Basement waterproofing and crawl space repair in SC

Basement Waterproofing Techniques That Really Work

Mon, December 12 2011, 00:00:00 -500

There are three main approaches to drying a basement: exterior waterproofing, negative-side sealing, and interior drainage. What follows is a clear-cut evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of each:

Exterior Waterproofing

Exterior waterproofing on an already built home requires some excavation to expose the foundation. This involves digging up anything around the edges of the home, including gardens, shrubberies, sidewalks, and more. The excavated dirt will be mounded in the yard, usually on tarps, until it can be returned. If there is a failed exterior system in place, that will be removed during the excavation process.

Next, a drain pipe will be laid around the foundation exterior, with an extending pipe sloping down and away from the foundation. A waterproof coating will be applied to the outside of the foundation walls – ideally, after they've been cleaned free of debris. Then, removed soil is backfilled into the excavated space, and an attempt to restore the landscaping may be conducted. A year after the soil is backfilled, it will settle and need regrading.

Advantages: Many contractors swear by this method of waterproofing, pointing out that water and humidity are kept from the space with this method (as moisture will pass through the pores of concrete and into your basement). This method works quite well for many homeowners, and has been used for many years.

Disadvantages: Exterior waterproofing is time-consuming, expensive, and destructive to landscaping. The excavation process is disruptive to the home and neighborhood, requiring heavy machinery and dirt to be piled on your lawn. Additionally, it costs about twice the amount of interior waterproofing.

Negative-Side Sealants

One popular do-it-yourself solution (you won't see many contractors suggesting this method) is to coat the interior walls with a waterproof paint, dampproof coating, or hydraulic cement. These coatings are available at local box stores.

Advantages: This is a fast installation, and it's simple enough for even a novice do-it-yourselfer to undertake. Among the options listed, it's by far the least expensive, and it can be done without jackhammering, excavation, dust, or the installation of a drainage system.

Disadvantages: If negative-side sealants worked, you can be sure that contractors would give up on the other, more complicated solutions and adopt this solution. However, it's been proven time and again that these coatings will generally peel, chip, or flake off the walls in a few year's time – and they're not effective at stopping leaking through cracks in the walls and floors. Once applied, these products are extremely difficult to remove, and you'll find that the basement is worse off than before.

Interior Waterproofing

This solution requires the interior perimeter of the basement floor to be removed – typically with a jackhammer. Once the floor has been removed, a trench is created, and a bed of drainage gravel is placed. A drainage system is put into place, directing the water to a sump pump system, and then the floor is restored.

Advantages: This solution can be installed quickly – usually in about two days – and can be done at about half the price of the exterior methods. Interior systems are reliable, and can be effectively serviced if something goes wrong, with no need to excavate the exterior to access the drain. Because this system actively pumps water from the basement, it is much more effective at water removal than a passive drain placed outside the home.

Disadvantages: There's a lot of competition in the marketplace for products used for interior drainage systems, as well as sump pumps. Some are reliable, some are not, and it can be difficult to differentiate between the two unless you're a professional in the marketplace. When jackhammering is required, dust will be created, some of which can find its way into the home. For homes with monolithic foundations and very thick floors, we recommend minimizing the potential for dust by installing a drain system located along the baseboard instead of under the floor.

Contact CleanSpace® of the Carolinas today for more information about the Basement Systems patented and award-winning waterproofing systems that are backed by a lifetime limited warranty! We offer a free estimate for basement waterproofing in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Moist Crawl Space Problems: Mold and Dust Mites

Mon, December 12 2011, 00:00:00 -500

A dirt crawl space tends to make way for some pretty moist conditions, as the moisture from the earth is able to enter directly into the space. Humidity enters the space when air sucks the moisture from the earth directly into the air. Humidity can also come from water leaks as well as water build up in the earth, which then leaks into your crawl space.

Another way moisture enters your basement is through vents. These vents were originally intended to allow moist air to escape. Unfortunately this method instead pulls outside air into the crawlspace. The outside air is completely unconditioned and brings hot air into your crawl space in the summer months and cold air during the winter months. This will cost you more money as damp air costs more to heat and cool. Not only can crawl space moisture have an effect on your energy bills, it can also target your houses infrastructure and your health.

Mold

When the organic materials in your crawl space come in contact with moisture it is a recipe for disaster. Mold targets organic material, which is material that was once living. It is especially attracted to organic material that wet. Mold needs 70% relative humidity to grow, although some types of mold can grow in less humidity. Relative humidity refers to how saturated the air is with moisture. Mold has a tendency to start growing on processed organic fibers like paper and cardboard first, then on fiberboard and chipboard, then plywood and finally on framing lumber. Mold has a tendency to spread very fast as the slightest air currents can carry mold spores which act as seeds. As you can see, mold is can be very hazardous to not only your crawl space, but also your home.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are microscopic parasites that live off of human skin flakes that we naturally shed. When these dust mites are living in your home people react to the dust mite droppings which are so tiny they float in the air, this is how they are accessible to be breathed in and aggravate allergies and asthma.

