to the hearts of the Ralph family and we look forward to serving the people for many years to come.
For all your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Complete CrawlSpace Restoration
This crawlspace had it all. Water, mold, wood rot, bugs, falling insulation, sump pump failure, and condensation. We restored this crawlspace back to a clean bill of health. Give American Basement Solutions a call for all your crawl space restoration needs..
1-877-409-2837.
1-877-409-2837.
Muncie, IN Waterproofing & Foundation Repair
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Company in Muncie, IN
American Basement Solutions offers all of our basement waterproofing, crawlspace encapsulation, and foundation repair services to the great city of Muncie, Indiana (47307, 47304, 47308).
If you are experiencing a wet crawlspace, a leaky, damp basement, or a sinking foundation, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our repair services for Muncie, IN:
Crawlspace Drainage & Encapsulation Systems
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Systems
Sump Pumps & Battery Backup Systems
Crawlspace and Basement Mold Removal
Floor Joist, Sill Plate, and Center Beam Repair
Unlevel and Sagging Floor Repair
Foundation Settlement & Crack Repair
Visit our website @ www.americanbasementsolutions.com for more info.
Muncie located in Delaware County, is best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation (a company famous for making glass canning jars). The city population, as of the 2010 Census, is 70,085. Muncie, Indiana offers a vast variety of entertainment, dining, culture and museums and is known for its big city service at small town prices. The community of Muncie is dear to the hearts of the Ralph family and we look forward to serving the people for many years to come.
For all your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
American Basement Solutions offers all of our basement waterproofing, crawlspace encapsulation, and foundation repair services to the great city of Muncie, Indiana (47307, 47304, 47308).
If you are experiencing a wet crawlspace, a leaky, damp basement, or a sinking foundation, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our repair services for Muncie, IN:
Crawlspace Drainage & Encapsulation Systems
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Systems
Sump Pumps & Battery Backup Systems
Crawlspace and Basement Mold Removal
Floor Joist, Sill Plate, and Center Beam Repair
Unlevel and Sagging Floor Repair
Foundation Settlement & Crack Repair
Visit our website @ www.americanbasementsolutions.com for more info.
Muncie located in Delaware County, is best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation (a company famous for making glass canning jars). The city population, as of the 2010 Census, is 70,085. Muncie, Indiana offers a vast variety of entertainment, dining, culture and museums and is known for its big city service at small town prices. The community of Muncie is dear to the hearts of the Ralph family and we look forward to serving the people for many years to come.
For all your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
Carmel, IN Waterproofing & Foundation Repair
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Company in Carmel, IN
American Basement Solutions offers all of our basement and crawlspace waterproofing and foundation repair services to the great city of Carmel, Indiana (46032, 46033, 46082).
If you are experiencing a damp crawlspace, a leaky, wet basement, or a settling foundation, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our repair services for Carmel, Indiana:
Crawlspace Drainage & Encapsulation Systems
Basement & Crawlspace Waterproofing Systems
Sump Pumps & Battery Backup Systems
Crawlspace & Basement Mold Remediation
Floor Joist, Sill Plate, and Center Beam Repair
Unlevel or Sagging Floor Repair
Foundation Crack & Settlement Repair
Visit our website @ www.americanbasementsolutions.com for more info.
Carmel, located in Hamilton County just north of Indy, has a population of 79,191, and is considered one of the most affluent communities in the Midwest. Carmel, Indiana is a real center of activities with the extremely popular CarmelFest every July 4th and the prestigious Carmel International Arts Festival. Carmel is also home to The Palladium at the Center for Performing Arts, a 1,600-seat, 151,000 sq ft state-of-the-art concert hall. The community of Carmel is truly dear to the hearts of the Ralph Family as we look to continue to serve the fine people of this great city for years to come.
For all your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
American Basement Solutions offers all of our basement and crawlspace waterproofing and foundation repair services to the great city of Carmel, Indiana (46032, 46033, 46082).
If you are experiencing a damp crawlspace, a leaky, wet basement, or a settling foundation, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our repair services for Carmel, Indiana:
Crawlspace Drainage & Encapsulation Systems
Basement & Crawlspace Waterproofing Systems
Sump Pumps & Battery Backup Systems
Crawlspace & Basement Mold Remediation
Floor Joist, Sill Plate, and Center Beam Repair
Unlevel or Sagging Floor Repair
Foundation Crack & Settlement Repair
Visit our website @ www.americanbasementsolutions.com for more info.
