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How to Keep Water Out of Your Home’s Crawlspace

How to Keep Water Out of Your Home’s Crawlspace

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Most of us rarely deal with our crawl spaces, and it can be easy to forget about them when it comes to waterproofing. Ignoring your crawlspace can lead to a host of problems. Small amounts of moisture can grow mildew or mold. That same moisture can attract insects like ants or termites who are looking for water. In extreme cases, it can lead to flooding, which can weaken your joists and cause rot even if the water doesn’t get into your house.

Waterproofing something nobody sees might not be the most glamorous home improvement, but it will make your home cleaner, safer, and avoid expensive repairs later on.

Exterior Drainage

A good drainage system can make all the difference in the world. A well-planned drainage system will funnel the water away from your house and your foundation before it causes any damage. Make sure that it goes around the entire perimeter of your house to make sure you’re fully covered.

Exterior Waterproofing

If the soil around your home is damp, near a body of water, or prone to flooding, then you should definitely get a waterproofing membrane for the exterior of your house. Usually this is done by excavating down next to the foundation, then applying a waterproofing agent to the concrete.

Interior Drainage

Even if you don’t expect enough water to warrant an exterior system, an interior system is a worthwhile investment. Interior drainage systems create drain channels next to the walls for water that run to a sump pump. Depending on the size and shape of your crawl space, you may need more than one sump pump.

If you’re in an area that gets heavy storms, then you should look into getting sump pups that have a battery backup. That means they’ll still be able to keep your crawlspace dry even if the power goes out.

Interior Waterproofing

Interior waterproofing not only has to include the walls of the crawlspace, but the ground as well. Even if you have a concrete floor for your crawlspace, water can still seep up through it. Like the exterior walls, these surfaces can be treated with a waterproof material to create a barrier that keeps water out.

If you have dirt as the floor of your crawlspace, then drainage matting is a better option. Drainage matting will direct water down and over to the drainage systems along the wall. It will also form a barrier to keep water seeping up from the ground.

These systems are usually best to have installed by a professional. Crawlspaces are very unforgiving spaces to work in, and with projects that are this important, it’s best to leave the tricky work to the pros.

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