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What Should You Know About Your Crawl Space

If you have ever thought of living in a home with no carpet, you are most likely someone who has little experience of the term “crawl space”. A crawl space, also known as a cellar, is a previously unused, unfinished, low ceilinged area inside an apartment or home, usually between the first and second floor. Most apartments and homes come with a crawl space; however, it is always wise to ensure that your new home has one as standard. The crawl space is often referred to as a cellar because there is usually only enough space to crawl around rather than walk; anything wider than around 1.5m tends to be considered a cellar. Regardless of what is called a crawl space in this context, it is an important and frequently overlooked feature of a new or existing building.

The conditions found within crawl spaces (which can also be known as cellar) are very poor; this is usually because they are poorly suited to absorb moisture and natural gases, and are often humidified. If left unchecked, this can lead to the growth of mildew, mould and other forms of bacteria, as well as releasing pollutants into the atmosphere. To start with, warm dampness will generally cause the most problems. Over time, this can result in serious structural damage which will then need to be repaired or replaced.

In order to keep the moisture level in a crawl space under control, there are a number of steps that can be taken. One such measure is a vapor barrier, which is also commonly used in basements and attics. A vapor barrier acts as an absorber and traps moisture in. There are a number of different types of vapor barriers available including: mineral wool, polystyrene and thermal fibres.

If you choose to use wall insulation for your crawl spaces, you should ensure that it is very effective at reducing heat loss. Unfortunately, if you chose a poorly insulated wall (that may also be flimsy by design), it can increase the risk of water infiltration into the basement. Also, if your plumbing is not of a very high quality, you should consider replacing it before spending money on wall insulation. Poorly insulated walls can make it difficult for heat to move from the outside to the inside of the basement, causing poor heating and water distribution.

Once the moisture in the crawl space has been trapped, you need to seal it from outside sources. This will prevent both structural damage and the growth of mildew and mould. The best way to achieve this is with a biological, chemical or physical barrier. You could choose to install a wood, plastic or composite barrier that will be easy to maintain, or the less expensive mechanical option of a solid surface rigid barrier.

Cracks and other structural damage are potential issues with any type of seal applied to a crawl space. As long as the water is confined to the space itself, it is usually sufficient to keep moisture out and dampness down. However, if the walls are not properly insulated, the problem can become much worse.

The Terms Of Crawl Space

A crawl space is a vacant unfinished, low ceilinged room in a structure, usually between the second floor and the bottom floor, often below a concrete slab. The term ‘crawl space’ is also used when talking about outdoor workshops. The reason for this is that a crawl space has no floor, wall or ceiling and is therefore very open and dark, sometimes even with no doors. The term ‘crawl space’ is also used when discussing basement construction, as these types of basements are almost always one level below grade with no visible walls or ceiling. The term ‘crawl space’ is also used when talking about outdoor workshops, as usually there is only enough room to crawl around on all four feet without bumping into walls.

It is recommended that a crawl space should have enough ventilation and fresh air circulating throughout it in order to keep it safe for inhabitants and animals. Mold and mildew tend to thrive in areas of poor air circulation and can spread very quickly. In addition, without proper lighting, even with a ceiling light, the area can become dark and dangerous, even for a trained professional. This is especially true in poorly ventilated spaces, such as those found in houses, garages, storage facilities and workshops.

Once you have sealed the space properly and cleaned it properly with soap and water, you may want to invest in a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier is a device which cool air using the principles of physics, and is a good solution for damp spaces caused by condensation. A dehumidifier works by extracting moisture from the air and expelling it through exhaust pipes or ductwork. Some of the common dehumidifier models include the Portable and Smart House Dehumidifiers. A proper dehumidifier is necessary for a crawl space because mold and mildew will grow in areas where there are no air circulation and a lot of moisture is present.

