crawl space waterproofing

A Short Guide to Crawl Space Waterproofing in Morganville NJ

Crawl Space Waterproofing in Morganville NJ

The crawl space happens to be one of the most neglected parts of a home. Most of these spaces, especially in older homes, are vented to allow moisture removal through ventilation. However, this has been found to be a counterproductive strategy as it leads to mold growth, condensation and pest infestation. The main problem with crawl spaces is the fact that 60% of the air in these spaces eventually flows to the upper levels of your house.

Risks of Crawl Space Flooding

On the surface, crawl space moisture might not look like a big issue until you consider the consequences. High moisture presence will lead to rusting of utility piping and other appliances such as furnaces. This might necessitate expensive repairs in future. Worse still, wood rot affects the integrity of the foundation and this can ruin your home.

Due to high moisture levels, toxic mold growth poses a big risk to the occupants as it may lead to respiratory issues such as asthmatic attacks. The presence of moisture also attracts pests which can be a nuisance in your house. To avoid all these problems, it is important to invest in crawl space waterproofing.

If you suspect that your crawl space is flooded, it is important to call in an established contractor for a free inspection and treatment of the problem.

Ideas for Crawl Space Waterproofing

Waterproofing this space is not only beneficial to the occupants but also protects your precious investment. There are different methods used in crawl space waterproofing. These are:

  1. Crawl space encapsulation: This involves sealing all the space, including the walls and the floor, with overlapping polyethylene sheets. The material is waterproof and prevents entry of water and vapor through the earthen floor and wall cracks.
  2. Sump pump installation: A crawl space sump pump is installed at the center of the floor in combination with an interior drainage system along the inner perimeter of the foundation walls. All water collected is pumped away from the property.
  3. Vapor barrier: A vapor barrier is used to prevent entry of moisture and gases through the walls. The barrier should also cover all utility wires and other obstacles including the boiler.
  4. Dehumidifier: This is installed to ensure the crawl space remains dry irrespective of the weather. A safe humidity level is important to improve the indoor air quality (IAQ) in the rest of the house.

Crawl space waterproofing is a great home improvement idea. It will improve the overall indoor air quality in your house and this space can be used for storage. Contact us today!

basement moisture

Common Solutions to Basement Moisture Problems

Basement Moisture

One of the most important things you can do for your home and your sanity is to deal with basement moisture problems. This will go a long way in not only protecting the value of your home but also the health of your family.

Wet basements are nasty places. They not only smell but feel nasty. If left unchecked, they can provide the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. They can also be the perfect home for other pests and insects.

If you’re determined to keep basement moisture out, here are a few strategies to get you started:

  1. Add extensions to your gutters

Basement moisture problems aren’t confined to the ground level. They can result from further up. This includes the runoff from your roof. If the runoff is not been drained far enough from the foundation, it can result in moisture problems by increasing hydrostatic pressure against the basement walls.

You can prevent this from happening by adding extensions to the gutters. These extensions should drain water not less than five feet away from the house.

  1. Fix the plumbing

Are the pipes in your home leaking or dripping water near the foundation? Call your plumber and have these pipes fixed or replaced. This will prevent the leaking from continuing. You will not only save your basement but save money by preventing water wastage.

  1. Redirect surface water

If the landscape around your home is sloping towards the foundation, then surface water will flow towards your home. You’ll need to create a berm or trench that can direct water away from the foundation of your home.

One of the most effective ways of dealing with excess water in the soil is to install an exterior drain tile around the foundation walls. This will drain water from the soil and guide it away from the foundation walls. Be sure to have a professional basement contractor install this for the best results.

  1. Waterproof your walls

If you want to keep the water out, then you need to ensure that the basement walls are impermeable. The best way to do this is by installing a waterproof membrane on the exterior surface of the foundation walls. These membranes keep the water out and ensure your basement is kept nice and dry.

These methods used in combination will ensure that you have a dry basement for the long term. Contact a professional contractor to help you find the best solution for your basement.

crawl space seepage

Crawl Space Seepage and Encapsulation

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!

basement waterproofing system

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

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.

mold remediation

Don’t Mess Around with Basement Mold

The Importance of Basement Mold Detection and Removal

Whether or not you’ve got a finished basement, a soon-to-be-finished basement, or just a musty old storage space you don’t really live in, it is important that you pay attention to potential basement mold growth.

Believe it or not, mold is a living organism, and it can be very harmful to the health of you and your family. Mold doesn’t need much to start developing a colony; only 60% relative humidity and as little as 24 hours. Scary, huh? Fortunately, the risk of health-related issues due to toxic black mold can be greatly reduced by taking immediate action, or avoided altogether by taking preventative action.

If you hadn’t had a chance to take preventative action, and mold has already taken up residence in your home, here’s a quick tip for killing it:

  • (Wearing a dust mask) Spray a 10/1 water to bleach mixture on the affected areas. Take a firm sponge and scrub the entire area for 2-3 minutes, spraying more solution if necessary. Repeat this process 3 times over the next 2 weeks, and you will have effectively killed your mold colonies. Alternatively, you may use hydrogen peroxide in your solution.

Got another tip? Let us know in the comments below!

It is important to recognize, however, that spot treatment may not be the long-term solution to your basement mold epidemic. If moisture is still infiltrating your home, mold will just find somewhere else to grow. In this case, you may want to consider having a basement waterproofing professional inspect your home for water penetration, foundation cracking, and other potential sources of excess moisture. Contact us for more information.

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