Wooden structural supports are beneficial in even modern homes. Unfortunately, despite their versatility, if you don’t keep an eye on your home’s general stability, these supports can quickly succumb to water damage and rot. Mount Valley Foundation Services is great when it comes to handling rooting wood and maintaining the wooden structure of your crawl space.
Different Rotting Wood Problem Signs
Moldy or Rotting Surfaces
If you have a water problem in your crawl space, like too much moisture or excess humidity, mold and mildew are very likely to grow in the space as well. Mold likes damp, dark places, so your home’s crawl space is a great place for it to grow and thrive. Mold is present in the air in tiny forms, but when it grows in one place, it causes significant problems. Mold can be identified by its dark green or black spots and an increase in asthma and allergy symptoms in people.
High Humidity
If you notice that there is more humidity in your crawl space or even in your living area, you may have rotting wood as well. If you change the temperature more often and see condensation, you probably have a water problem in your crawl space, leading to rot. If you see water pooling around your home’s foundation or water droplets forming around your home or in your crawl space, the standing water in your crawl space could be to blame. Standing water needs to be fixed as soon as possible because it can lead to more problems than just excess humidity.
Musty Odors
There is a smell that comes with mold and mildew. These musty odors will quickly spread from your crawl space to the rest of your home. This makes your house smell bad, which can be embarrassing when people come over. If you smell something musty but can’t figure out where it’s coming from, it could be your crawl space. Pooling water not only causes mold to grow, but it also gives off a smelly smell that will spread through your home. If you shine a light into your crawl space (we don’t recommend going in) and smell something musty, it’s likely that your crawl space needs repairs and mold removal from a specialist.
FAQs
It’s not hard to keep wood damage from happening to your crawl space. There are different ways to secure wooden structures, as long as you don’t mind having the work done.
When you waterproof your home, you limit how much damage water pressure can do to your home’s structure. Vapor barriers, for example, are thick enough to keep moisture out of your crawl space, while dehumidifiers actively pull moisture out of the air.
Homeowners don’t always think about the care their basement, foundation, or crawl space might need. If you want to make sure your home doesn’t get wood damage, you might want to check in with experts in your area once a year.
Yes, it’s always a good idea to waterproof your whole house. When you take steps to waterproof your home, you try to keep your wooden supports from coming into contact with the water pressure that could cause them to split.
Interior drainage, sump pumps, and crawl space dehumidifiers are all great ways to stop excess moisture, which can lead to wood rot, mold, and other problems.
Keep in mind that there are other ways to keep water out. You can talk to people who know the area to find out which of those are best for your home, fit your budget, and might meet your needs.
Sometimes, you will be able to fix or support wooden parts of your home that have been damaged by water or cracks. However, there will be times when it is better to replace rotting wood than to fix it.
You won’t be able to take out the rotting supports and replace them with newer, stronger wood until all the problems with your foundation, basement, or crawl space have been fixed. Keep in mind that you might also be able to switch out your wooden supports for something else. If you choose to have the wood in your crawl space replace, it is best to contact a professional that specializes in rotten wood replacement.
Explore Solutions
We have many ways to make your home and crawl space more comfortable and stop too much moisture from getting in. Solutions, like putting in a crawl space dehumidifier or thermal insulation, can make your crawl space less likely to collect too much moisture and let it spread to the rest of the house.
Mount Valley Foundation Services
Crawl Space Vapor Barrier
A vapor barrier is a type of crawl space encapsulation material that specifically protects your crawl space and other areas of your property from water and moisture.
Mount Valley Foundation Services
Crawl Space Drain
One of the best ways to minimize flooding and humidity in your home is to install a strong crawl space interior drainage system. Our team at Mount Valley Foundation Services can help.
Mount Valley Foundation Services
Sump Pumps
A sump pump is a machine that draws water into its sump basin before draining it outside your home. It’s a fast and efficient system that eliminates floodwater from your basement, allowing your property to stay dry during any kind of weather.
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Thermal Insulation
Although thermal insulation doesn’t directly protect your crawl space from flooding, it can keep the walls, and subsequently your foundation, from cracking.
Call Us for A Free Inspection
We at Mount Valley Foundation Services work in places like Charleston, Columbia, and Savannah that have a lot of humidity. Along with the weather, we know a lot about the different clay, silty-clay, and loam soils that cover North and South Carolina, as well as Georgia. If you think your home has problems with wood rot, get in touch with us! We offer free inspections to homeowners with no strings attached, so you can be sure that there is a problem that needs to be fixed. With a 2020 Angi Super Service Award and an Elite Service award from Home Advisor, you can trust our expertise. We never quit a job, so you can be sure that your problem will be fixed right the first time.