If your crawl space does not have a dehumidifier or if you already have a dehumidifier but need it to function more effectively or to remove moisture completely, you can purchase a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier acts like an extra layer of insulation between your walls and your living areas, preventing moisture and heat from penetrating your wall cavities. Wall cavities can collect a lot of humidity, especially around doors and windows, so a vapor barrier is imperative for homes in these types of spaces. If you are concerned about mold and mildew growing in damp areas, you should install a vapor barrier.

One more reason why do homes have a crawl space? Usually, homes that have a basement have a connected external drainage system, and when it rains, the water goes into the basement. When you have a crawl space in your home, you are opening up that area to outside air and moisture, and this means that there is a higher risk for mold and mildew to grow in your crawl space, even when there is no other structural issue with your home.

It is important to note that a moisture sensor can be used to detect any areas of concern, whether it is mold growing in your crawl space or if there is excess moisture in your attic. Once you have detected an issue, a crawl space vapor barrier system can help prevent the problem from getting worse. Moisture sensors can be placed throughout your house, as well as around outlets, plumbing fixtures, windows, and above your drywall.

What Is Mold And How Does It Affect Your Home?

A crawl space, also known as a cellar, is a unoccupied, finished, dark, unheated space in a residential building, usually beneath the first floor and the ground level. The term ‘crawlspace’ was first used in the United Kingdom in the 1970s, although it is now used in all parts of the world. The word ‘crawlspace’ is derived from the German word ‘kast’. Crawl spaces are usually small, because they have to deal with the soil and other conditions found under the building’s foundation. The word ‘crawlspace’ is thought to have come from the word ‘kast’ meaning cellar or pit.

Crawl spaces can have many uses, such as storage or workshop, living or office space or recreation areas. They are a perfect place for a home owner to keep articles safe, out of the way, and away from moisture, humidity and vermin, such as rats and snakes. Unfortunately, most homes in Canada have two or more crawl spaces, which means that there is a high risk of moisture, condensation and/or structural failures.

Moisture causes decay, warping and cracking, and can damage the internal structure of a home, causing significant damage to the foundations of the house. Moisture penetrates through the concrete and wood framing of the house, into the walls, floor joists, ceiling, studs, and even the foundation of the home. Excess moisture, especially on the upper floors of a house, can result in buckling, sagging and rotting of the lower levels of the house. Crawl spaces are designed to hold the excess moisture, but without allowing excess water to penetrate the floor of the building.

The foundation is typically made of poured concrete and on top of it is a layer of insulation, to help keep the interior dry during the colder months. There are also a drain and discharge pipe that lead from the foundation to the main floor of the home. During the warmer months, the drains are not used, and the insulation is not installed. The end result is that during the summer, when there is a lot of heating, the end floors of the home tend to get wet and stay moist.

Moisture will begin to permeate the floors at the foundation level, through the structural framing and insulation. Crawl space sub-slaves serve as a layer of insulation to help trap the heat inside the building. The soil that is on the surface is also a good medium for moisture to move around. This soil will also attract dirt and rodents that will dig in and ingest the insulation and cause problems for the insulation, resulting in it becoming weak and therefore ineffective over time. When this happens, the home will need to be excavated and replaced with new soil. In addition to this, the structural framing and floor joists will also need to be replaced.

When it comes to crawl spaces, mold remediation should be done as soon as possible. Mold causes allergic reactions, asthma, congestion and breathing difficulties, so it is important to remove the mold if found. If the mold is discovered after the house has been torn down, then it is imperative that it is removed from the crawl space or the structure may collapse. This is why mold remediation is done as soon as mold detection is confirmed, the longer the mold has a chance to grow and remain in the structure. If you have a crawl space, or a small outdoor space that you do not use on a regular basis, it is a good idea to make sure that it is properly maintained, to reduce the chance of it being converted into a moisture problem.

Ventilation Benefits of Crawl Space Systems

A crawl space is a vacant unfinished, small area in a residential building, often between the first and second floors. The term ‘crawl space’ is frequently used but rarely explained in residential construction. The word ‘crawl space’ is derived from the engineering usage of the term ‘dormatory’. The word ‘crawl space’ is used for many different purposes in the building environment, and is used as a descriptive expression for many different types of space.

