Crawlspace and Basement Repair Solutions for Atlanta GA
American Crawlspace Solutions is proud to serve the businesses and homeowners in the Atlanta area
American Crawlspace Solutions is proud to serve homeowners in the greater Atlanta, Georgia, area!
When you home’s crawl space or basement has problems with moisture seepage, you are at risk of several types of damage. Excess humidity and moisture below your home can contribute to the damages effects of rotten wood, including wooden supports and floor joists. We always remind our valued customers that those wooden beams, supports and joists partially support the weight of your home’s structure. When the beams begin to deteriorate, our clients typically notice uneven floors and uneven rooms. Additionally, humidity present in a basement or crawlspace will create an environment suitable for the growth of mold and mildew, which are universally known to to be to blame for a variety of medical problems.
Warning signs of a crawl space to excessive moisture:
- Insects seen entering the basement or crawlspace
- Stagnant water around the foundation of your house
- Uneven floors in the first floor of a house
- Musty and moldy odors emanating from the basement
- Recent vision, skin or respiratory problems
How To Fix Crawl Space Moisture
American Crawlspace Solutions recommends crawlspace encapsulation.
Many Georgia homes have crawlspace vents which allow air to circulate beneath the home. Originally designed to control humidity in the crawlspace, these vents actually have been shown to increase humidity rather than to decrease it here in the humid Southern climate. Think about it: in the summer months, the outside air is usually hot and humid. When a crawlspace is wall-vented, the same hot-humid air outside is passing through through into the cooler crawlspace, causing the air to condense, leaving condensation on the floor joists and air ducts.
Excess condensation leads to mold, fungus, and foul odors in the crawlspace. Crawlspace vents need to be closed to seal out unwanted humid air. Dirt crawlspaces also need a proper vapor barrier installed on the floor and exterior walls. An encapsulated crawlspace will properly control humidity, leading to a healthier and more energy efficient home.
Our goal is to provide you with the most prompt and professional foundation repair services available in our service area. Please contact us today for a free assessment and written repair estimate.
Musty Odors
Musty, moldy odors inside a home are an indication of a mold or mildew issue in the crawl space below the floor. Mold and mildew are fungi which love to grow in dark places which have excessive moisture, humidity, as well as organic (wooden) items for the fungus to feed on. If your home’s basement or crawlspace was never properly outfitted to divert moisture in the soil, then your house could very well experience the growth of mold and mildew.
Mold is a potentially dangerous fungus which grows on wooden supports and floor joists under a home. As mildew grows, it puts spores into the air. These spores make their way into your home’s air. Engineers indicate that fully half of the air in any home enters from the space beneath it. Thus most foundation repair companies feel it is vitally crucial to address the issues in a timely manner as mold is known to be the cause of many common health problems such as respiratory and asthma issues, skin rashes and eye irritation, fatigue and headaches.
Excess water and humidity below the home: the warning signs:
- Rotted wood beams and supports
- Sloping floors
- Cracks in the home’s walls
- Doors and windows which do not open and close
- Standing water below the home
Fixing Water and Humidity Problems
We can easily control moisture levels in your basement with a dehumidifier system. Dehumidifiers are a simple and reliable solution because a dry crawl space is a safe basement. By removing moisture and humidity, mold will not be able to grow in your crawlspace.
Flooded Crawl Space
Without proper water-proofing, your home’s basement can flood during periods of excessive precipitation. Once runoff finds its way inside your basement, it can quickly cause damage to wooden elements of your home’s structure, making them warp and rot. This is especially important in the case of support beams and floor joists which support the mass of your house. Damaged supports and joists significantly lower your home’s structural stability and overall property value.
Additionally, a water-logged crawl space is a suitable habitat for dangerous mold and mildew which colonize and thrive in damp, dark environments. The fungus is known by medical professionals to trigger everything from respiratory problems, flu-like symptoms, and skin rashes. Rotten wood structural elements in the presence of humidity also creates an advantageous environment for unwanted pests such as snakes, spiders, termites, rats and roaches.
How To Fix Crawl Space Flooding
If your flooding occur when there is heavy rain, the staff of American Crawlspace Solutions will install a custom drainage system. Our drain system consists of a pipe which is installed in your basement or crawlspace. Whenever moisture from the yard gets into the area beneath your home, it is diverted into the pipe. Once inside the drain, it will be directed into a sump pump which will divert the water from the foundation to a safe distance away from the home.
To help prevent mold growth and musty odors, you can control moisture levels in your basement with a dehumidifier system. A dry crawl space is a safe basement.
The last thing you should do as a homeowner is ignore the warning signs of ongoing foundation and basement problems. Protect the value of your home by addressing and repairing all foundation and basement issues. Call us today for a free assessment and estimate.
Sinking Footing & Home Skirting
The foundation wall around a crawl space, otherwise known as the skirting, can become unlevel over time. This is perhaps most noticeable with the presence of sagging floors or exterior cracks. Sinking footing can be caused by the columns which provide support being spaced too far apart. In some cases, the floor joists, wood girders, and support posts are decaying from rot due to moisture intrusion. The low quality of the soil’s conditions around the perimeter of the structure can cause the foundation to become too weak to support and stabilize the mass of your home.
How to tell if your home has a sinking foundation footer:
- Cracks on interior walls of the home
- Sticky windows and doors
- Uneven, sloping floors
- Tilting crawl space supports
How To Fix Home Skirting/Footing That Is Sinking or Bowing Inward
Jacks, piers, and other stabilization measures can be taken to guarantee your foundation’s structure is properly strengthened. In the event your issues are related directly to runoff, your American Crawlspace Solutions professionals will install a drain system (gravel area adjacent to you foundation with a drain pipe at the bottom) around the perimeter of the house. Moisture from the earth enters the drain pipe layered within the gravel and will be forced away from the footing.
The safety and satisfaction of our customers come first. All our work is guaranteed and our team is licensed and insured. Please contact us today for your free no-stress, no-obligation foundation assessment and repair estimate.