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Crawl Space Repair & Encapsulation

Crawl space repair and encapsulation ensures your South Carolina home remains safe, stable, and dry. Enhance indoor air quality and create a healthier home environment with tailored repairs from Mount Valley Foundation Services.

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Notice musty odors or sagging, uneven floors? These signs often point to crawl space foundation problems. Many southern homes in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Savannah were built with crawl space foundations to elevate the house from the ground. However, these spaces can become volatile environments, potentially causing structural damage and health risks due to mold growth and pest infestations.

Are you curious whether basement crawl space encapsulation is right for your home? While the term might sound logical, there isn’t actually a basement crawl space encapsulation process because basements and crawl spaces are two distinct foundation types. Crawl spaces are small, vented, or sealed spaces beneath your home, while basements are larger, enclosed areas. Encapsulation applies to crawl spaces, addressing moisture, mold, and structural concerns.


Causes of Crawl Space Damage

Crawl space foundation issues often stem from construction practices during the home's initial build. Additional causes of crawl space foundation damage include:

Crawl spaces typically have dirt crawl floors that are not covered. Simply placing a 6-mil plastic liner on the floor, which is a minimal code requirement, will not cut it. This liner is thin, allows water and moisture to collect, mold to grow and thrive, and leads to a variety of damage. Other liners with thicknesses of 10 and 12-mil are only slightly better, but they still can easily tear and fail.

Water and moisture also can have a significant impact inside your home, as well. If you have a dirt crawl space with open vents, this allows outside air, water, and pests inside the crawl space directly underneath your house to cause a host of problems. More than 50% of the air you’re breathing indoors comes from below-grade areas like crawl spaces. So, whatever is in your crawl space such as mold, moisture, and humidity, also is in the rest of your house and affecting you.

One example of a structural impact is with the support system under your house. If wooden support systems become saturated with water or exposed to high humidity and excessive moisture, they can rot and buckle. Metal supports also will corrode and rust in the same conditions. All this then leads to sagging, uneven floors and problems with hardwood floors. 

The stack effect is the airflow pattern in your house from bottom to top. Air pressure also comes into play. Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. When there is a greater difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the more significant this airflow becomes.

True, you can’t actually see airflow, but it might be helpful to have a way to visualize the stack effect to better understand it. Your home certainly is not located in the northern portion of the country, but a lot of good information can be gained from The Cold Climate Housing Research Center’s YouTube videos, including “Your Nothern Home: Stack Effect” that illustrates the stack effect. 

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Harris, Oscar and Kemper are all very knowledgeable and professional. They communicate well with each other, members of their team and…

Harris, Oscar and Kemper are all very knowledgeable and professional. They communicate well with each other, members of their team and with me, their customer. They have taken great care of our house and I would highly recommend them for any foundation work you're considering.

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Joe and Mike showed up on time, explained everything in detail, did a great job protecting our yard, and got the job done quickly. Both…

Joe and Mike showed up on time, explained everything in detail, did a great job protecting our yard, and got the job done quickly. Both were extremely professional and thorough with their approach. Highly recommend.

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We had a wonderful experience with Zach from Mount Valley Foundation Services. He arrived on time, was very professional, and took the time …

We had a wonderful experience with Zach from Mount Valley Foundation Services. He arrived on time, was very professional, and took the time to carefully inspect everything without rushing. Zach explained the condition of our foundation clearly and honestly, answering all of our questions with patience. We truly appreciated his transparency and the way he made us feel informed and comfortable throughout the entire appointment. It’s not easy to find people who are both knowledgeable and trustworthy, but Zach definitely stands out. Highly recommend him and the company!

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Dan Rubenstein was very helpful

Dan Rubenstein was very helpful

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Alex & Desean replaced the water barrier in our crawlspace. They arrived on time and worked all day. They removed any junk left by previous …

Alex & Desean replaced the water barrier in our crawlspace. They arrived on time and worked all day. They removed any junk left by previous owners and cleaned up after they finished. It is obvious they take pride in their work. Good job!!!

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After interviewing two other men whom I would not even trust to water my flowers, I found Dan Rubenstein with Mountain Valley Foundation….

After interviewing two other men whom I would not even trust to water my flowers, I found Dan Rubenstein with Mountain Valley Foundation. What a gem of a professional! He showed us photos of our crawl space problem, explained the restoration thoroughly, and even gave his time and expertise in a follow up phone call. We are quite thrilled. It’s impossible to find a more knowledgeable and thorough professional.

