In our customers' own words:
Problem signs to look out for when evaluating your crawl space
Understanding the indications of crawl space damage is the first step. Call our expert crawl space repair experts as soon as you suspect problems in your crawl space. CNT Foundations can repair any issue and save you a lot of money. Whether you are taking notes around your home or checking the inside of your crawl space, here are a few signs your crawl space could be in trouble:
These signs can lead to more unsafe issues for your home. Our crawl space repair team at CNT Foundations is prepared to repair your home. We will inspect your crawl space and furnish you with a report of our discoveries. Our team will tailor a unique solution for you and your home. We will ensure you and your family stay safe during our foundation installation and repair services. To understand more about what can damage your crawl space, call 843-577-7268 today!
Crawl Space Solutions
If your crawl space is seriously damaged, the professionals at CNT Foundations are here to help. Our Charleston crawl space contractors offer several solutions for repairs, installations, and upkeep. Our team will evaluate the area and provide you with a couple of different options. Here are some we offer:
Vapor boundary system
Moisture in your crawl space is one of the most dangerous things for your foundation. Excessive moisture in your crawl space can allow mold to grow, wood to rot, and bugs to invade your home.
CNT Foundations has the tools needed to analyze the reason for your crawl space moisture and decide on the best solution for your home. Our Charleston foundation restoration team has crawl space vapor barrier solutions that can help shield your home from foundation issues.
Sistering Joists
If you've noticed your floors bouncing, sagging, or bowing, it could indicate structural damage in your home. This may be due to the floor framing not having sufficient strength to support its weight, often due to hidden damage. A common method to repair failing floor joists is sistering. Sistering joists enhances stability and weight-bearing support, providing an economical way to reinforce your home's structure.
Sistering involves adding one or more identical joists alongside the existing ones and securing them together. This method effectively repairs damaged joists without the need to completely remove the original framing.
Crawl space doors
A crawl space door provides a simple way for you to get in and out of your space. A crawl space door is normally a bit of material anchored on the crawl space opening with hinges and screws. Many access doors use metal or wood. These materials can rust, break down, and crack over time. After one of those things happen, the door will never open and close effortlessly again. Loose doors can cause problems in your home. A loose door lets bugs and water into your crawl space if not closely watched. Repair or replace your crawl space doors if you notice any of these issues.
Continuous footing
A continuous footing distributes the weight of your home evenly across multiple points. If your crawl space has a soil floor, installing a continuous footing provides additional support to the beams within the crawl space. Typically, the footing is twice the width of the foundation wall, depending on the soil's capacity around your foundation. Soil can expand or shrink with moisture changes, leading to settlement issues. Adding a continuous footing ensures your home remains stable and prevents foundation problems caused by sinking.
Sump pump
Too much water in your crawl space can be a very dangerous situation for your foundation. Too much water in the soil around your foundation can prompt foundation settlement and cracking walls. Water can also soak into structural piers which leads to deterioration and uneven floors. Sump pump installation in your crawl space can spare your home from serious damage. The team at CNT Foundations is here to help make sump pump installation easier for you and your family.
Crawl space drain
A crawl space drain can help keep flood waters from damaging your crawl space and foundation. A flooded crawl space can cause serious structural problems like wooden beams that will rot when they take on moisture. Additionally, moist air encourages mold and mildew growth that is unhealthy for you and your family.
Crawl Space FAQ
We prioritize your satisfaction and your home's safety, using only the best repair solutions. Our products are made in the USA and have been rigorously tested to ensure they keep your crawl space clean, dry, safe, and healthy. These solutions are designed to work together, providing maximum value and preventing future issues.
Here’s how we address crawl space problems, the solutions we use, and how they work:
Address Leaking Water
To manage seeping water, we catch it first, channel it to a sump pump system, and then expel it away from your home.
Our CrawlDrain™ perimeter drainage system is installed in the dirt floor around the crawl space perimeter to capture water from walls and floors. This water is directed into the SafeDri™ Crawl Space Sump Pump System, which pumps it out and away from your home. Additionally, a FreezeGuard™ can be added to the exterior sump pump discharge line to prevent flooding if the line freezes or gets blocked.
Seal the Crawl Space from Outside Elements
Sealing your crawl space from air, water, and pests is crucial. We begin with durable vent covers for the crawl space vents.
Next, we install a heavy-duty moisture and vapor barrier. Our CrawlSeal™ liner, rated above 25-mil strength at the seams, is three times thicker than standard builder’s grade liner and isolates the crawl space from the earth. CrawlSeal™ is waterproof, mold-resistant, and prevents moisture and vapor intrusion.
