5 Reasons You Need Your Crawlspace Inspected ASAP
The weather in Alabama wreaks havoc on crawl space foundations, especially during the hot, humid months. If there's water, mold, or rot in your crawl space, it’s important to address these issues quickly, as they could have serious effects on your home and health.
What are the signs of a crawl space problem?
These are the five most common signs of a problem in your crawl space.
-
Your floors are bouncing
When you walk across the room, does the floor seem to jiggle or bounce under the weight? There are a few potential reasons for this, including sinking crawl space supports. This issue is caused when the soil under a home is not strong enough to bear the weight of the supports – and the rest of your house along with it.
Sinking crawl space supports can be repaired by replacing the supports with steel columns that transfer the weight of your home from weak soil to strata that are able to bear the load. Alabama Professional Services installs the SmartJack system, which permanently stabilizes and strengthens existing crawl space beams and floor joists by addressing the problem soil beneath your home.
-
There’s a slope or sag in the middle of your floors
If you notice your floors sloping or sagging, that could be an indication that your crawl space supports need a professional inspection. Sagging floors are another symptom of sinking crawl space supports. However, it could also mean the supports were placed too far apart when the home was built and more support is needed.
-
Something smells
Yes, you’re reading this correctly. If you’re noticing an odor, it could be coming from your crawl space – and this could mean there's mold growth or that wooden support beams are rotting away. Odor-causing mold and wood rot in your crawl space are symptoms of a moisture problem. Have your crawl space inspected by a professional. If there's no vapor barrier, have one installed. If rot has already started, replacing the supports with steel beams will be the best way to ensure the problem doesn’t persist or recur.
-
Your doors are sticking or jamming
You might think a door that is jamming has an issue with its hinges or the handle. But jamming or sticking doors are actually a symptom of foundation issues. Sticking doors can be caused by settlement and sinking in your crawl space. Have your home inspected to see if it's time for crawl space repair.
-
You notice cracks in interior drywall
Drywall cracks could look like the paint is the problem. However, if it’s coming out of the corners of door frames or other telltale places, it could indicate your crawl space is in need of repair.
If you’re experiencing one or more signs of a crawl space problem, consider the benefits of our Crawl Space Encapsulation system, or contact us to schedule a free crawl space inspection and estimate.
