What is a Crawl Space?
Just like it sounds, a crawl space is a small space under the home where people typically can’t stand so they must crawl to access it. In addition to being small in height, they are also very narrow. The crawl space is located between the ground and the first floor; and is an alternative to a basement. You can often see the support beams or what is holding up the home inside a crawl space. They are unfinished, uninhabitable, and usually have dirt floors. A crawl space is traditionally made from cinder blocks or brick facing with cement. The advantage to having a crawl space instead of a basement is that the duct work and the plumbing for the home can be easily located there and is readily accessible for maintenance.
Problems with Crawl Spaces
One significant problem associated with crawl spaces is excessive moisture due to poor ventilation. Crawl spaces in Fredericksburg, Fairfax, Alexandria, and Arlington must meet certain guidelines and standards. A Crawl space encapsulation is an easy way for homeowners in Northern Virginia to meet those requirements. Poorly insulated crawl spaces can also cause higher heating and cooling bills. The way the space is insulated directly affects how much cold or hot air is escaping the home and may be why you’re spending more to keep your home comfortable.
Standards for the International Residential Code (IRC)
To ensure that homes are built in a sanitary and secure manner for the occupants, the IRC developed a set of residential code criteria. The IRC does not require local governments to adhere to the codes, but cities and counties utilize them as a guide when creating their own construction regulations.
Is a Vent needed in my Crawl Space?
Crawl spaces used to all have vents, but regulations were amended due to building commissions learning that such spaces served as an ideal environment for mold, rodent nesting, and decayed construction materials. Today’s building laws permit both vented and unvented crawl spaces as long as they adhere to the rules.
Virginia Code for Crawl Spaces
We’ve compiled a list of the most common crawl space regulations to keep your house dry, safe, hygienic, and legally compliant.
When crawl areas lack a vent, the contractor must install a Class 1 vapor barrier (an insulating material) and the appropriate size dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are available in a range of sizes based on square footage and humidity levels. Give our waterproofing experts a call at 703-832-4949 for more information about dehumidifier sizes required for ventless subterranean rooms. If your crawl space area measures larger than 1,200 square feet, consider hiring our team of experts to encapsulate (or seal) the space.
Building codes require crawl spaces to maintain outdoor ventilation between the ground and floor joists. If your crawl space is vented, you’ll need to install vents on all the walls. The size of vents must be 1 foot for every 500 square feet or 1 foot for every 1,500 square feet when they house Class 1 vapor barriers that contain a 6-mil thick sheet of polyethylene.
Crawl spaces require access doors that are easy to get to in case of an emergency or the need for repairs. According to the IRC, the size of access doors for crawl spaces must measure 18-by-24 inches.
Crawl space floors need drains or sump pumps in the crawl space. They must be separate from foundation perimeter drains and gutters, and drain away from foundations.
The IRC now requires all crawl space entrances to measure a minimum of 16 inches high and 24 inches wide.
When using a Class 1 vapor retarder, you’ll need to install thermal insulation on the walls. Foam insulation boards placed in crawl spaces and attics must contain a thermal barrier, which safeguards crawl spaces from igniting a fire. Never use insulation materials that are porous on the ground since they absorb water.
Warning Signs for Issues with Your Crawl Space
It’s critical to keep a lookout for possible crawl space concerns, since they may have a big influence on the overall health of your home. Here are some red flags to look out for:
- Excessive Moisture: Extremely high humidity can lead to condensation, water stains, and dank air. All of which promote mold and mildew growth.
- Standing water or puddles: A surefire indication of a drainage problem or water getting in.
- Musty or Pungent smells: Any persistent musty smells coming from below your home should not be ignored. Damp, metallic, smells could be indicative of mold growth.
- Pest infestation: Moisture not only attracts mold but pests as well. A moist, dark crawl space is an inviting environment for pests such as rodents, termites, ants, and spiders. Signs of pest infestation can indicate that your crawl space needs some attention.
- Sagging floors or bowing basement walls: Prolonged excessive moisture can weaken support beams and cause floor joints to warp or collapse. If the floors above your crawl space are uneven, it might be a sign of structural damage that you should not ignore.
- Deteriorating Insulation or Vapor Barrier: Insulation and vapor barriers regulate temperature and prevent moisture issues in crawl spaces; damaged or deteriorating may hinder their effectiveness.
- Increased energy bills: Poor insulation or air sealing in the crawl space can result in energy loss, causing increased heating and cooling costs. If you notice a significant increase in your heating or cooling costs, it could be due to crawl space issues compromising your home’s energy efficiency.
- Unexplained allergies, Respiratory Problems, or Worsened Asthma Symptoms: Mold growth and excessive humidity can negatively impact indoor air quality.
What Goes Into An Estimate for a Crawl Space Encapsulation?
During a crawl space encapsulation estimate in Fredericksburg & Northern Virginia, a technician will evaluate the crawl space, take necessary measurements, and appropriately calculate the dimensions of the space. Then the technician will establish a plan of action in which they determine what the crawl space needs to meet the guidelines set in place by the state of Virginia. The minimum requirements a crawl space must meet to pass an inspection include no vegetation, and smooth floor void of rocks & other debris. A six mil vapor barrier is also required to reduce ground transmitted moisture.
Ventilation is key in a crawl space to ensure that ground moisture and humidity is controlled. A full crawl space encapsulation system is the most effective way to protect your crawl space from unwanted moisture. When the space is not properly treated, the severity and side effects of Stack Effect can be accelerated.
Stack Effect is a process when air moves upward in a building. This process happens in the summer AND winter with air infiltration occurring on the lower part of the home and exfiltration on the upper part of the home. Because crawl spaces have a humidity and water issue, the smell of mildew will often seep into the home. Crawl Spaces can also grow mold which leads to toxic living conditions and greater health risks. If mold is growing in your crawl space, those mold spores are circulating around the first floor of your home, which can aggravate your allergies and even cause respiratory problems in some people. Additionally, moist or humid crawl spaces can be breeding grounds for insects and pests. If your crawl space vents are unsealed, wild animals such as mice, rats, skunks, opossums, snakes and raccoons can get in and begin making themselves at home.
Crawl Space Contractor in Fredericksburg
At Summit we can take care of everything to ensure that your crawl space is clean and protected. Prior to executing any crawl space repairs or encapsulations, we also provide wildlife removal and pest control solutions to take care of any issues. Call us today at 703-520-5868.