Carmel, located in Hamilton County just north of Indy, has a population of 79,191, and is considered one of the most affluent communities in the Midwest. Carmel, Indiana is a real center of activities with the extremely popular CarmelFest every July 4th and the prestigious Carmel International Arts Festival. Carmel is also home to The Palladium at the Center for Performing Arts, a 1,600-seat, 151,000 sq ft state-of-the-art concert hall. The community of Carmel is truly dear to the hearts of the Ralph Family as we look to continue to serve the fine people of this great city for years to come.
For all your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Fishers, IN Waterproofing & Foundation Repair
Basement and Crawlspace Waterproofing Company in Fishers, IN
American Basement Solutions offers all of our basement and crawlspace waterproofing services to the great city of Fishers, Indiana (46038, 46085, 46037).
If you are experiencing a wet crawlspace or leaky basement, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our repair services for Fishers, IN:
For your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
American Basement Solutions offers all of our basement and crawlspace waterproofing services to the great city of Fishers, Indiana (46038, 46085, 46037).
If you are experiencing a wet crawlspace or leaky basement, you have come to the right place. You can trust American Basement Solutions to give you the highest quality service at an affordable price. Below is a list of our repair services for Fishers, IN:
- Crawlspace Drainage & Encapsulation Systems
- Basement & Crawlspace Waterproofing Systems
- Sump Pumps & Battery Backup Systems
- Crawlspace & Basement Mold Remediation
- Floor Joist, Sill Plate, and Center Beam Repair
- Foundation Crack & Settlement Repair
For your basement, crawlspace, and foundation repairs, give us a call @ 1-877-409-2837.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Crawlspace Waterproofing Testimonials
After updating our large reference list that we give to each and every homeowner, I decided to post some of our recent crawlspace testimonials here on the blog. I hope it helps in your search for a quality basement and crawlspace waterproofing contractor.
"I am very pleased with the crawlspace and downspout renovation. May I extend my most sincere compliments to Brandon and the whole crew. They were highly skilled and very competent. Brandon is an outstanding communicator. He made certain we understood every step of the installation and how it works." - Phil D., Greenfield, IN
"Each member of your company were gentlemen, both inside and under our house. They worked together well. Tammy 'Everything is GREAT at ABS', was always very professional and friendly on the phone." Richard H., Shelbyville, IN
"Thank you for coming to speak with our church property committee (Larry). Your installers were very professional and friendly. You solved our problem completely!" - Larry G., Greenfield, IN
"Aaron and the crew were extremely courteous and friendly. The job was completed in a timely manner. Some work, to get water away from the house, was performed even though it was not a part of the contracted job. This additional work was done at no additional charge. We are very satisfied!" - Carl H., Bloomington, IN
"Across the board, I am satisfied with the work performed by American Basement Solutions. There were several companies competing for my business, but your responsiveness, follow-up, and cooperation set you apart from the rest. I will use you again in the future, and will recommend your services to others." Joe G., Franklin, IN
"Your behavior spoke so much louder than your words. I am so impressed with everyone I came into contact with. Thanks so much." Pat M., Edinburgh, IN
"We really appreciated the thorough job everyone did. When a problem developed after the initial work was completed, Aaron, Daniel, & the crew (after some discussion) "went the extra mile" to make things right. Still further, when I called the next day for advice about how to get the interior piers adjusted to support the floor joists, they came back again (same day) to make it better. We would not hesitate to recommend your company in the future. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!." - Mike S., Martinsville, IN
"My entire experience with ABS was exceptional, from the estimate of what I needed or didn't need to have done to the crewleader keeping me informed of the works progress. ABS is very customer friendly and above all HONEST. Thank you for an excellent job!" - James T, Shelbyville, IN
"Work was done in a timely manner and the crew was very helpful and professional" - AJ Wheeler., Madison, IN
"We were blessed to have found your company and hope that we can refer others to you" - Hershel W., Sadieville, Ky
If you are interested in having the same quality work as the satisfied customers above, GIVE US A CALL @ 1-877-409-2837.
Larry Ralph Jr
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Crawlspace Condensation - Sweating Ducts
With record summer heat and humidity, we have been receiving an enormous amount of calls from homeowners about their sweating crawl spaces. Most homeowners are unaware of what is causing their ducts, pipes, insulation, and sometimes wood structure to sweat in their crawl space. Surprisingly, the very thing that a homeowner thinks is drying their crawlspace (ie. vents) is actually the culprit behind their crawl space condensating.
Foundation Vents are causing condensation!
In the summer months when temperatures are in the 80's and 90's, the outside air is very humid. The crawlspace is consistently 55 - 60 degrees and cooler year round because of the earth's soil. When this hot, humid air is vented into a cooler environment, the coldest surfaces in the crawlspace will begin to condensate. It's the same concept as taking a cold glass of coke outside on a hot summer day. The surface of the glass is going to start sweating. So when venting a crawlspace on a summer day, there is going to be condensation on the crawl space walls, crawlspace floor (dirt or concrete), air ducts (especially when the AC is on), and cold water pipes. These surfaces are the coldest. On very hot days, floor joists, beams, sill plates, and insulation condensate as well.
