Installing Your Own Crawl Space Waterproofing

If your home sits on a crawl space and you have noticed water leakage or draftiness, you may be wondering how to fix the problem. Doing home repairs is likely something that you haven't really done much of before, so you may feel overwhelmed.

However, you don't want to have to pay someone for crawl space waterproofing, necessarily, if it's something that you can do pretty easily on your own.

Crawl space moisture and odors

Let's talk about the average crawl space and the possible issues that it can present. First, most crawl spaces are a bit of a mess. The footing and foundation are built on a dirt surface and it is usually left as is, sometimes with construction debris also present.

Because the area is hidden, contractors don't see this as a big problem. However, dirt absorbs water and dampness and we all know that air rises, so anything that is present in the air of your crawl space will pulled up into your home.

This not only affects your air quality, but can lead to lower efficiencies in heating and cooling costs. Moisture can also breed mold when conditions are right, so crawl space waterproofing is a good idea.

Also, if you ever have to go down in your crawl space, you may find it the perfect environment for spiders, rodents and insects, making it difficult to work in the area.

Fixing these issues doesn't have to be complicated. The crawl space is meant to be accessed, so you should be able to get under there and see what is going on fairly easily.

How to fix your crawl space

Once you see what the condition is, you can proceed with crawl space waterproofing. This is usually quite simple and you can do it on your own with the right tools.

First, you'll want to level the dirt floor and clean out any debris. Next, you will want to check the insulation. Make sure everything is secure.

Because the insulation is suspended and not always covered, it can easily become detached, causing problems with air and water leakage. In this application, it is probably best to use an expanding spray-in insulation.

You can rent a tool that will easily apply this type of insulation. Finally, you will want to seal off the crawl space with a vapor barrier, covering the floors and the inside of the foundation walls.

This product should be available at a hardware store. If you unsure of what will work best, explain your project and ask for their recommendation.

DIY or hire a contractor

There's no need to waste money because your crawl space is leaking in water or sucking out expensive conditioned air. Installing crawl space waterproofing is a fairly simple project and can make your home more efficient, saving you money.

If you don't have the time or desire to do it yourself, you can always hire a qualified contractor. However, you'll save a lot of money by taking the time to do this simple fix on your own.