crawl space vapor barrier

Enjoy a Healthier Home with a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

A Healthier Home Starts with Installing a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier

According to the EPA, our indoor environment is two to five times more toxic than the outdoor environment. Since forty percent of the air you breathe comes from your crawl space, a crawl space vapor barrier is an improvement you should consider.

Often, people don’t want to venture into their crawl spaces, since they’re damp, dark, cold, and often unfinished. Since they’re humid, they can invite threats that go unnoticed until they become serious. These include mold and wood-boring bugs, which, in turn, might invite rodents and other pests.

A Solution for Moisture

Moisture naturally emanates from the soil, and a crawl space vapor barrier, sometimes called an encapsulation system, can mitigate moisture. It’s a thick, plastic liner installed over the dirt floor and up the foundation walls. We perform these installations at Select Basement Waterproofing and ensure:

  • The vapor barrier has a good “perm” rating number, which measures the transference of vapor through the product (the lower the number, the higher the product’s resistance)
  • Proper liner overlapping
  • Correct taping of seams and anchoring to the foundation

Other Remediation Suggestions

Of course, the list above is a simple overview. It’s also important to look at the overall site and offer other remediation suggestions. Insulation may need removal or replacement. Leaky pipes, dryer vents, or outside sources may be causing moisture and need repair. If there is mold, it will need removal before installing the crawl space vapor barrier.

crawl space vapor barrier Enjoy a Healthier Home with a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier

If you suspect or know of outside sources of moisture intrusion, you may want to discuss remedying those as well. French drains, for example, are efficient systems for drawing water away from homes.

Once moisture is no longer a problem in your crawl space, you’ll be free to use it for storage or other purposes. In any event, you’ll gain peace of mind in knowing your home is a healthier place than it was. If you’d like a professional evaluation, contact us.

crawl space waterproofing

Take a Minute to Appreciate the Risks of Crawl Space Moisture in East Brunswick NJ 08816

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

An article published on Contracting Business in 2013 posits that over 30% of all new homes built in low lying areas in the U.S are built on crawl spaces. This might not look like a big issue until you factor a study by Basement Health Association (BHA) which reports over 70% of such structures have crawl space moisture problems.

Why then do contractors allow such spaces underneath your home? The answer lies in the water table level. If it is high, building a basement would be akin to building an underground indoor swimming pool filled with filthy ground water.

The Water Leak Problems

The viability of this mode of construction is a debate that has been ongoing for years in the industry. In the meantime, you need to deal with moisture leakage promptly. Such issues arise in case of:

  • Standing bulk water: This arises mostly if you have a leaking drain tile, clogged pipes, poorly laid downspouts, poor grading, among other issues. The water thus drips to the easiest basin which happens to be beneath your home.
  • Moisture evaporation from the ground: Crawl spaces feature an earthen floor which is prone to evaporation. Over time, soil becomes saturated and water starts collecting posing danger to your property.
  • Condensation of outdoor air: If you have a vented space underneath your structure, it is most likely that your contractor convinced you the issue of moisture collection is solved. Well, the National Association of Realtors (NAR®) reckons that warm air flowing into the space raises relative humidity eventually leading to moisture collection.

Dangers of Crawl Space Moisture in East Brunswick NJ 08816

To appreciate the gravity of the matter, consider some of these risks that your home faces:

  1. Health hazards: BHA reckons that high humidity levels beneath leads to toxic mold growth. These spores eventually find their way indoors leading to allergic reactions among other respiratory complications.
  2. Structural damage: Most homes lay on wooden joists which are prone to water damage. With rotting of these supporting beams, your home will be at risk of collapse hence the need for prompt corrective measures.
  3. Pest infestations: Rodents love areas that are moist and if you should not be surprised if you start noticing mice and other vermin crisscrossing your property. These carry diseases and also cause untold damage to utility lines

What do you do then about crawl space moisture in East Brunswick NJ 08816? The fix must start with a diagnostic test by a certified contractor. These professionals can then choose from among a range of solutions such as interior French drain tile, sump pump installation and encapsulation of the entire space, grading, metal flashing, among other effective measures.

Whatever you do, never take this problem for granted lest you lose your precious investment.

crawl-space-dehumidifier

Do You Need a Crawl Space Dehumidifier?

