Dealing with a wet crawlspace can be frustrating. It’s a relief for many homeowners to discover that they are not alone in the fight. More than 90% of homes in the US experience moisture problems in their basements or crawl spaces. You’re not the first and probably won’t be the last to experience a wet crawl space.
This doesn’t mean that you should accept it as the norm to have a damp crawl space. Crawlspace waterproofing is absolutely necessary if you want to have a healthy home environment. It is also beneficial for the improvement of energy efficiency in the home.
Sources of water in crawl spaces
Before you decide whether to go forward with crawlspace waterproofing, it is important to determine the source of the water in your crawl space. This will help ensure that you deal with the problem and therefore have better results from your waterproofing. The following are some of the most common sources of leaks in crawl spaces.
- Clay bowl effect
After the construction of a foundation, the soil is backfilled. If it is not compacted properly, the house will push on the soil and settle into the void created. Water is likely to collect around the foundation and leak into the crawl space.
- Poor drainage
If your gutters are not discharging water far away enough from the foundation, the soil around the foundation will become saturated with water. This will result in increased pressure on the foundation and eventual flooding.
- Hydrostatic pressure
Floods and continuous rain can reign havoc on a foundation. They will cause the ground to become saturated. This results in high hydrostatic pressure being exerted on the walls of the foundation and pooling of water in the crawl space.
- Poor grading of the landscape
If the landscape slopes towards your foundation, runoff and water absorbed into the soil will flow in the direction of your foundation causing moisture problems and leaks in your crawl space.
- Defective windows and window wells
Do you have windows in your crawl space? They may be poorly designed or installed incorrectly. This can result in the funneling of water into the crawl space when it rains.
The first step to effective crawlspace waterproofing is determining the source of leaks in the crawl space. A professional contractor will help you identify any flaws in design or construction of your crawl space and guide the waterproofing process to solve them.
Ohio State Waterproofing has provided quality service with over 80,000 successful waterproofing and foundation repair installations and satisfied customers since our inception in 1978.
Ohio State Waterproofing’s philosophy for success is to provide honest, courteous and guaranteed service to every customer. Our reputation reflects this. Our well-trained waterproofing technicians are dedicated to complete customer satisfaction. This is achieved through fast, efficient processes as well as teamwork throughout this organization. You will always find a friendly representative willing to meet your needs at Ohio State Waterproofing.
We are a full service company that handles problems ranging from patching cracks to rebuilding basements. In addition, we hold three patents related to waterproofing that make us unique in the industry. These patents and our experience allow us to be able to do what every other waterproofer can do, but no one else can do what we do.
We are actively involved in the industry and community, including the National Association of Waterproofing Contractors, BHA, NARI, NAHB, NHIA, the BIA, the FHA and a number of consumer advocacy groups, as well as playing leading roles in a number of charitable functions.
But, most importantly, our highest degree of praise comes from the thousands of referrals we get from satisfied customers. Together they’ve made us a leader in the basement waterproofing and foundation repair industry.