Crawl Space Cleaning Prevents Mold Damage

If you are like most people, you very seldom think of crawl space cleaning or what it entails – that is, until you end up with expensive damage to your home caused by mold. Not only can mold because structural damage to your home, but it can also be detrimental to your health. Therefore, if you do not like the thought of crawling around in a small damp space, you can have a professional restoration service perform this unwelcome task for you. In the end, it could save you thousands of dollars.

What is mold? Molds are fungi that can be found inside and outside. There are several different types of mold aspergillus, including Alternaria, Penicillium, and Cladosporium. All molds are harmful. Some are even used in the manufacture of drugs. However, harmful mold can cause damage to man and the integrity of the structures they inhabit. Mold likes to grow in damp and warm places such as your crawlspace. Under favorable conditions, mold and reproduce by making spores grow. These mold spores can often survive harsh environmental conditions.

Why is crawl space cleaning Redmond and mold prevention so important? First of all, mold can cause structural damage to your home. Mold damage is not always apparent. It can hide behind walls and other areas seldom seen. This is why a professional mold inspection is important. When building materials absorb access water and develop mold, the materials weaken and may even rot, costing you thousands of dollars in expensive building repairs.

Solutions

Fortunately, there are some ways to correct the situation. First, recognize that the foundation vents are there for a reason. Do not block or seal them off. Do not assume that the house has enough and can do fine with one or more blocked. The number and location of vents are designed to allow a proper flow. Walk the perimeter of your foundation ensuring that all vents are unobstructed. If any vent screens are clogged with matter, remove and clean.

Next, inspect the crawl space to see if it has a vapor barrier. To get a general idea of the condition, simply leaning into the access hole with a good flashlight can sometimes be sufficient. If it is in either very bad or very good shape, this often is evident from just a cursory viewing. If it is a deep or multi-sectioned space with visual obstructions it may be best to actually get fully inside the space and crawl around inspecting.

A vapor barrier might sound complicated but is actually simple enough. It is most commonly a Visqueen barrier laid smoothly and securely over the bare ground. The barrier help suppress ground moisture from entering the crawl space. AS simple as it sounds, a huge difference in moisture level is accomplished by the proper installation of a vapor barrier.

Additionally, you would be amazed at how much debris can often end up in a crawlspace during the construction process that never gets removed. If some of that debris is wood, particularly if sitting on moist dirt, the eventual rot can be an attraction to pests such as carpenter ants. Rodents can severely disturb or damage a vapor barrier. Generally, every 5 to 15 years the barrier should be changed out.

Finally, our review of the foundation for any unintended entry points, such as missing screens or large cracks, will help keep the crawl space pest control.