Renovating an Apartment Building: Tips

Moisture in the crawl space of your home could lead to major structural problems. Unfortunately, if your home doesn't have the proper waterproofing, water can easily find its way into the area and into your home. To protect your home, it is important that you properly control the moisture levels in the space. To help with this goal, here are some of the most common mistakes made with the crawl-space waterproofing and how to avoid them.  

Installing Too Many Vents

Vents are necessary for pushing hot air out of the crawl space so that moisture does not build up in the area. However, if you have too many vents in the area, you could actually pull more moisture into the area and end up with the same structural problems.  

When there are too many vents, air is sometimes pushed up into the home instead of out of it. There are several solutions to this problem, including making the crawl space part of the home; that would eliminate the outdoor air coming into the space. The lack of outdoor air means less chance for moisture to develop. 

Insulating with Spray Foam

Spray foam is usually considered to be an effective means of insulating the home. However, in the crawl space, spray foam can insulate a bit too well.  

When water or moisture enters the crawl space, there needs to be an outlet for it to escape to the outside area. Spray-foam insulation basically shuts off every possible route of escape that the moisture would have. As a result, the moisture or water sits in the area and can lead to a host of problems, including mold.  

If you are planning to use spray foam in the crawl space, it is important to include a proper drainage system so that any moisture that does get into the area is filtered out.  

Waterproofing in the Wrong Area

When it comes to the crawl space, the area can be waterproofed from the interior or exterior of the home. Which option you select depends on several factors, including the source of the water entering the crawl space. Making the wrong selection could mean that water could still be entering the crawl space and causing problems.  

Since there are various factors which dictate the location of the waterproofing, consult with a contractor. He or she can evaluate your home to determine the best location and method for the waterproofing. He or she can also determine if there is additional work that needs to be done to protect the structure of your home.