smoke, fire, and water damage - can you repair it?

Horror movies often use the crawl space of a house as a foreboding dumping ground for dead bodies or a suitable habitat for equally frightening live characters, mutant snakes, or spiders. In reality, however, the crawl space of the average home should never be allowed to stay or become this type of scary place.

Since moisture is often one of the most common issues with crawl spaces, taking steps to waterproof them is a critical step in helping homeowners achieve their goal of turning a frightening or dangerous crawl space into a safe, dry part of their home's structure.

If you are still unsure about whether you should have your home's crawl space waterproofed, the following information can help you understand how doing so can benefit your home and your family. 

Preventing moisture-related damage 

Exposure to moisture is one of the most common forms of damage for the average residential home. In addition to flooding and other types of natural disasters that occur in or near known flood zones, many other types of moisture issues are known to cause significant damage to thousands of homes and structures each year. 

Some of the most commonly experienced causes of moisture or water damage in the average home include the following:

• faulty guttering or downspouts that allow the soil to become saturated near crawl spaces and foundations 
• landscaping grade issues that channel water toward the home instead of away
• leaking pipes, fixtures, or appliances inside the home that cause water to pool inside the crawl space

Any of these moisture issues are capable of quickly creating the humidity necessary for the formation of wood rot, mold, and mildew. Waterproofing the crawlspace helps to protect it from water infiltration capable of damage the structure of the home. 

To be most effective against moisture infiltration, homeowners should consider sealing both the interior and exterior surfaces of the crawlspace with a barrier that is impermeable to moisture. Most professionals prefer to apply a waterproof coating to exterior walls and then encapsulate the interior by installing a barrier made from tough, flexible plastic sheeting. 

Protecting your home against insect infestations

Another reason why crawl spaces should always be waterproofed is to help prevent insect infestations. Termites, roaches, ants, and other pests are attracted to humid conditions and a readily available water supply. Waterproofing through encapsulation of the interior and sealing and coating the exterior surfaces of the crawl space is the best way to dry up moisture and excess humidity in these areas and make them unappealing to pests. 

To make the process even more effective in repelling future insect infestations, homeowners will want to have their crawl space waterproofing contractor seal any existing cracks or holes in the foundation walls and install screens on any existing vents.

Promoting healthier interior air 

The air quality inside your home can be directly affected by factors in the environment where it is located. Radon gas is one of these environmental dangers that are naturally present in the soil throughout many areas of the United States. 

Homes that are built on soil where radon is present can place occupants of the home at a much higher risk of developing lung cancer and other serious health issues. According to information provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), installation of high-density plastic sheeting inside the crawlspace of a home is one part of the suggested processes for preventing existing radon gas from seeping into the home's air supply via the soil inside the crawl space. 

To learn even more good reasons why you should have your home's crawl space waterproofed, contact a crawl space waterproofing contractor in your area.