If you’re like many homeowners, then you want to do what you can to protect your house from damage. However, crawlspaces are areas of the home that are often ignored but could benefit from crawlspace waterproofing services. Crawlspaces can provide pests with easy access to your home, allowing them to enter and damage the building’s structure. Continue reading to learn why you should consider crawlspace encapsulation in Baltimore if you want to protect your home from pests.

When a crawlspace isn’t sealed, it can give critters like rats, mice, raccoons, opossums, termites, and cockroaches an easy way to access your home. Crawlspaces can be attractive to these pests because they are often cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter due to your home’s air conditioning. Also, these spaces are prone to excess moisture, and water will always be attractive to pests and animals. Finally, the excess water in a crawlspace can cause wood in the structure to rot, making it highly attractive to termites. For these reasons, scheduling crawlspace waterproofing services and installing a crawlspace dehumidifier is an excellent way to help protect your home.

Is your home scheduled for crawlspace encapsulation in Baltimore? If so, then continue reading to learn what you can expect from this process.

Evaluation
To begin the crawlspace waterproofing process, a contractor will come and inspect the area. During this evaluation, he examines your crawlspace for weak points that may allow water to get in and will then provide you with any recommendations that he may have. Once the inspection is complete and the contractor has gone over your options and his recommendations, you can choose to go ahead with the encapsulation process.

Sealing
If you decide that crawlspace waterproofing is right for your home, a team will arrive at your home on a prearranged date to encapsulate the area. The first step in this process is to install a vapor barrier. To do this, the team covers the room’s walls with a transparent plastic material that is tough and long lasting. The plastic is then sealed in place and a drainage mat is laid on the ground to protect the plastic by providing a drainage path for any moisture that gets beneath it. Then, more plastic is placed over the drainage mat. All the plastic is placed so that any separate pieces overlap by a foot or more, and the seams are then sealed close with waterproof tape.

Insulation
Once the vapor barrier is in place, the team begins the installation of insulation. The walls and the door are covered with an insulating material to help seal out any external elements. The team also ensures that the door is airtight at this stage.

Conditioning
The final step in the crawlspace encapsulation process is to condition the air, which is necessary because the room is now sealed off from both the outside and the rest of your home. There are a few ways in which this part of the process can be completed, with the optimal choice being crawlspace dehumidifier installation, which helps ensure that the room doesn’t become too humid. Once a system for conditioning the air is in place, the encapsulation process is complete.

Mold can cause health problems for your family and lower the value of your property, and the basement is one of the most common areas to find signs of this problem. If you’re wondering if you need household mold remediation near Baltimore, then watch for the following signs of basement mold that shouldn’t be ignored:

Muggy Air

Homeowners sometimes assume that basements are supposed to feel damp and humid. While having high humidity levels in your basement might not be out of the ordinary for your area, moisture in the air plus the lack of air flow that is typical of basements can create the perfect atmosphere for mold to take hold. If your basement is humid, then there is a chance that you have a mold problem.

Musty Odors

Mold can be easy to identify by smell and if your basement has even a hint of a musty odor, then you are probably facing the early stages of a mold problem and should address the issue as soon as possible. To help prevent the mold from spreading and affecting the rest of your home, consider scheduling mold remediation and basement waterproofing services.

Health Issues

Does anybody in your household suffer from allergies, breathing problems, or other health issues while they are inside the house? If so, there is a chance that they are having a reaction to mold in your home. Health symptoms that worsen while indoors and subside outside of the home are a common sign of a mold issue and indicate that you should have your home checked for mold.

Patchy Spots

Sometimes, detecting mold in your basement can be as easy as sighting the fungus. If you’re concerned about mold, then give your basement a onceover. Look at the ceiling, behind furniture, and on the walls. If you can see patches of a brown, black, green, pink, or white substance anywhere in your basement, then there is a good chance that it is mold growth. Do not disturb the area and contact a contractor about mold remediation and basement waterproofing.

When your home has a mold problem, scheduling mold remediation is important not only to protect your property but to ensure the health of your family, as well. Watch this video to learn about the importance of black mold removal in Baltimore in safeguarding the health of your household.

When your home needs mold remediation, some of the symptoms that your family may experience include itchy and watery eyes, a runny nose, throat irritation, coughing, sneezing, worsened sinusitis symptoms, and asthma. A few severe symptoms associated with black mold exposure include dizziness, decreased attention span, and headaches. If you have black mold in your home, see a doctor about your symptoms and schedule black mold removal services.