Common Causes of Crawl Space Damage

In north Georgia, western North Carolina, and Tennessee, there are many common causes of crawl space damage. No matter the specific cause of your crawl space damage, our team in Knoxville has a solution to fix it. From sagging joists to pooling water, our team can help you fix damage from all the following issues.

Inadequate Grading

When your home was built, the land around it was treated so it slopes downward away from your home. However, over time, the soil around your home can start to compact. This means that during heavy rainfall, water might actually be flowing toward your house instead of away from it. This excess moisture around your home can penetrate the crawl space and lead to a whole host of issues.

Poor Exterior Drainage

One of the most important aspects of your home’s safety against water damage is your gutters. A good gutter system won’t overflow, has no leaks, and has long downspouts that direct water away from your home. Anything from clogged, full gutters that overflow when it rains to a downspout that’s too short can lead to water issues in your crawl space.

Foundation Cracks

Cracks in your foundation are easy entry points for water. As homes age, their foundations naturally begin to settle as the ground beneath them compacts. Improper settlement can lead to cracks and fissures in your foundation. Because water always flows along the easiest possible route, even small cracks in your foundation are an open invitation for water to enter your crawl space.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure refers to the exterior pressure of water against the sides of your foundation walls. Because the soil around your foundation was disturbed to build your home, it’s not as well compacted as the soil in the rest of your yard. As time passes, this soil can become water-laden, and that water is heavy, adding upwards of 60 lbs. per cubic foot of pressure against your foundation walls. This pressure pushes water through the pores and small cracks in the concrete, leading to moisture problems.

Leaking Doors or Vents

Years ago, it was a common belief among homebuilders that ventilating the crawl space would help keep it dry thanks to air flow through the space. Now, we know better—those vents are just an easy access point for water and pests to enter the space. However, many of those vents still exist, especially on older homes. Sealing those vents and only allowing one door into the crawl for entry is an easy way to shore up the space against water and pests.

Pest Infestation

Typically, we think of termites as the biggest pest threat to wooden structures in your crawl space, and they are definitely a problem. However, our crawl space damage experts in Knoxville know that other bugs and even reptiles and small mammals can wreak havoc in your crawl space as well. Many different kinds of pests will make their home in your crawl space if given the opportunity, including bugs, spiders, snakes, squirrels, rats, and more.