Crawl space
Crawl space repair in Murfreesboro
Repair is the work of putting right what moisture has already done under the house, and stopping the water that did it. Call to be connected with an independent local crawl space company that can look at yours.
What you tend to notice first
Most people never look under the house, so the first clue usually shows up indoors. The floor over one room feels cool or slightly springy. A closet smells like a cellar. The heating and cooling bill creeps up because the ducts under the floor are sitting in damp air.
Open the access door with a flashlight and the cause is often plain. There may be a puddle near the low side of the foundation, insulation hanging in strips, or a thin grey film on the joists. None of this means the house is in danger today. It does mean the space is staying wet, and wet wood does not recover by being left alone.
Where the water comes from
A repair that skips the source gets done twice. These are the usual ways moisture gets under a house.
The jobs that make up a repair
“Crawl space repair” is a bundle of smaller jobs. A proposal should say which of these it includes.
- Getting standing water out. Pumping or draining the puddle, then finding out whether it came from rain, groundwater or a leaking pipe.
- Clearing out what is ruined. Soaked insulation, rotted cardboard, old plastic sheeting and debris are bagged and carried out through the access door.
- Drying and cleaning the framing. Fans and a dehumidifier bring the wood down to a dry reading. Surface growth on the joists is cleaned off once the wood is dry.
- Replacing the ground cover. A new vapor barrier goes over the soil so the ground stops feeding moisture into the air.
- Putting insulation back. New insulation is fitted only after the space is dry, in a way that suits whether the vents will stay open or be sealed.
- Fixing the way in. A warped access door, broken vent covers and gaps around pipes are repaired so rain and animals stay out.
If water keeps arriving, the proposal may add a drain along the inside of the foundation and a sump pump. If the air stays humid all summer, it may recommend sealing the whole space.
What the work does to your house and yard
Nearly all of it happens under the floor. Workers go in and out through the access door, so expect a tarp on the lawn, bags of old insulation by the driveway and a hose or cord running to an outdoor tap and outlet.
Indoors you may hear fans and feel a little vibration. If the access is a hatch in a closet floor, that closet needs to be emptied first. Keep pets away from the open door. Low clearance slows everything down: a space you can only move through on your stomach takes longer than one you can kneel in.
Questions to put to the company
- Where is the water coming from, and how did you work that out?
- What were the moisture readings on the joists, and where were they taken?
- Which of the repair jobs are in this price, and which are extra?
- Will the old insulation and plastic be hauled away, or left on site?
- Do the vents stay open after this repair? If so, what keeps humid air from wetting the new insulation?
- What should I check after the next heavy rain to know the repair is holding?
Crawl space repair questions
Is crawl space repair the same as encapsulation?
No. Repair deals with damage and the water behind it. Encapsulation seals the space with a liner and controls the humidity afterwards. Many houses need some repair first and are then sealed so the trouble does not return.
Can I just put down new plastic myself?
A sheet of plastic over the soil helps with ground moisture, and plenty of homeowners lay one. It does nothing about roof water running in, a puddle that keeps refilling or humid air coming through the vents. If any of those is present, the plastic hides the problem and traps water under it.
The insulation fell down. Can it simply be pushed back up?
Not if it is damp. Wet batts hold water against the joists and will drop again. Find out why they got wet, let the framing dry, then fit new insulation.
Does repair work under the house need a permit in Murfreesboro?
The city requires a permit to alter or repair a structure and exempts normal maintenance. Which side of that a crawl space job falls on depends on what is being done, so ask the company whether yours needs one and who applies for it. The guide to choosing a company has more.
Have a crawl space looked at
Say what you have noticed under the house or in the basement. A short description is enough to get the conversation started.
Call from Murfreesboro or nearby
You will be put through to an independent local company that does this kind of work.
Call (615) 555-0113Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure to see how this service is paid for.