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From start to finish Mt. Valley foundation did a wonderful job. Brantley and Patrick were incredible workers. I’ve never seen two young men …

From start to finish Mt. Valley foundation did a wonderful job. Brantley and Patrick were incredible workers. I’ve never seen two young men work as hard physically as they did. They took pride in their work and it showed.

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The work was superb beginning with an introduction to the Company by Donrell Lester. He was both professional and knowledgeable. Answered…

The work was superb beginning with an introduction to the Company by Donrell Lester. He was both professional and knowledgeable. Answered every question and explained fully what was the scope of work and related costs. The installation crew led by David Foreman and including David H, Thomas J and Derrell R were skilled, proficient, polite and patient with every question

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Lucas, Avery and Tim did a great job

Lucas, Avery and Tim did a great job

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Phil came out and walked us through what our issues were and was very professional, explained the next steps and scheduled the project. The …

Phil came out and walked us through what our issues were and was very professional, explained the next steps and scheduled the project. The project was finished today and the crew was very professional and did a great job… very happy.

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Harris Rubenfeld came out today and I wish you had a ten star rating because he truly went above and beyond. He was very knowledgeable…

Harris Rubenfeld came out today and I wish you had a ten star rating because he truly went above and beyond. He was very knowledgeable about everything and explained it to us so well. He took the time to investigate and address all of our concerns. We are very pleased.

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Yiannis and Landon came out to level my driveway where I had several slabs sinking. With such large slabs I was concerned about the outcome …

Yiannis and Landon came out to level my driveway where I had several slabs sinking. With such large slabs I was concerned about the outcome but I couldn’t have been more pleased. They started out by walking me through the process and from start to finish it took the guys less than an hour! The results were better than I ever expected. Everything turned out just like new! It looks amazing! Thank you!

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My termite bond company alerted me to an extremely high humidity problem in my crawl space. Mold and wood rot were going to be a problem if …

My termite bond company alerted me to an extremely high humidity problem in my crawl space. Mold and wood rot were going to be a problem if we did not get it under control so an encapsulation was needed. I called 3 different companies to come and quote the job. Jack Jeffords from Mount Valley came and gave me a no nonsense estimate of what needed to be done. He proposed exactly what was necessary and didn't pad the quote with a bunch of extras that would drive the cost up. MTVS has a low price guarantee stating that they will match any other competitors quote for like for like work and beat it by $100. Encapsulation done properly is not an inexpensive situation. That being said they beat one of the competitors quotes by $10,000 and met the price of the other lowest price that I had received. Jack and his manager worked with me to get the lowest possible cost and I felt really confident with Mount Valley as a organization.A deposit was paid and the work was scheduled about a month away. I got a phone call from the office asking if I would like an earlier date and I said yes. They had a job that had gotten postponed and I was able to take that slot about 3 weeks earlier than scheduled.On the morning of my appointment I was greeted by the job foreman Alex and his assistant Roderick. These guys were great in every respect. My crawl space is quite low and difficult, only 2' at it's tallest point. These two guys attacked it without a complaint and in quick order had the old vapor barrier pulled out and the trash and debris removed and bagged up. They began to wrap the 21 piers and cover the foundation walls with their 20 mil plastic. Then they covered the crawl space floor and the taping process began. On the third day David came and was part of the work crew as well. These guys were all very friendly hard working sharp fellows and were a joy to work with!I am 100% pleased with the whole experience and highly recommend Mount Valley Foundation Service. They will do a great job for you and won't try to oversell or take advantage of you.Thanks MVFS for fixing my problem and protecting my home.

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These gentleman were the kindest, most professional people I have every work with. They did and amazing job. My crawl space is fantastic.

These gentleman were the kindest, most professional people I have every work with. They did and amazing job. My crawl space is fantastic.

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Glenn Joyner, Certified Field Inspector, visited our home to inspect our foundation issues. He was very attentive, professional, and he…

Glenn Joyner, Certified Field Inspector, visited our home to inspect our foundation issues. He was very attentive, professional, and he conducted a thorough inspection. Afterwards, he provided a detailed explanation of our issues, probable causes and proposed solutions. All our questions were answered and a formal proposal was delivered within 24 hours.