Dust mites are the number one indoor allergen for people with asthma and allergies. A reason dust mites love houses with damp crawl spaces is because they do not drink water, instead, they absorb it through their skin. Dust mites need over 50% relative humidity to live. Dust mites love humid houses for this reason; they can reside in your bedding, carpet or furniture while surviving because the humid air from the crawl space is being circulated throughout the home. The good news is that when the crawl space is dried out the dust mites will also dry out and die.

How to Control the Humidity

If mold and dust mites are making their way into your home, it’s time to start controlling the humidity in your crawlspace. Humidity levels below 60% create an environment where the troublesome mold and dust mites will not be able to thrive any longer. In order to create an atmosphere where this is possible, installing a dehumidifier is essential. By doing this you are sealing out the humid outside air and protecting your crawlspace and entire home from mold and dust mite problems.

CleanSpace® of the Carolinas, Inc. can help solve your moist crawl space problems. They specialize in repairing and waterproofing basements and crawl spaces in Myrtle Beach, SC and all surrounding areas. CleanSpace of the Carolinas, Inc. services much of North and South Carolina including Charleston, Fayetteville, and Wilmington.

Humidity: Your Crawl Space's Worst Enemy

Fri, October 7 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Myrtle Beach, SC – When humidity finds its way into your crawl space it can cause numerous problems. Not only does it have the potential to destroy your crawl space but it also has the capability to spread these problems throughout your entire house.

Humidity enters your crawl space when the air outside is warmer than the air inside. This will then cause condensation on the floor joists, insulation, beams, floor and anything else stored in the space. When this happens it is the perfect environment for mold and rot to grow which produces a foul odor. The rotting wood will attract insects, such as termites. These insects will then attract rodents that will feed off of them.

This humidity can have effects that go beyond the crawl space walls. Humidity can cause things like drywall cracks and uneven floors throughout your home. This is a common scenario we see, but luckily we have a solution for it.

To solve your crawl space problems we use a 5 step process to permanently remove humidity from your crawl space and home.

•   First, we install door and vent covers. This is to stop the cycle of humidity and moisture that has been entering your home in the past.

•   Second, we remove any standing water sources by installing a crawl space drain and sump pump system.

•   Third we repair any sagging or areas damaged by mold and rot of the crawl space. This is the step in which we would install crawl space support jacks to restore the structure to its original position

•   Fourth, we encapsulate and insulate the crawl space. This stops the moisture from passing through the floors and concrete walls. We use a durable crawl space liner which will not only keep moisture out but will also be able to be used as storage space.

•   Our Fifth and final step is to install a dehumidifier. We install energy efficient, self draining crawl space dehumidifiers that will suck any remaining moisture out of the air. We also can install crawl space fans that vent air from your home into the crawl space. This will help keep crawl space humidity to a minimum.

CleanSpace of the Carolinas is a locally owned and operated contractor that has been serving the residents of North and South Carolina since 1962. We specialize in basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and mold removal in Lancaster, SC and surrounding areas. Visit CleanSpace of the Carolinas online for a free basement waterproofing, crawl space repair, or mold removal estimate in SC.

Clean Space of the Carolinas Continues to Stay on Top

Tue, August 9 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Bev Griggs and her team are consistently in the top of the CleanSpace rankings every year. It’s no easy task, as they have a small full-time population base to work in compared to many. Their population swells every summer for the tourist season, and once fall arrives it’s back to the quiet coastal town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Bev attributes their success to the constant focus on CleanSpace, a great sales manager that helps carry the load, a production team that delivers great quality every time, and a fantastic office team that is caring and dedicated to delivering a perfect crawl space solution for every homeowner.

This year, as in past years, the team from CleanSpace of the Carolinas gave their time and money to Kamp Kemo, a summer camp for children with cancer.

Crawl Space Repair is a Prime Necessity for Homeowners

Mon, November 22 2010, 11:34:23 -500

It's been said that there's no place like home, but is that because of its beauty or dysfunction? You deserve a safe, healthy and comfortable home. Before you buy a home that could bring on the discomfort, check out the crawl space.

Although a crawl space can develop some issues along the way, there aren't too many problems that a crawl space repair expert will be unable to fix. What problems should you be on the look out for and how should you respond? Well, let's check them out.

Crawl Space Moisture

Moisture can enter into the environment through vents, the floor and cracks or other openings. But, how exactly does the moisture enter and then cause a problem?

Some crawl spaces have vents because venting the space was thought to solve the moisture problem when it's actually a high contributor! When the air outside the home is hot and humid, within the space is usually significantly cooler. However, when the warmer air enters the space something called the stack effect occurs and increases the relative humidity. When relative humidity increases there's also an increase in moisture and condensation.

It was thought that the vent would bring in air and push out the bad air through another vent. Unfortunately this didn't work as planned. Once the air enters and increases the relative humidity, it then rises throughout the rest of the house. This means whatever's in your crawl space travels through the rest of your home.