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

When it comes to basements, air quality is a concern for many. If you have a crawl space in your basement, you have likely heard of crawl space dehumidifiers and might be wondering whether or not you really need one. We’ve got tips that can help you determine what’s right for you.

When You Need a Crawl Space Dehumidifier

Crawl spaces tend to be damp and moist, and a dehumidifier helps control the environment and air quality. It’s a good idea to use a dehumidifier in the crawl space when:

  • You live in a humid area – Humidity promotes dampness, and a dehumidifier can mitigate damp basements.
  • You have occasional leakage – If seasonal flooding or snowmelt forces occasional water into your crawl space, but it remains dry most of the time, a dehumidifier is a good solution.
  • You’ve already tried vents – Vents help relieve excess moisture. If you have vents and you still have a moisture problem, a dehumidifier will help.

When Not to Put a Dehumidifier in Your Crawl Space

We’ve got so many good things to say about dehumidifiers, you might think that you need one in every crawl space. There are some important exceptions to the rule.

Do not put a dehumidifier in your crawl space if:

  • Mold or mildew is present – A dehumidifier can spread mold and mildew spores. You must clean before installing a dehumidifier.
  • Leaks or puddle exist – A dehumidifier will dry up standing water, but isn’t a real solution. Mitigate your leaks, instead of using a dehumidifier.

For more tips on keeping your basement dry, or to talk about anything else, please contact us. Thank you.

crawl-space-drainage-in-woodbridge-nj-07067

An Introduction to Crawl Space Drainage in Woodbridge NJ 07067

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

If you have a crawl space, then you know the damage that water can do to it. In fact, water is the first and biggest enemy of a crawl space. It is, therefore, important to ensure that you have a dry crawl space. One way of ensuring this is by having adequate crawl space drainage in Woodbridge NJ 07067.

If you’re a home owner, chances are that you’ve tried to go the DIY route with various things in your home. You’ve probably tried it with some aspects of construction around the home and you may feel like you can handle just about anything. While this is commendable, there are some things that should be left to professionals no matter how confident you feel about them. One such thing is crawl space drainage in Woodbridge NJ 07067. This is because:

  • Your crawl space makes up your foundation. The integrity of the foundation of your home affects the integrity of the rest of the structure. You therefore don’t want it to be damaged. It could lead to having very expensive and extensive repairs that could be easily avoided by simply hiring a professional.
  • You’ll want to ensure that your crawl space dries out right the first time around. Why would you want to waste your money on repairs that you would end up having to fix? Although it may sound cheaper doing it yourself at first, it will be expensive in the long run as you would have to seek out professional help to fix the mistakes you made.

Your options

There are various solutions for crawl space drainage in Woodbridge NJ 07067 today. One of the most common solutions includes using a sump pump. This can be located in the lowest part of the crawl space. The water that accumulates in the crawl space will flow naturally to the lowest part of the crawl space where the sump pump is located. The sump pump will therefore remove the water quite easily.

Another common solution is the installation of a French drain. This is a perimeter drain that is installed along the foundation walls of the crawl space. French drains are an easy and effective solution to drainage of crawl spaces as they keep water away from the space. The drains are located below the surface of the ground-water from the surface trickles through the ground and into the drains. The water is then guided away from the foundation to a drainage system.

These two methods can be combined to provide better results. It is however important to ensure that you seek out professional help to ensure that it is done properly.

The Importance of Crawl Space Waterproofing Before Winter

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Crawl Space Waterproofing Should be Done Before the Winter

Crawl space waterproofing is just part of preparing your house for winter. Waterproofing in general is about prevention and preparation. If you can prevent water from ever entering your basement or crawl space in the first place, then you can avoid water damages, mold growth and other contaminants from causing issues in your house.

Summer is the best time for crawl space waterproofing

Fall and spring tend to be the busiest time of year for waterproofing contractors. Homeowners tend to be reactive and only call a waterproofing contractor when the basement or crawl space is flooded. However, the best time to actually call a waterproofing contractor is before the rain starts. The truly best time to waterproof a basement or crawl space is in the dry summer months. These make for the best working conditions and waterproofing contractors are typically more available. If you wait until your basement is flooded, a good waterproofing contractor may be booked out for weeks. If you have a waterproofing contractor complete the crawl space waterproofing before the wet season, then you won’t have problems to deal with come spring.