A crawl space has the potential to store a great deal of heat and moisture. These areas are designed with minimum energy efficiency in mind. Even if they are designed with efficient heating and cooling in mind, they may still trap excess moisture causing increased structural humidity. Crawl spaces can be an important health risk. Moisture can contribute to the growth of mould and mildew, which is known to cause a number of health problems.

The longer a structure sits unheated or is constantly exposed to water (whether it is from a pipe break or other water leakage), the greater the chances of mold growth becoming established. A few signs of mold growth include discoloured, crumbly paint, cracked and peeling walls, dampness on the floor and ceiling and structural damage beneath the foundation. If you find any of these signs in your crawl space, it is important to act quickly to repair the problem as a mold infestation could result in severe structural damage to the building. In fact, even the smallest amounts of mould can bring down a property’s value.

Although it may seem obvious, the best way to combat mold and mildew growth in a crawl space (a room that has no central heating and air conditioning ducts) is through ventilation. By eliminating the humid air (which breeds mould and mildew) and providing a source of dry air, you will not only kill or remove the existing mould, you will prevent the new ones from growing. There are a number of ways to ventilate a crawl space including opening windows and opening doors. The most effective ventilation method for a crawl space however, is via a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA).

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) strips can be installed in any room in your home, with the one obvious exception being the crawl space. In a crawl space, they must be installed under the concrete slab. These strips are attached to a plastic tube that is connected to the outside of the slab. Once installed, the strip directs air from the inside of the house to the strip, which then directs air back to the house. This air is completely fresh and dust free.

In a cold climate, it is less expensive to ventilate a crawl space than it is to maintain a damp basement. Even if you have to spend slightly more on heating and cooling, the additional expense is not worth it. In extreme cases, damp basements cost more to maintain than a dry basement because of the additional time and effort spent on dehumidification. Another benefit of ventilating a crawl space (even if you use conventional means) is that the home’s energy rating improves. The crawl space houses the equivalent of about 8 square feet of unheated air in a home that has a conventional chimney. In climates where the temperature outside exceeds that needed for human comfort, this is significant savings.

Protecting Your Crawl Space From Allergens

It can be difficult for first time home buyers to work out what a crawl space actually is. A crawl space, also known as a cellar, is an unused, unfinished, short floor inside a building, usually between the bottom floor and the second floor. The term ‘crawl space’ is sometimes used in conjunction with other words to describe the finished basement, such as a cellar, pantry or storage. The crawl space is generally so called because there usually isn’t enough space to stand upright; anything longer than about 1 foot tends to be considered a cellar. The term ‘crawl space’ is increasingly being used to describe any sort of unfinished space that can be found below grade in a home. In fact it’s not uncommon to see retail stores now selling unfinished kitchen cabinets, bedroom cupboards and similar items in the basement as a more traditional way to refer to the lower levels of a property.

There are many reasons why you might need to work out the heating and cooling bills in your crawl space. If your crawl space has flooring that’s not suited to thermal comfort, it could mean that the room is hotter in summer and colder in winter. This is particularly true if your house has not been insulated properly and is warm in the summer months but cold in the winter. This problem can be exacerbated by condensation building up on the pipes in your crawl space, as well as water leaking from the upper levels of the house. To combat both issues, you should seal your basement using a waterproof membrane between the concrete and the floor.

When buying materials for a finished basement, one of the cheapest ways to improve the quality of the air is to install a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are designed to remove excess moisture from the air by collecting the moisture vapour that is created as the air is compressed. The moisture that is collected is then filtered through a condensing solution, which removes any odours and ensures that the air quality is improved. Be careful, however, to choose a dehumidifier that is powerful enough to cope with the moisture in your crawl space; if you purchase a cheap one, the result can be the same as leaving damp tissue in the corners of the room. Many people believe that purchasing a dehumidifier and condensing machine separately from the rest of their home furniture is the best way to deal with the moisture in the crawl space; this is rarely the case, as often the moisture is masking the problems caused by condensation.