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I was having a lot of issues with my home including health issues, I first notice a crack in the Sheetrock above the corner of a window, it …

I was having a lot of issues with my home including health issues, I first notice a crack in the Sheetrock above the corner of a window, it just kept getting larger, I also seem to have a lot of moisture under the house that was causing the installation under the floor to fall and you could see mildew and mold growing on everything under there. My and I both could smell a musty smell when the AC came on, I’m allergic to about everything and for the past 3 years I have been having constant Sinus infections, I noticed that when we went on vacation My sinus would clear up but soon as I was back home the infections started back, thats when I searched the internet and found Mount Valley Foundation Service, They sent out John Penn, he went under the house for about an hour took pictures check structure and we sat down and looked it all over well not only did I have mildew and mold and moisture problems but look like in the winter snakes would hide out in the installation, he told me what options I had and we’ll I jumped on the chance to eliminate all these issues, John new his stuff and it showed, they sent a crew out to start the work, Damion and David really did a great job at getting that job done right, I could not be anymore happier right now, I could go under there with a sleeping bag and fell clean and safe. Thanks to all the guys who came out and did the work you said you would do. I’ll try and put a few before and after pics.

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Jerrod, Antoin & Alex did an excellent job adding a steel support beam to our kitchen floor. The floor feels much more secure under the…

Jerrod, Antoin & Alex did an excellent job adding a steel support beam to our kitchen floor. The floor feels much more secure under the weight of all the kitchen appliances and everything is nice and level (level as it can be for a 1950s home). Thank you!

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Jarvis and Brandon were on time, professional, friendly, and got the job done installing new insulation under our home. We also love our…

Jarvis and Brandon were on time, professional, friendly, and got the job done installing new insulation under our home. We also love our new crawl space doors. Highly recommend!

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A week before Christmas, I had a rat invasion in the crawlspace that was encapsulated by Mount Valley. Marge came out several times to help …

A week before Christmas, I had a rat invasion in the crawlspace that was encapsulated by Mount Valley. Marge came out several times to help me cover the holes where a rat had eaten through the encapsulation material. She was great!! I highly recommend Mount Valley and their great customer service! Marge should be commended for her excellent tireless efforts to help me with my problem. We are now rat, free and encapsulation has now been restored back to normal.

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Kevin and Michael were very professional and easy to work with. So much so, I'm now going to have my pool deck raised

Kevin and Michael were very professional and easy to work with. So much so, I'm now going to have my pool deck raised

Is Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation Right for Me?

Open crawl space vents were initially designed to improve airflow. However, these vents often cause more harm than good. Instead of reducing moisture, vents allow humid air infiltration, leading to condensation, mold, and wood rot. 

The humid climates in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia exacerbate these problems, weakening home structures and creating health risks.

Investing in professional crawl space repair and encapsulation solutions, including vapor barriers, vent covers, interior drainage systems, sump pumps, and dehumidifiers, helps combat these issues. Contact Mount Valley Foundation Services today to schedule your free inspection and learn more about creating a safer, healthier environment for your family.

Crawl Space Repair FAQs

We are committed to your satisfaction and your home’s safety. That is why we only use the very best repair solutions. The products we use are manufactured right here in the United States, and they are tested and proven to effectively work in keeping your crawl space clean, dry, safe and healthy. All these solutions also are designed to work together to give you the most bang for your buck and prevent any further problems. 

Here is how we tackle crawl space problems, as well as the solutions we use and how they work: 

  • Address Leaking Water — To address seeping water, we first need to catch the water, then get this water to a sump pump system, and then send this water away from the home.  

    Our specially designed CrawlDrain™ perimeter drainage system is placed in the dirt crawl space floor around the perimeter to catch seeping water from the walls and floor. The drainage channels then direct this water into the SafeDri™ Crawl Space Sump Pump System, which then pumps the water out of the crawl space and away from the home.  A FreezeGuard™ also can be attached to the exterior sump pump discharge line to prevent flooding if the line should freeze or become blocked. 
  • Seal the Crawl Space from Outside Elements — It is important to seal your crawl space from outside air, water and pests. The first step is having durable vent covers placed over the crawl space vents. 
     
    Then, a heavy-duty moisture and vapor barrier is installed. Our CrawlSeal™ is a true 20-mil liner rated above 25-mil strength at the seams. This liner, which is three times thicker than builder’s grade liner, is used to completely isolate the crawl space from the earth. CrawlSeal™ prevents moisture and vapor intrusion, is waterproof, and has been treated to resist mold. 
     
    Additionally, thick drainage matting can be placed on the crawl space floor before the encapsulation process to help direct water to the perimeter CrawlDrain™ system, as well as enhance the strength of the CrawlSeal™ liner. 
     
  • Properly Insulate the Crawl Space — Rigid ExTremeBloc™ panels placed on crawl space walls will better insulate the area and will not fail or develop mold like fiberglass insulation. These panels resist moisture, and an integrated termiticide is added to deter termites below grade. CrawlSeal™ also helps insulate the crawl space, and spray foam can be added to rim joists to seal gaps around the perimeter of your foundation. These insulation methods help prevent wood rot and enable termite treatments. 
     
