You probably don’t want to think about the crawlspace in your home—you know, that dark, creepy area between the soil and the first floor. When your home is built, the crawlspace is left to provide access to the plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems. When your home is inspected, the crawlspace is a really important part of that inspection.
Crawlspaces Are Out of Sight, Out of Mind
The majority of homeowners never access the crawlspace in their home. Let’s face it—the crawlspace is out of sight, out of mind. That’s why homeowners don’t know whether they have an issue. Inspectors regularly see all kinds of issues—structural, leaks, mold, critters—all kinds of things.
Issues Found During Crawlspace Inspections
It’s important to know that crawlspaces are common problem areas in a home inspection report. These areas are often poorly designed and constructed, and because they house plumbing, often have moisture issues. Here are a few issues we frequently see:
Insufficient support structure
Inadequate insulation
Improper ventilation
Rotted wood
Mold
Missing moisture barrier
Wet crawlspace
Rodents, snakes, spiders and other assorted pests
What Happens During A Crawlspace Inspection
Fortunately, most crawlspace issues are actually easy to remedy and bring up to code. During our inspection, we will navigate the entire interior and check for all of these things—condensation, standing water, condensation and all other issues.
We take digital pictures and make detailed measurements using our laser technology. We go back to the office, assemble a report, and then meet with you as the homeowner or buyer to detail the problems and present the solutions. We often will present multiple solutions for single problem, to fit your budget.
Most often, we find moisture issues. In fact, most homeowners will experience a crawlspace moisture issue at some point during the life of the home. It’s pretty much inevitable. All sorts of things can cause this moisture—cracks in your foundation, lack of a moisture barrier, poorly graded soil which allows water to poor into your home, or a plumbing leak.
When that moisture persists day in and day out, that ever-present dampness under the wood floor structure of your home can create rotted damaged wood and is a haven for mold formation. And all that moisture is bound to attract pests of all kinds.
Over time, that moisture can cause extensive damage if the problem is not addressed. Don’t wait until the damage gets really expensive. Give RCS a call today.