If you have any walls or structural features in your crawl space that are causing issues due to the presence of moisture, you should consider repairing these areas to stop further damage from occurring. One example of this issue is cracked and flaking concrete walls. To deal with this problem, you can either fill up the holes with fill compound or apply a layer of asphalt shingles over the existing concrete, which acts as an effective cap against water penetration. If you do not have a concrete wall, you could consider caulking around the edges to protect the walls from further cracking. Cracks below the surface may be filled in with a resin-based waterproofing compound, whilst concrete repairs are best left to a professional.

Mold and mildew tend to grow in poorly ventilated crawl spaces and these can cause significant health problems for residents, especially in elderly people living alone. Mold spores find their favourite dark and moist areas such as in cracks around pipes, ceilings and walls, and so if these areas are well ventilated, you are less likely to see them growing. One way to solve this problem is to make sure that there are no leaks in the ceiling or pipes leading out of the space; if you suspect this is the case, get professionals out to look at the space to identify any damaged sections, patch them and then make sure the ceiling and pipes are ventilated again.

Finally, any damage to the foundation of a crawl space, whether from structural concerns or from water leakage, may mean your building can never be insured again. A slab is built on a foundation which is normally supported by concrete walls. If your foundation is seriously damaged (by flooding, subsidence or other water damage) it is unlikely that you can repair the foundation – if it cannot be repaired, it will need to be torn down. Again, if you think your foundation may have been damaged, get professionals out to take a look and advise on the best course of action for your needs.

Crawl Space Problems

A crawl space, also known as a cellar or utility room, is an unused, unfinished, closed, narrow area in a structure above the earth’s foundation level. The term ‘crawl space’ is popular because of the typical uninviting and cold feeling it creates; the lack of insulation; the lack of mechanical ventilation; the lack of good ventilation; the inability to install ductwork; the inability to install any sort of plumbing; and the temperature-controlled conditions that usually exist within a crawl space. If you are thinking about purchasing a home in Atlanta, Georgia or anywhere else for that matter, then it is imperative that you know all about crawl spaces, their usefulness, and their drawbacks. This article aims to provide that knowledge by providing you with an outline of what a crawl space (also known as a cellar) is, the advantages and disadvantages of having one installed in your home, and how you can go about making sure that it remains an excellent and useful addition to your property.

What is a Crawl Space? – A crawl space, sometimes called a cellar, is a fairly typical room located below the earth’s surface in a residential dwelling. It is used almost exclusively for storage purposes; though it is not uncommon to use them for heat and/or as a workshop, game room, music studio, etc. The typical material used to build a crawl space, other than wood, is concrete and stone. The walls are constructed with a mixture of two types of material: insulation and masonry. The floor is usually made from poured concrete and sealed with a layer of structural material to prevent moisture from penetrating the base material.

Why Would You Want a Crawl Space Installed? – A crawl space can be an excellent and beneficial addition to a property, if it is designed properly. A properly designed and built space will trap heat better than any other type of structure, and will also provide ventilation for a property. When properly installed and utilized, it can save on energy costs significantly. If there is a problem with the structure (such as the presence of water or excessive amounts of heat), it can often be solved by simply replacing portions of the structure.

What Are the Advantages of Crawl Spaces? – A crawl space has many positive benefits, especially for those who have a family with very young children. A space can be designed to be as child proof as possible. Mold and mildew can often be eliminated, and the basement can be kept dry during periods of high humidity.

Can Crawl Spots Cause Structural Damage? – A major problem associated with crawl spaces is the occurrence of structural damage caused by moisture absorption. As more houses are built with the practice of a crawl space, more homeowners are becoming aware of the possibility of this happening. In order to prevent structural damage, homeowners may want to install a special moisture barrier directly over the foundation.