  • Condition the Air — Our low-profile crawl space dehumidifier is powerful and energy efficient. It effectively works to clean and filter the air, control moisture and humidity, and reduce odors and potential mold growth. This dehumidifier also is self-draining, meaning there aren’t any reservoirs or buckets to have to worry about emptying. The unit can be directed to drain into the crawl space perimeter drainage system or sump pump system, or a condensate pump can be installed. 
     
  • Reinforce Support Systems — Wooden floor supports and light-duty jack posts commonly fail in wet and humid crawl spaces. Our durable IntelliJacks™ are made of galvanized steel, making them more reliable supports that can stabilize and lift sagging floors and floor joists back to level. 

When you contact us, you can speak to one of our customer care representatives about your crawl space concerns. We will then work with you to schedule an appointment for a free inspection and estimate with one of our certified field inspectors.  

Here’s what you can expect during this consultation. The inspector will:  

  • Complete a thorough evaluation of your home’s interior and exterior. This includes going into the crawl space to check the condition of the area including any water intrusion, damage, pests, etc.  
  • Discuss his findings with you, as well as your goals with a repair project.  
  • Offer customized solutions that best fit your repair needs.  
  • Provide you with a proposal of recommended solutions before leaving your house.  
  • Discuss payment and financing options with you. 

Then, if you decide to move forward with a repair project, we will work to schedule your repairs with one of our highly trained installation crews. Our crew members will treat your home as their own, with the utmost care and respect. They will use world-class solutions for your repairs, and their work is not complete until you are 100% satisfied with the job. If something crops up after installation, we will return to fix any issues. We also offer various service and maintenance opportunities to protect our work and your home.  

Along with writing a review about your experience with us, it would mean the world to us if you would refer us to your friends and family! 

Now that you’ve seen what nastiness could be lurking underneath your feet and the toll it can take on your home and your family, aren’t you motivated to get rid of it? As tempting as it might be to head out to your local home improvement store to gather supplies, pause for a moment.  

Crawl space repair is not something you can tackle in a weekend, no matter how handy you are. A lot can go wrong, and we have seen many problems result from fast fixes. Especially concerning real estate transactions, quick fixes can raise red flags. You’ll then have to spend more time and money to repair these issues. It’s best to leave these projects to professional contractors so the problems will be fixed correctly the first time around. 

We encourage you to educate yourself to make the best decision and sound investment with trustworthy repair solutions from a reliable contractor. 

Why would you want disgusting conditions underneath your home? That alone should be enough for you to want to correct the problems. But you might be wondering, “what’s in it for me?” A lot, actually. There are so many benefits of having a clean crawl space, which you can read about in our blog, “10 Reasons to Clean Your Crawl Space This Season.” Here are a few of the major perks:  

  • Health — A cleaner crawl space means improved health for you and your family. Especially if anyone in your house suffers from asthma or allergies, a cleaner crawl space can help prevent flare-ups and sickness. If you choose solutions like a dehumidifier, the air quality will be greatly improved throughout the entire home. 
  • Structural Integrity — Compromised support systems and sagging floors are dangerous and could result in significant structural damage and safety hazards. By shoring up the support system in your home, you will have a more stable living environment for your family. 
  • Energy Efficiency — When you invest in proper, reliable crawl space encapsulation and insulation to reduce energy loss, you can save between 30 and 50% on your energy bills. (Source: Clean Crawls)
  • Functional Space — Once your crawl space has been properly waterproofed, sealed and insulated, you have an area of your home you can use in a new way. You’ll be able to store your belongings in the crawl space without worrying about them being damaged by water, mold or pests. 
  • Real Estate Value — There are a lot of factors that impact a home’s resale value, but issues with the structure, any water intrusion and crawl space problems are all areas you need to be aware of. When selling your house, it is important to disclose any known past or current damage. This sets clear expectations regarding the quality and condition of the home. Homeowners selling their house in South Carolina are required to provide a written disclosure statement to the purchaser noting any known defects. This includes information on the foundation, basement and other structural components, as well as current or prior infestations of wood destroying insects or organisms. (Source: Nolo

If you take a look online for instructions on how to fix your crawl space vapor barrier, you will find there are many DIY tutorials available. Many homeowners think installing a vapor barrier will not take long and won’t be too complicated. After all, it is possible to purchase all the materials you need to do it yourself at your local expert supply store. 

At Mount Valley Foundation Services, we have installed many crawl space vapor barriers over the years. We can tell you that this is not an easy task, and it is not something that many people can figure out just by watching an online tutorial. If anything goes wrong or you make a mistake, you will still have to contact a professional to complete the task. Therefore it is best to contact our team and have your new vapor barrier installed by members of the oldest foundation services companies in all of South Carolina. 