Health issues with moisture in your crawl space

Remember, there are health issues that come with high moisture levels in the crawl space. There should never be standing water or moisture in your crawl space. Keep the relative humidity level at 50% in the crawl space. Any more than that will create the perfect environment for mold growth and rot. Mold spores are dangerous if people breathe them in. If mold is in the crawl space, you can’t think it won’t affect you. The air in the crawl space is actually transferred upstairs through a natural air exchange known as chimney effect. The air is pulled up from the lower levels of the house into the upper levels. More energy efficient building envelops actually create a bigger indoor air quality problem.

If these mold spores come into the air upstairs it can cause allergies, respiratory problems and exasperate asthma symptoms. While there is no proven cause for asthma in children, there are several theories that mold and biocontaminants in the indoor air are culprits. While it may or may not be the cause of asthma it has been proven to make asthma symptoms worse.

Contact us for a FREE Estimate!

crawl space mold removal

The Importance of Crawl Space Mold Removal

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Crawl Space Mold Removal

Many homeowners don’t treat the crawl space as part of the home.  They ignore it and don’t worry about water problems until they start affecting the rest of the house.  What they don’t understand is the environment in the crawl space is affecting the house already.

One of the biggest problems with the crawl space environment is when mold is present. If you have mold in the crawl space you need to remove it. The dangerous part of mold is two-fold: one breathing in mold spores can cause respiratory problems and two letting mold grow uncontrollably can actually cause rot if it gets into the wood framing and destroys the structure of the house.

If mold is contaminating the air in the crawl space, that air can and will travel upstairs to the air you and your family breathe every day. The EPA says 50% of the air found in the upper levels of the house actually comes from the basement or crawl space. The air moves up through chimney effect or stack effect. As the warmer air rises and escapes through the roof new air has to replace that air. The natural occurrence is pulling the air from outside and from under the house.

Structural damage caused by mold

Mold that is ignored can cause serious structural damage. Mold alone can destroy natural materials like wood studs; however, it is also a sign of moisture problems in the crawl space. Any water problems and high levels of moisture anything above 50% relative humidity need to be corrected.

The best option is to remove the mold and completely waterproof the crawl space with a preventative system to keep water from getting in as well as a water diversion system with a French drain system to allow for the water to get out. The crawl space should be lined and encapsulated to prevent future problems. Remember, never use fiberglass bat insulation in the crawl space or basement. It does not work well if there was a moisture problem.

Basement waterproofing contractors can help

The process of crawl space mold removal can be dangerous. If you are doing it yourself, protect your skin and wear a respirator. Don’t ever breathe in mold spores or work around mold without a respirator. It is best to call a professional contractor to help you remove the mold. Basement waterproofing contractors, crawl space contractors or mold remediation contractors can help.

If you have a mold problem in the crawl space or anywhere in your house, don’t put it off. You will regret it. Contact us for a FREE Estimate!

crawl space seepage

Crawl Space Seepage and Encapsulation

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

gddiagram1 214x300 Crawl Space Seepage and Encapsulation

Is Crawl Space Seepage Making Its Way Into Your Living Room?

For those of us with crawl spaces, it’s easy to forget they’re there. Half of the time, they’re closed away behind a trapped door in our closets or pantries, used for holiday storage and forgotten most of the year. Therefore, we may not notice any crawl space seepage until it’s too late.

Make sure your home is healthy

However, not taking care of your crawl space can yield damaging results; both to the health of your home, as well as the health of your family.

You may be surprised to learn that up to 40% of the air you breathe upstairs comes from your basement or crawl space! According the US Environmental Protection Agency, the average human breathes about 3,000 gallons of air per day, and air pollution can take up to 1-2 years off of the average person’s life span.

I don’t know about you, but those numbers are pretty scary! Now think about all the years you’ve let water seep into and sit in your crawl space––allowing toxic mold to spawn and reproduce (Oh, which only takes about 24 hours by the way).

Addressing your crawl space seepage through waterproofing and total encapsulation can be a GREAT way to improve the air quality in the rest of your home.