Is There an Effective Method of Crawl Space Insulation? – One approach is to use polystyrene insulation, which is extremely effective at preventing heat loss and keeping the temperature in a crawl space uniform throughout the year. Another option is to use extremely tight-fitting foam insulation, which is even more effective at preventing heat loss. In addition, insulating material can also help prevent electrical wiring from being damaged due to the expansion and contraction that can occur with humidity levels in a basement.

Crawl Space Wetness and Mold and Mildew Growth

A crawl space is basically an unoccupied, empty, narrow tunnel inside an actual building, between the first floor and the earth. The term ‘crawl space’ is also used when talking about basements, attics or garages that are below grade and therefore not accessible by staircase. The word ‘crawl’ is also used when discussing a type of auto garage, or truck lot’s storage area. The reason why it has come to be known as such is because of the often-damp, damp nature of the crawl space; this creates a perfect environment for mold, mildew and other indoor air pathogens to grow, thrive and spread in.

A crawl space can be home to a whole host of different microscopic microbes, mold spores and other organic matter. In fact, the moisture levels in a crawl space can be up to 100 times higher than the ambient air level! Moisture is the single greatest culprit in homes for the cause of harmful mold and mildew growth. The presence of mold and mildew in your home can lead to: asthma attacks, allergic reactions, chronic bronchitis, coughing and wheezing, respiratory infections, memory loss, short-term memory loss, rashes, headaches, poor concentration, poor physical health (illness), headaches, and many more. The list goes on.

Moisture can be caused by a number of factors, but none are as important as the condition of your crawl space’s foundation. A foundation, like a house foundation, is designed to manage the influx and outflow of water from inside the house, and to channel the water away from the home and towards a drainage system. Unfortunately, our modern foundations don’t quite work as well as they once did, and over time they can succumb to cracks, fractures, softening and potholes. When this happens, the water that are redirected away from the foundation and into the crawl space, and the lack of support given to the structure of the house, can cause significant uplift and movement of the soil materials below the foundation.

With all that said, it stands to reason that any structure in a crawl space that experiences any amount of water infiltration and humidity will become a potential habitat for mildew growth. Now, granted, mildew growth is not necessarily synonymous with black mold, but mold and mildew can to co-exist in the same space if certain conditions are present. Here are a few symptoms of the presence of mold or mildew growth in your crawl space:

Crawl space floor drains should drain properly; otherwise, water will pool around the foundations of your house. This can lead to excess humidity in the crawl space that can contribute to the formation of mold and mildew. Remember, if there is a slab on the ground in your crawl space, it’s because you poured a concrete slab. You don’t want to place a slab over an existing concrete slab because the moisture from poured concrete may migrate toward the slab and can cause it to crack or deflect. This potential damage to your slab will not be covered by your warranty should you choose to install a wet basement under the warranty terms of your homeowner’s insurance policy.

There are other methods of waterproofing your crawl spaces without using a solid concrete foundation. You can use a foam membrane to protect the floor; however, this is a temporary fix and not an ideal solution for your basement. As mentioned earlier, you do not want to place a wet basement underneath your slab on the ground in your crawl spaces. In the case of a wet basement, you need to waterproof your basement permanently. Installing an underlayment that consists of an insulating membrane is an ideal solution for basement waterproofing because it prevents water from penetrating the slab and basement floors.

Dealing With a Crawl Space

A crawl space, also known as an inwards-outwards-in-wards unoccupied space in a residential building, is an unused, unfinished, usually narrow room inside an establishment, usually between the first and second floors. The term ‘crawl space’ is somewhat of a misnomer, as the building might have many other spaces which are commonly referred to as ‘crawl spaces’, but in this instance it is accurate. Also, the term ‘crawl space’ is not used to describe any part of a building which has been used for living, since a ‘home’ or ‘family’ would most likely be one of these rooms. Also, the term ‘crawl space’ is not used to describe any part of a building which is used for living, since a ‘home’ or ‘family’ would most likely be one of these rooms.

