The Heroes of Basement Waterproofing! Michigan Toll Free: 800-STAY-DRY (800-7829-379), National Toll Free: 800-800-7073

A crawlspace vapor barrier is a great way to keep your crawlspace from becoming a damp or wet area. The crawl space provides an important structural foundation for the house, but it is also susceptible to water damage due to its underground location and the closeness of the surrounding soil. A wet crawlspace can provide a home to mold, mildew, bacteria and insects, so investing in a crawlspace vapor barrier to keep it dry is often a very wise choice.

A crawlspace vapor barrier involves using a 21 Mil membrane that is reinforced with fiber to assure the membrane is strong and impenetrable by water and damp. A properly installed crawlspace vapor barrier will work to keep water out of your underground space for a very long time- in most cases, for life. Not only does the membrane help to keep the crawlspace dry, but it also helps you to minimize energy loss as well. With both increased energy efficiency and increased peace of mind that comes with a dry basement, it is no wonder that so many people turn to the experts at StayDry Waterproofing for help installing a crawlspace vapor barrier in their homes.

When you realize you need crawl space repair, you may worry that you’ll end up hiring a contractor who can’t get the job done the way you want it. And why not? It happens all the time with all sorts of home improvement contractors. So how can you make sure the contractor you hire is worth relying on?

First, check their references. What have past customer said about them? Sure it’s nearly impossible to make everyone happy. But by and large, are their customers pleased with the work they received, as well as the overall service?

Then check their estimate with those of other companies. Where do they fall in the overall price spectrum. If they are way low, be wary. And of course, if they over charge you—well simply say no.

Finally, make sure they offer a guarantee on their work. If you aren’t happy with the job, you need to make sure you have some sort of recourse.

Once you have properly secured your home from the sources of humidity and moisture, building a crawl space vapor barrier is the next step that should be lingering on your mind.

A vapor barrier retards the movement of water vapor through a building element (that is to say; walls, ceilings, etc.) and prevents insulation and structural wood from becoming damp and metals from corroding. The crawlspace vapor barrier is made of a thick material that is resistant to tears, allowing it to hold up for quite some time.

Crawl space vapor barriers can help control moisture, which in turn will:

• Keep insects such as cockroaches out of your crawl space and subsequently out of your home
• Prevent mildew from growing in your crawl space
• And more!

Effective moisture control in these areas and throughout a home includes air sealing gaps in the structure, as well as the use of a vapor barrier.

When installing a crawl space vapor barrier, it should be continuous and as close to perfect as possible, especially in very hot or very cold climates. Stay Dry Basement Waterproofing can provide information on how to correctly install and use vapor barriers. Find more information at staydrywaterproofing.com.

How do you know you can trust a crawlspace repair technician?

1. Their go-to repair method is the crawlspace vapor barrier. Gone are the days when it was thought that your crawlspace should be left open to breathe. Research has proven that this antiquated method will only result in a multitude of inconveniences and negative side effects, such as mildew. Instead, a crawlspace repair technician that is in the know will recommend that you seal yours up with a vapor barrier. It’s the best way to keep a controlled climate under your home.
2. They work for a company that has name notoriety. When a crawlspace repair technician is working for himself, picking up jobs online and through the newspaper, you have to wonder if you can really trust him. How do you know he is good at what he does? On the other hand, if he is backed by a company that’s been doing this sort of business for decades, then you know his work will be held to a higher standard.

For trustworthy technicians you can trust, call Stay Dry Waterproofing, the crawlspace repair specialists!

Crawl spaces just make sense. Why wouldn’t you build your house to where the pipes were easily accessible underneath? It’s a great idea, really. However, there are some downsides. The biggest of which would probably be the tendency for condensation to occur within the crawl space, which leads to various moisture related problems within your home. But you can do away with this disadvantage by getting yourself a vapor barrier crawl space.

Basically, a vapor barrier crawl space is one in which the underneath of your home is sealed off by a thick vapor retarder. That way, the moisture under your home can be controlled, just as it is inside the walls. Your crawl space becomes an extension of your home. The vents are shut out, and so is the outside air. No more moisture, no more problems.

You can find a vapor barrier crawl space contractor online to handle the whole thing for you. And it can be less expensive than you

If you have a damp crawl space, you are presented with a big choice. You can either obtain crawl space waterproofing from a licensed, experienced professional or you can just ignore it and move on.

