Crawl Space Repair in Ottawa
A crawl space is a space beneath your home that’s elevated 18 inches or higher above ground level. It is a type of foundation that is shored up by exterior concrete walls, so as to provide electricians and plumbers with access to the “guts” of your home. Here in the Ottawa area, crawl spaces tend to be found under specific, often smaller and single-story rooms on the edge of your home; crawl spaces under the entire home are not in this area.
Yet most crawl spaces do eventually develop problems, which can lead to further problems in your basement and in the rest of your home.
Contact Just Foundations Ottawa today for an estimate on crawl space repair, or read on to find out more.
What are some signs of crawl space foundation problems?
If you have a crawl space problem you should be on the lookout for sinking, sagging floors. That’s a sign of a serious issue that needs to be addressed right away.
As with other foundations, sticking doors and windows are another good sign that something is going wrong, as are any cracks you see on your walls or ceilings.
You should also pay attention to any strange smells that float up from your crawl space. The most likely cause of the smell is either a pest infestation or the presence of mold and mildew, which can indicate the presence of water in your crawl space. Either condition can cause serious damage to your home.
How do you repair a crawl space?
Much depends on the source of the problem. Sometimes your crawl space just needs additional supports. Sometimes it needs to be dried out and assessed for rot. The framing may need to be replaced entirely.
In many cases we will shore up you foundation with heavy-duty load-bearing jack posts that can handle thousands of pounds of weight and support a sagging foundation.
In some cases we’ll correct the leveling and encapsulate the crawl space to ensure the problem does not return.
How much does it cost to remove water from a crawl space?
The price of water removal depends on how much water damage already exists and whether you need to add a sump pump to get the water out. A basic clean-up can often be done for less than $2000, but if you need foundation repair on top of that you may be looking at an additional $8000.
To keep costs low we recommend paying attention to your crawl space and acting quickly on any moisture problems.
What is crawl space encapsulation?
Encapsulation is a treatment that keeps mold and mildew from returning to your space. We seal off the space from the inside to keep water from returning. We also create a cleaner, less-scary space that’s less attractive to termites, rats, and other pests.
We do this by adding a vapor barrier, and, at times, additional drainage systems. The barrier will go over the floors and walls of your crawl space. We will usually add a dehumidifier, too, just to keep moisture levels low.
Contact Just Foundations Ottawa to schedule a free consultation and estimate today.