crawl space waterproofing

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

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?

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

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

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.

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basement storage in trenton nj

Creative Ideas for Basement Storage in Trenton NJ

Basement Storage in Trenton NJ

Everybody loves a house with a basement. Even if it is just used for storage, the basement is a luxury of untapped space. While the livable basement is the vogue right now, if you don’t have the budget to convert your unfinished basement to living space, create an organized storage area.

The key is organizing your basement

The trick to any storage is organizing. Remember, most people have too much stuff so it is OK to go through your stuff, especially if you buy something new. A good rule is to throw away something old for everything you buy new. This theory helps you not get too much stuff. Too much stuff is the death of organizing and staying organized. Once you have purged the items that you never, ever use or don’t want anymore it is time to find their proper place in the storage zone.

Store less frequently used items in the basement

Obviously, the stuff you put in the basement shouldn’t be your everyday items. All of your every day, every week, and even every month, stuff should be more accessible than stored in the basement. Every day items should be stored in accessible drawers. Stuff you use every week should be in cupboards and pantries on the main living area in the room where it will be most used. The items you use about every month can be in the top of the closet—away but not too far away. Items stored in the basement should be once or twice a year items. Holiday decorations are a great example of a good basement storage item.

The exception is if you need to use the basement storage in Trenton NJ as more like a pantry or for bulk item storage. If you need this type of storage make sure the daily or weekly items are accessible. Storage shelves are good for the pantry-type items needed for storage in the basement. Make sure your storage shelves are fully accessible. Don’t fill up your shelves with your Costco toilet paper and then stack boxes in front of them. It will make it a pain to get to the stuff you need.

Have an organized system so you know where everything is

Organize the items you want to store by likeness. For example, all the Christmas stuff should be together and all the sports equipment should be together. Another common sense tip, but it has to be said. Taking the time to make sure all your ski boots are stored with your poles will save you time when it is time to hit the slopes.

Be aware that basements can flood

Basement storage in NJ may be a little different from other storage space in your house. Remember, the basement is below ground so the environment will be different than the upper levels of the house. Make sure that you don’t store cardboard boxes or any other organic material storage containers on the floor. Storage boxes should be plastic and at least six inches off the ground. Basement can flood and it is easier to just keep the plastic storage boxes off the ground than to deal with soggy, cardboard boxes after a basement flood.

Waterproof Your Basement

Even with that, any water issues should be dealt with in the basement. Never store anything in the basement if there are signs of water issues without taking care of them. Visible standing water, water stains, peeling paint, water bubbles, mildew, mold, musty odors or foundation cracks are all signs of water issues in the basement. Even if you are just using the basement as storage it makes sense to fix any water issues to create a dry, basement environment. Then if you ever wanted to convert the basement into living space it is already prepped with the proper waterproofing and drainage systems.

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