Now pay careful attention and understand when we tell you that this choice is more important than you might think. Let us examine the outcome of each decision.

The results of obtaining crawl space waterproofing

• Increased home value
• Lowered future maintenance costs
• Easy to access crawl space
• Lowered energy bills

The consequences of foregoing crawl space waterproofing

• Possible rotting support systems
• Insect breeding grounds and invasion
• Breathing unclean air in your home
• Mildew and risk of mold

After reading the above list, anyone can see that obtaining crawl space waterproofing is a smart decision. And finding someone to do the job is simple. Just search the web for “crawl space waterproofing” in your local area and you’ll find plenty of options. Or get over to staydrywaterproofing.com and save yourself the hassle.

Roaches, spiders, mice…these are just a few pests that can plague a home. No one wants them, yet so many homeowners are forced to deal with them. So what do you do if you notice one of these pests? More than likely you end up calling a pest control company to come spray your home with various chemicals. Well, what if we told you that calling that pest control company may not be necessary and that obtaining crawl space repair services might fix the problem?

See, when you have a moist crawl space, you are setting the stage perfectly for pests such as those mentioned above to make their home in their own version of luxury. The damp, dark crawl space under your home is the ideal condition for these pests.

Now imagine having a dried out crawl space encapsulated by a vapor barrier. Think the pests are going to make their homes there? No way!

So if you have a pest problem and suspect they’re originating under your home in your damp crawl space, give Stay Dry Waterproofing a call at 800-800-7073. They can come in, give you a free estimate, and help rid you of your pest problem via crawlspace repair.

It would be silly to say that any homeowner would love to spend money on something such as crawl space repair. The truth is, it’s one of those things that pops up and just needs to happen. Of course, like anything else, you aren’t looking forward to spending the money so you will likely try to put it off. Unfortunately, that’s not such a hot idea because:

1. You’re going to run up your electric bill—A wet crawlspace sends damp air up into your home. This ends up forcing you’re air conditioning unit to work harder.
2. You’re endangering your support beams and joists—A crawl space in need of repair is a wet crawl space. And a wet crawl space will rot your wooden support beams and joists. Bad news.
3. The insects will come—A wet crawl space also allows troublesome pests to breed. And then they find their way into your home.

You can avoid all these problems with one simple phone call to Stay Dry Waterproofing. 800-800-7073 is your ticket to crawl space repair.

Living in a moist area such as Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio can spell disaster for the crawl space beneath your home. Failing to keep your crawl space dry and conditioned can eventually destroy your home and pose risks to your family’s health. While every home without a basement foundation can benefit from crawl space waterproofing, the following indicators demand your immediate attention.

• Sagging floors- If you notice your floors randomly sagging, the cause might not be so random. Extended exposure to water can rot the wooden floor joists underneath your home. As a result, your floors will become uneven over time. Crawl space waterproofing can prevent moisture damage to your floor joists.
   
• Musty odor in your home- Are you greeted with a stale stench upon entering your front door? That smell doesn’t just come out of thin air- it’s caused by moisture. As soon as you notice a damp or musty smell in your house, you need to find the source of the problem. When searching, don’t rule out the possibility that your crawl space could be the culprit. Due to a phenomenon called the stack effect, your home draws air up from your crawl space as part of the ongoing airflow. If you have a wet crawl space, your home is sucking up damp air, which can cause the musty odor.
   
• Allergy problems- Do you find yourself sneezing often at home or rubbing your nose and eyes? This is probably due to allergies. If you have a damp crawl space under your home (and especially if you notice the musty smell inside), chances are you have mold growing. Because mold spores travel by air, the air being sucked up into your home is bound to carry minute particles of mold, not to mention other allergens. A home suffering from this problem may cause occupants to suffer from allergies while inside, but clear up when they leave the house for a few hours.  
   
• High electricity bills- Rising electricity costs may indicate that your crawl space air is invading your home, causing your air conditioner or heater to run less efficiently. In this situation, homeowners traditionally point fingers at poor attic insulation and outdated single-paned windows. However, having established that your unsealed crawl space delivers air to the inside of your home, it’s logical to conclude that this may also lead to higher energy consumption. Crawl space waterproofing and conditioning will seal the walls and vents of your crawl space and will in turn cause your air conditioning or heating system to run more effectively. 
   