When it comes to homes with crawl spaces, the occupants may often suffer from structural problems brought on by the uninvited (or controlled) entry of excess moisture into the home. Moisture is a natural and necessary component of the process of wood burning, as it provides fuel through combustion. Unfortunately, moisture can also be a serious problem in uninvited crawl spaces, due to many factors. One such factor is the presence of insufficient ventilation. A full basement has proper ventilation; a crawl space would not be classified as having proper ventilation, since the walls are not ‘closed off’ from external air. This creates a breeding ground for excess moisture and can result in the growth of mildew, mold, and mildew-borne diseases.

In addition, since the floor of a crawl space is generally just a few feet high, condensation can form on even the least insulated floor levels, creating a very unhealthy environment. Condensation may even form on the ceiling, especially at night, resulting in moisture accumulating on the insides of the ceiling trusses and causing the same structural damage as that experienced above. The result is water leaking onto the floors, walls, or ceilings of the home, and that sort of thing does not have good results for anyone.

The best solution for all of these problems is a system that will elevate the home’s ceiling and therefore alleviate the negative effects of moisture on the interior of the house. A system that provides proper ventilation is required, because without proper ventilation, the presence of excess moisture will cause problems throughout the home. These problems, of course, cannot be ignored, and building owners must take active steps to control them. One way to accomplish this is to install a vapor barrier under the second layer of drywall.

There are many different solutions to the problem of inadequate ventilation in crawl spaces, and some of the better solutions include installing an insulated blanket or a vapor barrier under the second layer of drywall, as well as installing adequate insulation between the walls and ceiling. This last step is especially important in basements, where the walls and ceiling are typically concrete and bricks and have no type of insulation that exists in the traditional attic space. Attics are designed to retain heat, and while the exterior of an attic can be insulated, it is not recommended in a basement, because it can lead to moisture problems.

Another solution for heating and dehumidifying a basement comes in the form of an integrated whole-house HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) system. This method is often times the most cost effective solution, because the entire house is included in the HVAC system, and not just one area. These systems are often powered by gas or propane, but they also have natural gas and oil options as well. When it comes to dehumidifying a crawl space, a natural gas powered dehumidifier is ideal, because it will eliminate the need for expensive heating and air conditioning unit, which can be very costly. In addition, natural gas is easier to find and is more affordable than propane, so this might be a better long term option as well.Dealing With a Crawl Space
A crawl space, also known as an inwards-outwards-in-wards unoccupied space in a residential building, is an unused, unfinished, usually narrow room inside an establishment, usually between the first and second floors. The term ‘crawl space’ is somewhat of a misnomer, as the building might have many other spaces which are commonly referred to as ‘crawl spaces’, but in this instance it is accurate. Also, the term ‘crawl space’ is not used to describe any part of a building which has been used for living, since a ‘home’ or ‘family’ would most likely be one of these rooms. Also, the term ‘crawl space’ is not used to describe any part of a building which is used for living, since a ‘home’ or ‘family’ would most likely be one of these rooms.

 

What You Should Know About Your Crawl Space

A crawl space is a unoccupied, unfinished, often narrow space in an apartment building, sometimes between the upper floor and the ground level. The word “crawl” is derived from the French “celoc” meaning heap or mass. The term is often used in association with the practice of utilising the basement as a living space, with the kitchen being the most common use.

The term is sometimes also used when describing the concrete slab on which the building’s foundations are poured. A crawl space may also be defined by the height of the slab foundation, i.e. if it is above ground the term may apply, otherwise it will be necessary to specify in the building plans. The term is also frequently used when describing unheated crawl spaces, i.e. those below the earth’s surface.

The main purpose of a crawl space ventilation opening is to allow excess moisture and gases to escape into the atmosphere. This is usually achieved by using a vent hood, which can be installed directly over the opening or via a system of ducts or vents. Although vents can be installed directly above the opening, this is not usually recommended because the pipes often contain moisture. Instead, a trenching system is often used to channel the ventilation into the walls. If there are no ventilation ducts or vents to the outside, the soil around the foundation may be excavated to expose a flue, or to install a vent pipe for external ventilation. If no drainage is available then root access to a condensation damper may be required.