Foundation Vents are causing condensation and higher heating bills!!
When your air conditioning travels through your duct work in a vented crawlspace in the summer, the cooler air in the ducts is competing against the outside humid air being brought into the crawl space. The AC unit will have to work twice as hard to compete against this outside air. Also, this humid summer air puts a latent load on the HVAC system because the AC system has to work harder to dehumidify this damp air. For more info as to why see my post "Foundation Vents are causing higher energy bills".
Foundation Vents are causing condensation, higher heating bills, and MOLD growth!!!
Another common problem with ventilation and condensation in the summer is the propagation of mold spores. Mold needs between 65% to 70% relative humidity in the air to remain active and produce spores. Outside summer air can reach 80 to 90 percent relative humidity on any given day. This humid air by itself can lead to an environment conducive to mold growth, especially when this air is reaching the dew point on cooler surfaces. Also, many homeowners spread mulch around their foundations and vents. What they do not realize is that mulch contains high levels of mold spores and that these spores are being introduced into a perfect environment for mold growth in the crawl space.
Crawlspace Condensation SOLUTION!
Since foundation vents are causing condensation, higher energy bills, and fungus growth, they should be closed and the crawl space sealed with our AmeriBrite crawl space encapsulation system. It is not recommended to close off the vents permanently without first encapsulating
your crawlspace.
If you live in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, or Illinois, and are tired of dealing with crawl space
condensation and interested in encapsulating your crawlspace, give us a call 1-877-409-2837 or
SIGN UP ONLINE for a FREE ESTIMATE.
Thanks for reading the rambling thoughts of a crawlspace inspector,
Larry Ralph Jr., Becky, Daniel, and Aaron
Friday, May 7, 2010
Top 5 Crawl Space Repair Mistakes
Many homeowners that search the internet for crawlspace repair information end up in home repair forums. While there is some good information out there, there are many examples of bad and outdated advice related to fixing your crawlspace. I have witnessed firsthand the results of bad crawlspace repair and would like to set the record straight on what I consider to be the worst 5 crawlspace repairs I've seen.
1. Adding more foundation vents to the crawlspace - Old buiding codes and bad advice have resulted in homeonwers adding more vents to their crawlspace in order to dry the high moisture content in their crawlspaces. The thinking behind ventilation was that air circulation would force the moisture in the crawl space air to end up outside. Through testing, it has been proven that warm, humid outdoor air brought into the crawl space through foundation vents in the summer can lead to increased moisture levels in the crawlspace. Also, the air movement in a home does not move side to side through the vents, but instead upwards (Stack Effect). This Stack Effect draws air inward from every crawl space vent and up into the living space of the home. A properly encapsulated crawlspace is the only solution to reduce high moisture levels in a crawlspace.
2. Spray Foam a wet or damp crawlspace foundation wall - While spraying open or closed cell foam in your home is one of the most efficient forms of insulation, it is rarely applicable in a crawlspace. Spray foam insulation traps water and moisture in the block wall or between the wall and the foam. This moisture has nowhere to go but UP, especially since a building's air movement is upwards (Stack Effect). Up above the foundation are wood components (sill plate, floor joist, bandboard, and subfloor) that are susceptible to wood rot and mold growth. See my post on spray foam insulation in a crawlspace for more information.
3. Staple a vapor barrier to the floor joists - I have not seen a single crawlspace repair mistake more responsible for wood rot and mold than when plastic is attached to the floor joist system. The thinking behind this is to stop moisture intrusion of the crawlspace air from entering the wood components. There are many problems with this; but the most important to know is that most crawlspaces are vented and the cooler surfaces such as duct work, pipes, and the floor will condensate in the summer. The plastic will trap the condensation up against the floor structure causing mold and wood rot to occur.
4. Insulating a damp crawlspace with fiberglass insulation - This is another example of outdated advice resulting in mold growth. Paper faced insulation is "mold candy". Please read Do not insulate your floors with fiberglass insulation for the complete scoop.
5. Improper drainage system installations - Many crawlspaces have water standing on the ground floor after heavy rains. There are many reasons why water enters, and several solutions to prevent or remove the standing water. The worst solution is to ignore this recurring problem, or repair the problem with a stand alone pit and pump (especially a pump in a five gallon bucket). A sump pump alone cannot pump all the water that pools around the perimeter or in the middle of the crawlspace. A perimeter drain is necessary to intercept the water and facilitate it to the pump.