We also offer thick drainage matting that can be placed on the crawl space floor before encapsulation to help direct water to the CrawlDrain™ system and enhance the strength of the CrawlSeal™ liner.
Properly Insulate the Crawl Space
Rigid ExTremeBloc™ panels on crawl space walls provide superior insulation, resisting moisture and mold unlike fiberglass insulation. These panels also include an integrated termiticide to deter termites. CrawlSeal™ helps insulate the crawl space, and spray foam can be applied to rim joists to seal gaps around your foundation's perimeter. These methods prevent wood rot and facilitate termite treatments.
Condition the Air
Our low-profile crawl space dehumidifier is powerful and energy-efficient. It cleans and filters the air, controls moisture and humidity, and reduces odors and potential mold growth. The self-draining unit can be directed to drain into the crawl space perimeter drainage system, sump pump system, or a condensate pump can be installed.
Reinforce Support Systems
Wooden floor supports and light-duty jack posts often fail in wet, humid crawl spaces. Our durable IntelliJacks™, made of galvanized steel, provide reliable support, stabilizing and lifting sagging floors and floor joists back to level.
When you contact us, you will speak with one of our customer care representatives about your crawl space concerns. Together, we will schedule a free inspection and estimate with one of our certified field inspectors.
During the consultation, you can expect the inspector to:
- Conduct a thorough evaluation of your home’s interior and exterior, including an in-depth assessment of the crawl space for any water intrusion, damage, pests, and more.
- Discuss their findings with you and understand your goals for the repair project.
- Offer customized solutions tailored to your specific repair needs.
- Provide a detailed proposal of the recommended solutions before leaving your home.
- Discuss payment and financing options with you.
If you decide to proceed with the repair project, we will schedule your repairs with our highly trained installation crew. Our crew members will treat your home with the utmost care and respect, using world-class solutions to ensure your satisfaction. Their work is not complete until you are 100% satisfied. Should any issues arise after installation, we will return to fix them. We also offer various service and maintenance options to protect our work and your home.
We would greatly appreciate it if you would write a review about your experience with us and refer us to your friends and family!
Now that you’ve seen the potential hazards lurking beneath your home and the impact they can have on your family, it’s natural to want to address them immediately. However, before you rush to your local home improvement store for supplies, take a moment to reconsider.
Crawl space repair is a complex task that cannot be adequately handled over a weekend, regardless of your DIY skills. Quick fixes often lead to bigger problems, especially during real estate transactions, where they can raise red flags and ultimately cost you more time and money to correct. It’s essential to trust these projects to professional contractors who can ensure the job is done right the first time.
We encourage you to educate yourself thoroughly to make the best decision and invest wisely in trustworthy repair solutions from a reliable contractor.
Why tolerate unpleasant conditions beneath your home? Addressing these issues is essential, and here’s what’s in it for you:
Health
A cleaner crawl space means better health for your family. If anyone in your household suffers from asthma or allergies, a cleaner crawl space can reduce flare-ups and illnesses. Installing a dehumidifier can significantly improve air quality throughout your home.
Structural Integrity
Compromised support systems and sagging floors pose safety hazards and can lead to significant structural damage. Strengthening your home's support system ensures a more stable and secure living environment.
Energy Efficiency
Proper crawl space encapsulation and insulation can reduce energy loss, saving you between 30 and 50% on your energy bills (Source: Clean Crawls).
Functional Space
A properly waterproofed, sealed, and insulated crawl space offers new storage opportunities. You can store belongings without worrying about water damage, mold, or pests.
Real Estate Value
Structural issues, water intrusion, and crawl space problems can negatively impact a home’s resale value. When selling your home, you must disclose any known past or current damage, including foundation issues, basement conditions, and infestations of wood-destroying insects or organisms (Source: Nolo). Addressing these problems can enhance your home's market value and appeal.
At CNT Foundation Services, we’ve installed countless crawl space vapor barriers over the years and can assure you that it’s not an easy task. It’s not something most people can master from an online tutorial. Mistakes can lead to bigger issues, ultimately requiring professional intervention.
Instead of risking errors, contact our team. As one of the oldest foundation services companies in South Carolina, we have the expertise to install your vapor barrier correctly and efficiently.
Contractors once believed that installing vents in crawl space walls would improve airflow in these dark, humid areas. However, we’ve since learned that crawl space vents do more harm than good. They allow moisture to enter, promoting mold growth and affecting your home's internal temperature, which can increase your energy bills.
Crawl space vent covers are the perfect solution to this problem, and our professionals can install them quickly. Made from solid and durable materials, our vent covers are designed to prevent moisture and pests from entering your crawl space.
If you think you could benefit from installing our vent covers, contact us at CNT Foundation Services today.
