A crawl space is generally that area under the floor framing of a house or business that extends a short way to the bottom. The distance is generally 24 inches in depth. This distance can vary however from 8 inches to 36 inches. The floor is usually made of dirt. There usually is barely enough room in one of these spaces to crawl, so the term Crawl Space was invented. They usually have a ton of spider webs and are dark and smell of mold. Not a pleasant place. That’s where we come in.

A crawl space that is deeper, to about 48 to 60 inches is generally called a “Michigan Basement”. These can be paved with concrete or left as dirt. Michigan Basements are used as storage of stuff. Unfortunately they are usually below ground and are susceptible to water damage. Furnaces down here can also be damaged by water. This is where we come in….

A space below the floor boards that is 7 feet deep or more is called a basement. Basements 100 years ago were not paved but were paved with concrete back in the 50’s. This was usually a thin layer just to keep the dust down and feet clean. Finishing basements has come to popularity with the invention and use of the “Sump Pump”. This is a device that can pump out any ground water that would otherwise get on the basement floor. Other wise basements are a good place to store stuff. We do a lot of work in basements and have a web site just for basement waterproofing. Click here to see Basement Waterproofing Michigan.

Oakbridge Construction Waterproofing Division knows a lot about basements and Crawl Spaces. This web site is dedicated to the Crawl Space. Read on to find out more information. If you don’t have time to read call now at 248 522 1516 and get a free estimate.

Many homes have crawl spaces that, unfortunately, are ignored by contractors and the homeowners alike; they embody that out-of-site / out-of-mind non-liveable part that is not even considered a fraction of your home or living environment. As we find out more about health in the home, the experts have learned that this is not the situation. You share your living environment with your crawlspace.

Because warmth rises in your home, the cooler air from your crawl space is sucked up into your home, just similar to a chimney. Based on a normal house in the United States, the E.P.A. figures that the air in your dwelling is changed almost every hour and about 50% of that “new air” comes from the crawlspace! That simply means that the quality of air within your house is greatly affected by the condition of your crawl space. It might be out-of-sight and out-of-mind, but it is a great part of your breathing environment and quality of air that you and your children breathe.

Most Crawlspace contractors can offer you a free inspection and assesment in making your home a healthier environment.

Features of a usual crawlspace
· A wet and dirty environment
· Source of damaging black mold and moisture
· Source of Radon gas within the home
· Causes dangerous air property in the home
· Breeding ground for insects, spiders, small animals and termites
· Loss of heat in so doing increasing heating costs
· Source of moldy smells from moisture and mold
· Source of harmful airborne allergens
· Source of sub-floor damage to the home from high humidity, dry rot, and mold
How can builders solve your crawlspace problem and create a healthier environment for you and your family?
Expert builders use thoroughly time-tested approaches to close up your crawl space and resolve all the health, foundation, and air-quality issues inherent in crawl spaces. The end result is a crawl space that is not only uncontaminated and healthy, but can even be used for storage.

Wall Reinforcements

If the walls in your basement have moved beyond normal settings, our practiced technicians can set up metal or carbon fiber beams to fortify the walls. We will inspect your walls to decide the most reliable type of beams for your reinforcement project. Both steel beams and carbon fiber wall reinforcement systems are strong and established. All beams are installed to FHA specs. Tie backs can also be used to strengthen or fix bowing, buckled or cracked foundation walls on existing structures and realign perimeter walls that have shifted. All Crawlspace builder workmen are highly skilled with a number of tie back installation procedures using top-of- the-line products.

Basement water seepage can cause lots of problems to the homeowner – both financially as well as from the viewpoint of the health of the residents. A basement that has an ideal basement waterproofing system in place has the following advantages: Helps maintain robust foundations, especially foundation walls Keeps the ambiance in the home clean and hygienic Lowering the ’stack effect’ – the rise of toxic gases into the upper floors of the home Frees the basement of disease causing germs such as mold Helps in increasing the resale value of the home by several notches

Therefore, the need for crawl space waterproofing is imminent for all homeowners. A crawlspace can be waterproofed by a basement waterproofing contractor or a basement repair company in the following ways:

Under Floor Drains are the traditional and the most effective way to channel out water from flooded or wet basements. As most of the excess water either rises off the floors or seeps down the fissures in the cracked walls of the basements, a underground drain system is a great way of keeping the basement dry in a cost-effective way.

Crawl space encapsulation systems, including basement drainage arrangements are another popular method to keep water off your basements. French drains, crawl space liners, etc. are some of the other efficient waterproofing measures for a basement. However, if not installed properly, these drainage systems can cause a lot of inconvenience to the homeowner with water clogging and other issues.

Sump Pumps, one of the most recent technological marvels in the basement waterproofing industry, sump pumps are efficient dehumidifiers. Sump pumps are used especially to take out stagnant water from flooded basements as well as to dry up a wet or damp basement. Sump pumps too, have to be professionally installed by basement repair contractors.

Finishing products such as wall insulation systems and flooring products, that are used to provide supportive heating to the basements in order to keep them dry and comfortable are also a long-term option used by basement waterproofing experts.

However, before choosing a basement repair contractor or a crawl space waterproofing services provider, it is always necessary to check for credentials as well as the track record of the company. Choosing a local basement repair company is always beneficial as they are well-acquainted with the climate than companies located outside the specified region. References and personal checks are also important before you settle on a final waterproofing deal. However, as most basement waterproofing companies offer free analysis of your basements and subsequent free quotes, shopping around for a waterproofing company is not at all a waste of time or energy!

The 1st thing I would address in getting rid of mold is ventilation make sure the air is moving around or else the air will become stagnant. If you do have mold there are various types, some are toxic molds others are harmless. If you think you have mold and can not see it i would recommend having a mold remediation company come look at your situation. If the mold problem is not taken care of this can cause serious health problems for someone with mold allergies or asthma. (It happened to my wife)

The moist damp air generally gravitates to the basement or crawlspace thus making the the air in the basement/crawlspace cooler than the rest of the home. A lot of the times this causes condensation because warmer air is hitting cooler air. For example, on a 90 degree day if you place a cold beer outside the outside of the bottle begins to sweat, that’s condensation. Now when this happens in the basement or crawlspace it causes metal to rust, pipes sweating, carpets or furniture feel moist, and could cause structural damage. The basement is cooler because it is underground and warmer air rises. If you have any type of water damage that has occurred you can rest assured if its not taken care of mold and mildew will not be far behind.