It's been estimated that half of the air on the first floor of a home actually comes from the crawl space. So, keep that space clean and dry!

Since many crawl spaces have dirt floors, moisture can easily rise from the soil. Some soil is far moister than others, but when the rains come the water will rise to the top of the soil and this means your crawl space will become moist.

In addition, a moist crawl space will also harbor mold.

Mold

Mold comes from moisture. When your crawl space has moisture and organic material like wood or cardboard, it becomes the perfect environment for mold growth.

Once mold grows, it feeds on organic materials and then it spreads within 24 to 48 hours. This also means that you're bound to have a musty smell within your crawl space and throughout your home.

Unfortunately, mold doesn't go away until the source of the moisture goes away. This means: close off the vents, seal the cracks and have a crawl space expert install a vapor barrier and sump pump.

Vapor Barrier and Sump Pump

The vapor barrier will close off the vents and provide a barrier between the floor and the space. This will not only help with moisture control, but it will also provide a tighter seal and lower your utility costs. For the most efficient waterproofing be sure to have a sump pump system installed. This will take the water from beneath the ground and disperse it out and away from the foundation.

Contact Clean Space® of the Carolinas today to schedule a free estimate for crawl space repair in South Carolina. They're the local expert and are ready to help.

Repairing A Sinking, Sagging Crawl Space

Mon, November 22 2010, 00:00:00 -500

Sagging, sinking crawl spaces are a housing epidemic that has been plauging homeowners for more than 50 years. Deficieincies in crawl space construction methods, including too few supports, improperly designed supports, and designing crawl spaces that allow for the growth of mold, rot, and mildew have lead to thousands of damaged crawl spaces across the country

Why Install A Crawl Space Instead Of A Basement?

A contractor will choose to install a crawl space over a basement for one reason only: to cut down on the total construction costs of the structure. With this money-saving mentality in mind, they will look for inexpensive ways to build the home, while still following local building codes.

One easy way for them to cut corners is to install crawl space vents in the home. These vents are accepted by local building code as a way to create a crosscurrent through the crawl space, theoretically keeping the crawl space dry. When compared to sealing the crawl space and installing a dehumidifier, the vents are a great, easy way for the contractor to get the job done.

Why Crawl Space Vents Fail

The theory behind crawl space vents operates on two bad assumptions:

The vents will create cross-ventilation in the crawl space.
Outside air will dry the crawl space.

However, the natural movement of air that enters a crawl space through the vents is upwards, not sideways. This is due to a phenomenon known as the stack effect, which pulls air upwards though the home it warms and rises.

Warm air will exit the home through the attic and upper levels, creating a vacuum that pulls air upwards from the first floor and below-grade spaces. If there are odors, allergens, or humidity in the air, it will be pulled upwards as well.

Next, consider the air that's actually entering the crawl space. How dry will your crawl space be if the weather outside is foggy, rainy, snowy, or just plain damp?

And on a humid day, the air will cool in a crawl space, leading to condensation on surfaces that encourages the growth of mold and rot. Over time, this moisture, mold and humidity will ruin insulation, damage stored items, and eventually damage the structural wood, damaging your home.

Improperly Designed Support Systems

Vented, damp crawl spaces are not the only souce of crawl space structural damage. It's also common for crawl spaces to have too few supports installed, and for the supports to be poorly designed.

Even in cases where crawl space supports are installed in adequate numbers, the soil underneath them may not be strong enough to support the weight of the home. In these cases, the supports sink into the earth, and the house sinks downward with them.

When a crawl space experiences structural issues, the floor upstairs will begin to sag downwards with it. This will lead to jamming door operation, uneven floors, and cracks in the drywall surfaces.

If the sagging is due to mold and rot, the floor may become "springy" underfoot, and odors and allergens will seep into the home. Vented crawl spaces also lead to cold floors in the winter, damaged insulation, and increases in utilitiy bills as the cold environment cools furnaces, water heaters, air ducts, hot water pipes, and other utilities that are meant to be warm.

Creating A Healthy Crawl Space

To permanently solve crawl space issues, you will need to ensure that all sources of moisture and flooding in the crawl space, and that enough crawl space supports are installed to support the weight of your home.

Sealing the crawl space with a vapor barrier system and installing a energy efficient dehumidifier will keep moisture out of the space. Adding a sump pump and perimeter drain will aid in keeping the space free of flooding.

When adding crawl space supports, we recommend our SmartJack System. This system is made from corrosion-resistant galvanized steel. An adjustable design allows you to lift your floor to its original position without damaging the structure -- now and in the future.

A special, excavated fill creates a solid base -- one that will not allow the structure to sink.

On top of all this, our 25-year, written, transferable warranty is just what you need to feel confident and secure in your investment. Contact CleanSpace® of the Carolinas today to schedule your free estimate for crawl space repair in South Carolina and North Carolina. They're the trusted NC crawl space expert in your area.