How Does Crawl Space Renovation Preserve Historic Homes?
With any older home, updates and repairs are needed to keep the residence in good condition. At times moisture, problems in the foundation, and other issues cause the floors to have an odor, buckle, or crack – things that don’t get better with time. A homeowner may consider crawl space renovation which can address these concerns and preserve the condition of your historic Orange, CA or Riverside, CA home.
What Is Crawl Space Renovation?
Crawl space renovation, in short, is the process of repairing issues with your crawl space. This includes sanitizing the area, including removing evidence of pests, mold treatment or remediation, fixing rotted wood framing, addressing water and condensation issues, replacing fallen, molded or wet insulation, sealing the ground floor and openings where pests, outside weather conditions like cold or flooding, and other problems can affect the area.
This process may include some or all of these professional services to ensure the right solution for the problems affecting your home.
What will be addressed in a crawl space repair:
- Mold Remediation. Moisture is one of the biggest drivers for requiring crawl space repair, so a home may be affected with water damage, mold, and soggy insulation. The crawl space must be sanitized and treated for mold to clear up existing problems and prevent future issues.
- Clean up and remove old insulation. As with other insulation, crawl space insulation only lasts for a set amount of time and can be damaged by pests and moisture. During renovation, insulation may need to be removed in preparation for the installation of new insulation.
- Foundation Repair. Homes may sink and need to be graded before a crawl space can be encapsulated. Other issues could include rotting, termite or other damage that has compromised the foundation of the home. Before proceeding with any repair, the home’s framing may need to have to be replaced or lifted, to ensure the stability of the home.
- Dry out the crawl space. Since water condenses on HVAC units in the crawl space or water may have settled in the crawl space, fans and humidifiers may need to be used to dry out the space. In homes that have issues with flooding, a drainage system may be required so that new issues don’t arise. After the crawl space is encapsulated, a ventilation system and dehumidifier may be installed to eliminate issues with high humidity.
- Encapsulation. Crawl space encapsulation is the insulation of a moisture barrier to the walls and floor of the crawl space. The barrier may also seal up windows that have been the source of entry for extreme weather temperatures, pests or moisture. By sealing this and the ground, the crawl space, and home, are protected from issues that could cause other structural problems and costly repairs.
Not to be confused with insulation, encapsulation is a seal from moisture and humidity. Insulation is a barrier for temperature extremes, as in the case of preventing cold floors. Both are addressed in the crawl space renovation process.
While some homeowners opt to encapsulate their crawl space themselves, a professional will be needed during one or more steps of the process. To make sure your crawl space renovation is a success, and that it meets historic Riverside or Orange, CA building codes, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
