Where I live, we have several months out of the year that are packed with devastating storms. These storms have been known to damage entire communities and leave many people's lives turned upside-down. During the days and weeks following these storms, we pull together as a community to help each other rebuild and repair the homes we live in. We have worked alongside some of the best damage contractors in the country. This blog contains a ton of information about the things that we have learned from those contractors during these devastating times each and every year through the worst possible storms.
rebuilding after the storms have settled
Prevent Water Damage: How To Waterproof Your Crawl Space
Samu Palo
Now that the temperatures are starting to warm up, and the springs rains are beginning to appear, it's time to turn your attention towards your crawl space. You might not have spent much time under your home during the winter months, which means you may have some damage that needs to be tended to. This is particularly true if your crawl space hasn't been waterproofed in a while.
Start With a Clean Space
If you're going to be waterproofing your crawl space, you need to start with a thorough cleaning, especially if you've got some mold growth. Waterproofing over mold will only exacerbate the problem.
To get ready for waterproofing, remove everything from your crawl space so that you can dry out any moisture that might be present. Once you've dried everything out, wash any exposed surfaces with a bleach solution. The bleach will kill off any remaining mold spores. Allow your crawl space to air out for a few days before moving on to the next step.
Install a Waterproof Barrier
After you've cleaned your crawl space and removed any mold growth, you'll want to install a waterproof barrier. Installing a waterproof membrane to the floor of your crawl space will prevent water from being absorbed into the soil. For maximum protection, increase the protection by installing the waterproof barrier on the walls, as well.
Control the Humidity
When you waterproof your crawl space, you need to think about more than just the damage caused by water. You also need to consider the damage caused by humidity. If your crawl space experiences high humidity levels, you need to get that under control. The best way to do that is with a dehumidifier.
Once you've cleaned the crawl space and installed the waterproof barrier, take your waterproofing one step further by installing a dehumidifier. Not only will you control the humidity in your crawl space, you'll also reduce the humidity levels in your home.
Improve Exterior Drainage
If you've stopped your waterproofing at the inside of your crawl space, you've stopped short of providing total protection for your home. To provide total protection, you need to improve the drainage around the exterior of your home.
Your drainage system should lead water away from your home. One way to do that is with the installation of a French drain around the foundation. French drains stop water from flowing into your crawl space.
Don't risk a flooded crawl space. Use the tips provided here to protect your home against water damage. For maximum protection, talk to a damage contractor in your area. They can provide crawl space waterproofing for your crawl space.
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