Is it time to upgrade your crawl space? You’re not alone if you haven’t given it a second thought. Most people don’t see their crawl spaces for years. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean there isn’t any activity. Your crawl space might host mice, squirrels, spiders, and other less-than-desirable tenants. The smallest and potentially most dangerous is mold.
Upgrading your crawl space has numerous benefits besides clearing out the riff-raff. Knowing you’re providing a clean air environment, you’ll have cleaner air, lower power bills, and peace of mind. Call Allied Restoration. We can visually assess your crawl space for any issues needing remediation. We can also give you an estimate for a crawl space encapsulation, which is the best way to keep uninvited guests at bay.
Why Crawl Space Encapsulation
Every crawl space should be clear of any debris and moisture free. That’s far from reality in most cases. If you ventured down into your crawl space right now, you might be surprised at what you find. Maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised and find a litter of new kittens and their mom. Odds are, whatever you find won’t be as pleasant.
Crawl space encapsulation may sound like overkill, but the benefits far outweigh the cons. The air under your floorboards gets circulated into your home. The dust from rodent droppings and any decaying debris is in the air too. Although difficult to see, types of mold found in homes are your biggest concern. When water enters the crawl space, mold will start to grow. Statistics indicate that 50% of homes in the United States have mold problems. Respiratory illnesses can be brought on or escalated with mold in the air.
DIY Sealing Of Your Crawl Space
Before you decide to DIY seal your crawl space, here are a few considerations. Put on old clothes, grab a mask (we all have them), a flashlight, and goggles. Inform a family member that you’re going to check the crawl space. If you see a giant spider, scream, and knock yourself out, you want someone to find you. Once you’re below, look for signs of rodents, moisture of any kind, and mold. Is there debris that you need to haul away? Look at the condition of debris, floor joists, and floor boards. Do you see evidence of mold or rot? Many people think spraying a little bleach on mold will fix the problem. Read this article for more information: Does using bleach kill mold?
Call Allied Restoration, and we’ll eliminate your crawl space problems leaving you with a dry, clean crawl space.
Encapsulation Will Save You Money
Having an upgraded crawl space has numerous benefits. Anyone living in your house with a respiratory illness may need less medication. A tightly sealed crawl space is estimated to save up to 30% on cooling and heating costs. Keeping rodents out can save you money on the insulation and electrical wiring they seem to fancy. Repairing wood rot damage is expensive and disruptive.
Is All Mold Dangerous
All mold isn’t dangerous, but none of it belongs in your crawl space. Your favorite stinky cheese in your refrigerator has mold on it. Penicillin has saved innumerable lives. You might see mold in your bathroom from hot showers. But unattended mold in your crawl space can wreak havoc. Moisture can compromise the air quality, lead to rot, and even cause structural damage.
There’s no need to belly crawl under your house to check out your crawl space. Call Allied Restoration. We’ll brave the creepy crawlies, so you don’t have to. We are trained to recognize the villains and eradicate them for you. After an assessment, we can give you an estimate to make your crawl space safe, dry, and clean.
Allied Restoration is an IICRC (Institute Of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification), Certified Firm. Our Senior Project Manager, Wilma Fogler, was the first person in the State of Maryland to achieve the IICRC Master Water Restorer Certification. Allied is Licensed, Bonded, Insured, and a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. 