Crawl spaces are a type of basement that you cannot stand up in, and the surface is often soil. Crawl space humidity is frequently an issue in homes located in moisture-laden regions, such as the Chesapeake Bay Area. A sealed moisture barrier is required to prevent this area from becoming saturated with water.
Health and safety issues must be considered with a crawl space. Insects and rodents thrive in these dark, wet spaces. The moisture will also allow mold and mildew to grow and accumulate, which can affect your health and cause damage to the structure or foundation of the home.
“Mold can eat away at wood as voraciously as termites and drastically affect the structural integrity and value of your home,” observes Darrel Gottschalk, owner of Gottpower, a restoration services company in Pasadena, MD.
Homeowners should also consider the phenomenon called the “stack effect.” It is caused by a difference in temperature between the interior and exterior spaces of your home, thus creating air pressure. The air pressure acts similarly to an earthquake force behind a tidal wave, in that the pressure pushes air around your home. Most of the time, this pressure and the air pushed don’t do any damage on their own. But there are some cases where this can cause serious issues. The air itself can be a strong force, and it can carry particles with it, like mold spores, decomposition odors, or fecal matter from dust mites, which may affect respiratory health, as well as irritate eyes and skin.
To prepare the crawl space, the professionals at Gottpower will remove debris and treat the space for mold or mildew, performing any necessary remediation and reconstruction of compromised structures, if necessary. The crawlspace sealing technique includes overlapping all seams by a minimum of 1-2 feet and sealing them with a special tape. The technicians then extend the seal to the outside edge of the space and up the foundation wall to at least 6 inches above the outside grade. They will seal the polyethylene barrier to the foundation using a construction adhesive, creating a completely “closed system” and providing 100% ground coverage.
The Gottpower technicians use a 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier, which is a flame-retardant sheeting. It is the ideal moisture barrier for the walls and floor of your crawlspace, protecting your home from the damage of moisture and mold. It also provides added safety in case of a fire.
This process is unique in that, once sealed, your crawlspace is now both water- and fire-proof.
“Other companies may skimp on the material they use, and you may even have flammable material encasing your crawl space, creating a safety hazard, which is the complete opposite of the goal to create a safe home environment,” remarks Darrel Gottschalk.
This process will increase the value of your home because it protects against environmental hazards and discourages pests. And, as an added feature, because the subspace is now properly insulated, it increases the heating and cooling efficiency of your HVAC. This may even be an ideal storage space, as it is moisture-free, pest-free, climate-controlled, and fire-resistant.
If you have concerns about the environmental and structural integrity of your crawlspace, please call the professionals at Gottpower for a free estimate: 410-360-7697.
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