Waterproofing & Sealing "Short" Crawl Spaces
How We Waterproof And Seal Crawl Spaces With Exceptionally Low Ceilings
Crawl spaces with three-foot ceilings (or less) are surprisingly common!
We have many products and techniques we apply to repair these spaces, including our sump pump systems, dehumidifiers, and vapor barriers.
One of the most common concerns homeowners bring to us is this: Their crawl space is damp, rotting, and needs to be fixed -- but it also has a tremendously low ceiling height.
The good news is that our contractors handle challenges like this every day -- and we have practical, common-sense solutions that can seal and dry even a very narrow crawl space.
Why Dry A Crawl Space?
Sealing your crawl space with a vapor barrier provides many benefits for your home, including holding back water vapor that enters your home through the walls and floors.
It will also prevent humid air from flowing in through the vents during hot, humid weather, and cold air from flowing in during winter months.
By maintaining a dry crawl space, you help to control mold, moisture, and a stable temperature. This will minimize the potential for rot, mold, and related structural damages.
At Basement Systems, we've seen it all! Across our network, our experts have successfully repaired hundreds of thousands of crawl spaces, and we've come up with a warrantied solution for just about any problem your crawl space may have.
To schedule a free crawl space waterproofing estimate with one of our experts, contact us by phone or e-mail today! We'll put you in touch with your local dealer, who can inspect your crawl space and work with you to customize an ideal crawl space repair system for you!
Our SmartJack® Crawl Space Jack Posts can be customized to fit crawl spaces of any height.
Their galvanized steel design resists corrosion and rust, so they stay adjustable for decades!
Repairing Structural Issues
If structural support issues are not addressed quickly, they can develop into much more serious issues. A sagging crawl space will mean uneven floors above, jamming doors, and even cracks in drywall throughout the home.
A crawl space can experience structural issues for three major reasons:
- Moldy, Rotting Structural Wood
- Sinking Supports In Weak Soils
- Too Few Supports Were Installed
Traditional means of crawl space structural repair (light-duty support jacks, concrete supports, etc.) are particularly challenging and ineffective in a narrow crawl space.
Our SmartJack® System address every cause of structural damage, with a long-lasting, warrantied solution that typically installs in about a day.
How Low Can A Crawl Space Go?
At Basement Systems, our dealers have seen (and repaired) narrow crawl spaces of all types! You wouldn't believe how narrow some of them have been!
Below are just a few shots our experts have taken from the field:
(Click each photo to enlarge.)
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Five Steps To Waterproof A "Short" Crawl Space
Our experts specialize in basement and crawl space environments, and we pride ourselves on our fast, professional, warrantied installations.
Once we've sealed your crawl space with our complete system, you can count on your crawl space to be drier, healthier, and more energy efficient. As with our crawl space structural repairs, a complete installation is most commonly completed within a day's time.
When sealing and waterproofing a short crawl space, we follow these five simple steps:
Install A Perimeter Drain System
The first step to creating a dry crawl space is to install a drainage system along the inside perimeter of the crawl space.
This will collect water flooding in from the floor and walls. A natural downward slope will be built into the system, allowing gravity to direct water to the sump pump.
Our experts will usually recommend choosing the SmartPipe™ System for the best installation. This drain has been custom-designed for crawl spaces, with a flange extending up the wall to collect leaking water.
Large drainage holes and a layer of filter fabric on the "dirt side" of the drain help to avoid clogging issues when installed on dirt floors.
More about our SmartPipe™ Drain System
Install A Submersible Sump Pump
At Basement Systems, we've designed a unique sump pump system with low-ceiling crawl spaces in mind.
The challenge is this: a sump pump liner needs to be a minimum size for optimal sump pump usage. A liner that's too small will be emptied quickly by the sump pump. This causes the system to turn on and off repeatedly, which can lead to overheating and an early death for your sump pump system.
Our system is shorter and broader than typical sump systems, allowing for an appropriate level of water, while still being able to fit in a very narrow crawl space.
And with a cast-iron Zoeller® sump pump on duty, you can be sure of a long, healthy life for your sump pump system!
More about our SmartSump™ Pump System
Encapsulate The Crawl Space
Once the sources of standing water have been addressed, our experts will then address any potential humidity sources.
To prevent humidity from making its way through the dirt floors and foundation walls, we'll line the walls and floors with our durable, warrantied CleanSpace® Crawl Space Vapor Barrier. In areas where it's too narrow for direct access, a pole is used to aid the installation.
To protect your crawl space from humidity during warm weather (and cold during the winter months), we seal off the vents and install an airtight crawl space door.
Once completed, your system is now protected from all damaging water and humidity sources.
More about our CleanSpace® Vapor Barrier
Install A Battery Backup & Water Alarm
Under normal conditions, a sump pump system is the ideal way to protect a crawl space from flooding.
However, power outages, blown fuses, and clogs in the system can cause a single sump pump to shut down. And like other mechanical devices, it eventually breaks down.
Our UltraSump® Battery Backup Pump is your insurance against flooding in the crawl space due to sump pump failures. If the water level rises too high, it'll switch on, giving you a second line of defense.
To alert you to plumbing failure issues, include our WaterWatch® Alarm System with each sump pump.
When this sensor comes in contact with water, it sounds off, letting you know right away.
More about our UltraSump® Battery Backup System
Dehumidify The Space
A great finishing touch to a crawl space encapsulation system is our SaniDry™ CX Dehumidifier.
This powerful, energy efficient system will maintain the dryness of the space, shutting on and off as needed.
The SaniDry™ CX is designed for minimal maintenance. Water collection trays are eliminated by its self-draining system, which can be directed into the sump pump or pumped away with an optional condensation pump.
Designed for low crawl spaces, it hugs the floor, and can fit into most crawl spaces.
In rare cases where the SaniDry™ won't fit into a crawl space at all, we have flat and upright dehumidifier models that can be located in a closet and ducted into the crawl space.
More about our Sanidry™ CX Dehumidifier
We Waterproof, Insulate, & Seal Crawl Spaces!
At Basement Systems, we have the experience, training, and award-winning products to solve any crawl space issue -- including narrow, low-ceiling spaces. The 25-year warranty on our crawl space vapor barrier system is transferable to the next homeowner -- which is a great edge to have if you sell your home!
It costs you nothing to meet with one of our professionals for a free crawl space waterproofing estimate! We'll send an expert from your local dealership to inspect and measure your crawl space, answer any questions you may have, and work with you to customize a warrantied solution.
Our free estimate includes a cost estimate, provided in writing, and a mailed copy of our full-color book: Crawl Space Science. Our free book is packed with everything you need to know about crawl spaces, including information about our products and services.
We proudly serve throughout Canada and the United States. We look forward to serving you!
Looking for a price? Get a no cost, no obligation free estimate.