Options to Help You Protect Your Crawlspace From Leaking Water

Moisture follows the path of least resistance outside, which can make it seep into your home via crawlspaces and basement foundations. It is important to keep water from entering your home so you avoid mold and mildew growth and other damage it causes. Here are some options you can use to waterproof your crawlspace and basement and protect your home from water damage.

Install an Interior Barrier

The inside of your crawlspace needs to be protected from any outside water intrusion. This can be completed through various ways. One of the more popular methods to waterproof the interior crawlspace is to apply a coat of waterproof paint that coats the concrete walls and seals out any moisture. However, it is important that you clean the surface of the walls of any existing mildew or mold growth that may be present. This will promote the adhesive layer of paint to stick onto the concrete wall. You can also look into doing crawl space waterproofing with a layer of plastic sheeting membrane that seals out the moisture. This type of sheeting is a DIY project you can complete yourself, or you can hire a professional to install the system to keep out all moisture. Your waterproof professional will also make sure there is ventilation through your crawlspace from the rest of your home. This ventilation will keep the air flowing through the crawlspace and prevent any moisture build up that can lead to condensation. In addition to building a barrier on your interior walls, you can install a sump pump in your home foundation floor to collect any water that makes it into the interior space. The sump pump will be set to switch on when water is collected in its pit, then it will pump it outside your home through the drainage hose.

Watch Home Drainage

The outside of your home should be kept up for good drainage to help keep the inside of your home and crawl space dry. When your home's landscaping and gutters are kept up to promote drainage away from your foundation, this will ensure a dry interior. 

Check and repair your gutters for any leaks, sagging, or areas where water is falling upon the ground around your home. Water from your gutters should be diverted off the roof and several feet away from your home's exterior. Then, the landscape soil should be sloping away from your home to couple with a maintained gutter system.

Share