Crawlspace Repair Mistakes that didn't make the Top 5:
Venting the Dryer into the Crawlspace - this is only considered a repair mistake because homeowners quit trying to replace the dryer duct in the crawlspace after it breaks or clogs. This will pump gallons of water into the crawlspace air causing it to move upward into the wood components because warm air rises.
Insulating Heat Ducts in a Crawlspace with Fiberglass - Ducts in a vented crawlspace will condensate and the fiberglass will soak up all of this excess water causing mold to grow around the duct in the fiberglass.
Improper Gutter and Downspout Maintenance - Gutters are designed to take roof water away from your home and foundation. Allowing clogged gutters to overpour water will result in more water entering the crawlspace. The biggest mistake of all is allowing the downspouts to drain the water right up against the foundation. The downspouts should be extended at least 10' to 15' away from the home to prevent roof water from entering the crawlspace.
Stapling the Vapor Barrier to the Sill Plate
If you live in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, or Illinois, and have experienced bad crawlspace repairs, give us a call 1-877-409-2837 or SIGN UP ONLINE for a FREE ESTIMATE.
Thanks for reading the rambling thoughts of a crawlspace inspector,
Larry Ralph Jr.
1. Adding more foundation vents to the crawlspace - Old buiding codes and bad advice have resulted in homeonwers adding more vents to their crawlspace in order to dry the high moisture content in their crawlspaces. The thinking behind ventilation was that air circulation would force the moisture in the crawl space air to end up outside. Through testing, it has been proven that warm, humid outdoor air brought into the crawl space through foundation vents in the summer can lead to increased moisture levels in the crawlspace. Also, the air movement in a home does not move side to side through the vents, but instead upwards (Stack Effect). This Stack Effect draws air inward from every crawl space vent and up into the living space of the home. A properly encapsulated crawlspace is the only solution to reduce high moisture levels in a crawlspace.
2. Spray Foam a wet or damp crawlspace foundation wall - While spraying open or closed cell foam in your home is one of the most efficient forms of insulation, it is rarely applicable in a crawlspace. Spray foam insulation traps water and moisture in the block wall or between the wall and the foam. This moisture has nowhere to go but UP, especially since a building's air movement is upwards (Stack Effect). Up above the foundation are wood components (sill plate, floor joist, bandboard, and subfloor) that are susceptible to wood rot and mold growth. See my post on spray foam insulation in a crawlspace for more information.
3. Staple a vapor barrier to the floor joists - I have not seen a single crawlspace repair mistake more responsible for wood rot and mold than when plastic is attached to the floor joist system. The thinking behind this is to stop moisture intrusion of the crawlspace air from entering the wood components. There are many problems with this; but the most important to know is that most crawlspaces are vented and the cooler surfaces such as duct work, pipes, and the floor will condensate in the summer. The plastic will trap the condensation up against the floor structure causing mold and wood rot to occur.
4. Insulating a damp crawlspace with fiberglass insulation - This is another example of outdated advice resulting in mold growth. Paper faced insulation is "mold candy". Please read Do not insulate your floors with fiberglass insulation for the complete scoop.
5. Improper drainage system installations - Many crawlspaces have water standing on the ground floor after heavy rains. There are many reasons why water enters, and several solutions to prevent or remove the standing water. The worst solution is to ignore this recurring problem, or repair the problem with a stand alone pit and pump (especially a pump in a five gallon bucket). A sump pump alone cannot pump all the water that pools around the perimeter or in the middle of the crawlspace. A perimeter drain is necessary to intercept the water and facilitate it to the pump.
Crawlspace Repair Mistakes that didn't make the Top 5:
Venting the Dryer into the Crawlspace - this is only considered a repair mistake because homeowners quit trying to replace the dryer duct in the crawlspace after it breaks or clogs. This will pump gallons of water into the crawlspace air causing it to move upward into the wood components because warm air rises.
Insulating Heat Ducts in a Crawlspace with Fiberglass - Ducts in a vented crawlspace will condensate and the fiberglass will soak up all of this excess water causing mold to grow around the duct in the fiberglass.
Improper Gutter and Downspout Maintenance - Gutters are designed to take roof water away from your home and foundation. Allowing clogged gutters to overpour water will result in more water entering the crawlspace. The biggest mistake of all is allowing the downspouts to drain the water right up against the foundation. The downspouts should be extended at least 10' to 15' away from the home to prevent roof water from entering the crawlspace.
Stapling the Vapor Barrier to the Sill Plate
If you live in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, or Illinois, and have experienced bad crawlspace repairs, give us a call 1-877-409-2837 or SIGN UP ONLINE for a FREE ESTIMATE.
Thanks for reading the rambling thoughts of a crawlspace inspector,
Larry Ralph Jr.
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