• Insect invasion- Insects such as spiders, slugs and roaches thrive in humid areas, including under your home. These insects have a way of finding passage into your house where they wreak havoc. Before calling an exterminator, consider crawl space waterproofing and conditioning. Doing so might stop an insect invasion from below your home. 
   
• Visual crawlspace damage- The primary indicators that you need crawl space repair are the visual signs beneath your home. Of course, this requires you getting on your hands and knees and venturing into the darkness of your crawl space. Once under your home, first look for standing water. If you find water, you likely have a problem. Next, look for any signs of wood rot. Also search for moldy spots and insect infestation. Any of these may signify your need for crawlspace repair. 

Whether you find any of the aforementioned symptoms or not, any home with a crawl space can benefit from crawl space waterproofing. By installing a crawl space vapor barrier, you insure a high quality of air in your home. Encapsulation also keeps your crawl space free from water and the damage it causes. Electronic humidity control systems also exist to regulate the level of moisture in the air beneath your home. 

If you notice any of the indicators listed above, or maybe you want to avoid them in the future, call a licensed crawl space repair contractor to inspect underneath your home. After a careful, free examination, they can provide you with a plan for your crawl space needs.

Why It’s Important

Everyone knows that water penetration will destroy your home. But did you know that water in your crawl space can also affect the inside of your home? Here’s a brief rundown of resulting problems:

• The joists under your home may rot, resulting in sagging floors and eventual collapse.
• The damp areas in your crawl space provide the perfect habitat for insects such as spiders and cockroaches, which inevitably enter your home.
• The damp air negatively affects the air quality inside your home, causing your family to inhale dust, soil gases, and possibly mold spores.
• Your family may develop allergy and other respiratory problems from breathing musty air.
• The air intrusion from your crawl space causes your cooling and heating systems to work less efficiently, raising your monthly bills.

 While the above list only scratches the surface of what a damp crawl space can cause, it’s undeniable- a wet crawl space will only lead to trouble. Fortunately, crawl space waterproofing and conditioning can help mitigate all the potential risks.

What Not to Do

Traditionally, experts thought your crawl space needed to breathe. Therefore homes commonly came equipped with vents in the crawl space. However, contrary to popular belief and older building code recommendations, recent studies show this line of logic to be flawed. The fact is, vents allow humid and moist air to flow into your crawl space which first causes humidity fluctuation and then condensation on air ducts and floor joists. This can eventually create structural problems and also a number of air quality problems, including mold and mildew. Venting of the crawl space is now known to be very detrimental to solving a moisture problem.

The Stack Effect

The stack effect is the process of constant air circulation throughout your home. Basically, as hot air in your home rises, cool air rushes in through your crawl space vents. Your house then sucks the cool, damp air up inside through various cracks and crevices. Unfortunately, the air from your crawl space isn’t pure. Instead it’s likely packed with soil gases, dust, allergens, and maybe even mold. In order to prevent your family from breathing the impurities, you need to condition and control the humidity and moisture in your crawl space.

Crawl space Vapor Barrier

In order to properly condition your crawl space you need to have a professional install a crawl space vapor barrier (sometimes referred to as a vapor diffusion retarder) to encapsulate the area underneath your house. Using a thick, fiber-reinforced material, unlike the thin plastic Visqueen used very often, minimizes the amount of water vapor that finds its way into your home. However, the vapor barrier will not serve its purpose unless it is properly installed. Correct installation includes multiple strategically placed fasteners and overlapping seams to ensure that the crawl space is completely sealed off from the soil underneath. That said, it’s probably not a good idea to take crawl space vapor barrier installation on as your next do-it-yourself home improvement project.  

Electronic Humidity Control Systems

An electronic humidity control system can be installed to regulate the quality of air in your crawl space. It works by first expelling the damp air from underneath your home and then reclaiming the warm air that has risen into the upper levels. This warmer air gets repurposed to dry out your crawl space. The end result is a home that is dry from top to bottom, with clean, comfortable air that won’t put your family at risk.

Where to Begin- Free Inspection

It’s easy to get started. Simply find an experienced contractor with ample references to visit your home and give you a free inspection. Then you’ll know exactly what you need and how much it will cost. Don’t let dollar signs scare you off- a quality crawl space repair company offers convenient financing options, making it affordable for any budget. And don’t worry; finding the right contractor means you’ll never have to worry about your crawl space again because they offer warranties.

So don’t hesitate, call a professional for crawl space repair today.