To learn more about how crawl space encapsulation can help make your home dry, comfortable and healthy, call us for a FREE ESTIMATE!

backup sump pump

5 Ways You Can Benefit From a Battery Operated Backup Sump Pump

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

A Backup Sump Pump Can Be Beneficial to Have in Your Home

Have you ever looked down into your basement from the top of your stairs after a heavy rainstorm, only to notice that trademark reflection of a thin layer of water covering the floor? Have you felt the ping of guilt knowing that you had thought about installing a battery backup sump pump the last time this happened, but failed to do anything about it?

Owning a basement in New Jersey isn’t walk in the park. High water tables and frequent strong storms are just part of life here; and it can really take a toll on our homes. We take the good with the bad; but that doesn’t mean we can’t do something to help reduce the latter.

There are many reasons to keep your basement dry and healthy; it can increase your home’s value, keep pests out, help provide a better air quality throughout the entire home; and best of all, eliminate the need for rubber boots and a Wet Vac the morning after!

One great way to avoid a disaster and keep your home healthy is to invest in a battery operated backup sump pump system. Battery backups can really be a lifesaver in rain-heavy storms, and we recommend every home have one.

Here are just 5 benefits of protecting your home with a battery backup:

1. Protection in the case of a power outage.

Strong storms can knock out power to your home, rendering your primary sump pump useless. Unless you’ve got a battery backup sump pump, your basement or crawl space is totally vulnerable to flooding.

2. Protection in the case of a primary pump failure.

It’s no secret that sump pumps don’t last forever. Too often we wait until the pump fails to do something about it. Protect against burned out pumps with a backup system!

3. Lend a helping hand to a struggling primary pump.

Most people assume backups only engage when the primary sump pump fails. While that’s true, they will also kick on to help a primary pump that can’t keep up with the flow of water. This is a great asset during torrential downpours.

4. Protect your valuables.

The long term cost of replacing carpeting, tile, drywall, and valuables in your basement or crawl space can really add up. You can save your self lots of money down the road by spending a little money now with a battery backup sump pump.

5. Do it for the health of you, your home, and your family.

A perpetually damp basement is very unhealthy. So is a recently flooded basement. Toxic mold can grow in as little as 24-48 hours, and that air travels upward, affecting the rest of the home.

Contact us for a FREE Estimate on a battery backup sump pump!

basement waterproofing system

Do You Have a Working Basement Waterproofing System For the Spring?

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Have a Basement Waterproofing System Installed

This has sure proven to be one cold, wet February. Between blizzards, snow melting, and rain showers, our sump pumps have been doing overtime. Unfortunately, in some cases, so have our Wet-Vacs and mops. It’s important that as a homeowner you’re doing everything you can to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your basement waterproofing system. That’s why we recommend that you take the next few weeks and focus on your basement or crawl space. Be sure to pay special attention to the most critical part of any home waterproofing system, the sump pump.

But I paid all this money for a top-of-the-line basement waterproofing system, can’t I just let it do its thing and forget about it?

Well, even the most advanced basement waterproofing systems need a little care every once in a while. Testing your system ahead of time can also help you prevent things like burnt out pumps, power outages, electrical failures, and drainage clogs. Since we’re assuming a flooded basement during a rainstorm isn’t the ideal way to find out there’s something wrong with your sump pump, we’re recommending testing it ahead of time.

Testing your system with water is a quick and easy process. If your system has small access ports, place a hose and pump water through your system, preferable at the furthest point from your sump pump. This will accurately simulate a rain storm, while simultaneously helping flush out any debris or residue that may be accumulating in your drain tile.

If your system was not supplemented with access ports, you may pour water directly into the sump basin using 5 gallon buckets. This will certainly be able to tell you if your pumps are operating properly.

To test your battery backup system, simply follow the same water testing procedures with the primary sump pump unplugged. If you don’t have a battery backup system, we recommend you consider one. A battery backup is the best way to ensure you’re protected in the event of a primary pump failure or power outage, period.

Remember, stay ahead of the storms. Water test your system, check those pumps, and test your battery backups! Spending a little time checking everything out now will surely save you loads of time and money dealing with a flood later.