A typical component of a crawl space are earth floors and exposed ductwork and plumbing. Earth floors provide a natural heat source that can be maintained by heating and damp proofing the floor. In addition to heating and cooling, earth floors should also be sealed to keep water away from foundation walls. Usually, the floor drain and slab on top of the foundation will slope towards the house foundations will be buried in the soil.

In general, a slab on the exterior of the house provides the foundation on which the house rests, and has a concrete floor that is waterproof. This slab should be sloped towards the house to facilitate soil excavation to install foundation walls and to channel excess moisture away from the house. On the interior of the crawl space, the concrete slab is typically cracked to provide access to the earth for foundation walls and to channel excess moisture away from the house. Cement sealant is typically used as a sealant between the slab and the wall and between the slab and the floor drain. The interior of the crawl space can be made with plywood sheeting or with poured concrete slabs to match the exterior concrete floor.

Wood rot and termites are potential problems that have been associated with unventilated crawl spaces. Termites will chew through wood, entering the crawl space through a termite tunnel. Wood rot will cause rotting and expansion of the interior of the crawl space, which can allow condensation and moisture to build up. Wood rot will also cause the foundation of the crawl space to settle unevenly, compromising the structural integrity of the house. If you discover any of these conditions, you should contact a licensed home inspector who will assess the condition of your foundation and recommend an appropriate repair plan.

Protect Your Family With A Crawl Space Inspection

A crawl space, also called a storage area or cellar, is an unheated, unfinished, short-length space inside an old building, usually below the second floor and sometimes no above the first floor. The term ‘crawl space’ is also used when talking about basements that are unoccupied. A crawl space can be used for a variety of things: storage of goods, storing waste, a workshop, a garden shed or even a house-remodeling project. Typically, though, a crawl space has no utilities and is often dark, cold and damp.

Usually a crawl space has concrete walls and floors and is sealed off from the outside by a foundation or a roof above. Sometimes this is just a cement slab with a concrete slab floor. A concrete slab is simply a large sheet of cold-pressed concrete (sometimes reinforced with steel) that is used in many different applications to seal and protect openings and cracks. Concrete slabs can be used in many different situations, including: garages and driveways, patios, pool decks and walkways, pools, hot tubs, garages, workshops, as well as crawl spaces. It’s also possible to pour a concrete slab directly into a concrete pit or hole – known as a ‘pit hole’ – to seal and protect a pre-existing pit.

When a slab is used in a crawl space, it provides a barrier against moisture infiltration, but does not provide insulation. Moisture can penetrate through gaps in a slab and will eventually find its way into the building, creating humidity problems in the air. This will then encourage mold growth in the walls and other areas of the building. It’s not known whether the moisture that leaks into a crawl space comes from condensation on the exterior of the foundation or from infiltration of water through the soil beneath the foundation wall.

Mold growth in crawl spaces that are sealed and covered with a slab will likely have a negative impact on the structure of the home as well as the health of the occupants. It’s not known yet whether the moisture that leaks in crawl spaces leads to the formation of mold but the potential for basement mold is real. The moisture that leaks in crawl spaces eventually reaches the interior of the house through windows, doors and floorboards. Even poorly insulated walls are likely to contribute to moisture problems in the home.

If a leak is detected and repaired quickly, the problem may not be resolved. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove the concrete slab on the outside of the crawl space and reconstruct the basement on the same site. Other times, waterproofing the perimeter of the space and installing drains and dehumidifiers will be enough to solve the problem without the need to replace the entire house.

One thing to keep in mind about crawl spaces is that there are several different types of molds that can be found on earth beneath your foundation walls. While most are harmless, others may present a serious problem. Black ants are common indoor visitors to the crawl space and can do damage to drywall and wood framing. Earthworms are a pest that can also affect wood framing. Mold, on the other hand, can lead to serious structural damage. With this in mind, it’s important to have a thorough inspection of the basement twice a year, and be ready to tackle problems like black ants, termites and mold as they arise.