Contractors once believed that placing vents on the walls of crawl spaces would help improve the airflow in these dark and humid areas. But over the years, we have learned that crawl space vents do more harm than good. They allow moisture to enter into the crawl space, which can promote mold growth and affect the internal temperature of your home, causing your energy rates to rise. 

Crawl space vent covers are the ideal solution to this problem, and they do not take long for our professionals to install. Our crawl space vent covers are made from solid and durable materials, and they are designed to prevent moisture and pests from entering your crawl space. 

If you think you could benefit from installing our vent covers, get in touch with us at Mount Valley Foundation Services today. 

Why Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation Are Needed

Crawl space problems affect your home and your family. Here are just a few of the benefits of crawl space repair and encapsulation:

Avoid Exposure to the Elements

Vented crawl spaces are exposed to the region’s exterior elements, including summertime heat and humidity, year-round precipitation, and coastal storms. Crawl spaces can sustain flooding and moisture-related damage. However, your crawl space can withstand the harshest weather challenges with airtight vent covers and encapsulation solutions.

Prevent Structural Damage and Instability

Crawl space foundations rely on support systems of beams, girders, and floor joists. Excess water and moisture can lead to wood rot and attract pests like termites, which damage these wooden structures. These issues often result in sagging or uneven floors. Crawl space repair and encapsulation manage moisture and protect these critical supports while specialized support jacks stabilize, reinforce, and lift sagging floor joists.

Deter Pests

Pests and rodents are attracted to isolated, dark, moist areas like crawl space foundations. Managing moisture with crawl space repair and encapsulation solutions, including airtight vent covers, door installation, vapor barriers, and durable insulation panels, reduces pest infestations and damage.

Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation Tips and Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Using Sand and Fans: While sand can absorb liquid, spreading it in a crawl space only conceals the issue by covering the moist ground soil. This method does not remove the moisture or address its source. Similarly, installing fans to circulate air may seem helpful; however, it often exacerbates the problem by increasing the presence of unconditioned, humid air.
  • Investing in Improper or Partial Encapsulation: Saving money on repairs for a rarely seen crawl space area can be tempting, but using reliable products is crucial. Some companies or hardware stores sell liners covering only the floor or walls, not the entire crawl space area. Many retail outlets offer thin vapor barriers with a minimal 6-mil thickness. These insufficient liners are prone to tears, moisture, mold, and other damage.
  • Implementing DIY Solutions: Many DIY solutions provide temporary relief and do not address the underlying causes of crawl space foundation problems. Since crawl space areas are limited and often store essential HVAC systems, plumbing, and ductwork, it’s best to rely on professionals for repair. Crawl space foundations can also harbor unsafe conditions like mold and pests, making it challenging and hazardous to navigate alone. Professionals have the expertise and safety gear to provide thorough crawl space inspections and repairs.

Tips to Consider:

  • Manage Exterior Drainage: Exterior gutters and downspouts are your first defense against water and moisture infiltration. Inspect and clean these systems at least twice yearly – in the spring and fall. Ensure downspouts and the extensions angle downward and away from the foundation to prevent water pooling. Landscape and yard grading should also slope down and away from the house to ensure proper water flow. 
  • Do Not Navigate the Crawl Space: Crawl space foundations are typically one to three feet high, making navigation challenging. Crawl spaces often store essential fixtures like plumbing pipes and HVAC equipment and harbor hazardous pests and rodents. If you notice signs of damage or the need for crawl space repair, contact a professional to ensure safety.
  • Trust Local Crawl Space Repair Experts: Trusting professionals for crawl space repairs ensures safety and a thorough job. Mount Valley Foundation Services teams are highly trained and experiences in crawl space inspection and problem diagnosis. We install specialized solutions tailored to your home’s needs and your budget.

Providing Expert Crawl Space Repair & Encapsulation in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia

Pennsylvania trusts Mount Valley for reliable basement waterproofing, crawl space, foundation, and concrete repair services. Contact us for a free inspection!  

Top Cities We Serve


Mount Valley Service Map

Our Locations

Augusta Location

630 Ellis Street, Suite 2-B
Augusta, GA 30901

Charleston Location

1850 Ashley River Rd
Charleston, SC 29407

Columbia Location

401 Gamble Dr., Suite B

Columbia, SC 29209

Greenville Location

300 South Ave
Spartanburg, SC 29306

Myrtle Beach Location

1704 N. Oak Street, Suite 3
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Savannah Location

6606 Abercorn St., Suite 211
Savannah, GA 31405