Crawl Space Repair Services in Lafayette
If you have an older home without a basement or a house built without a concrete slab, you likely have a crawl space included in your foundation. Although some homeowners use their crawl space for storage, it’s not recommended if the crawl space has exposed soil and no proper flooring. Our Lafayette crawl space repair team offers joist reinforcement and encapsulation to prevent structural damage to the home and provide additional usable space.
Exposed soil attracts moisture, which can combine with humidity from crawl space vents and water seeping through the porous concrete. The combination promotes the growth of mold and mildew, which can spread to your belongings. It can also circulate through vents, potentially causing health problems for you and your family.
Excess moisture may also cause sagging or rotting of wooden floors and joists, leading to foundation damage. Water pooling in crawl spaces will also become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other pests. Thankfully, Van Matre Construction has the experience and skill needed to tackle any kind of crawl space repair in Lafayette!
The Warning Signs
Aside from sagging floors, which may be obvious, there are many signs that your Lafayette home may need crawl space repair:
- Presence of mold and mildew
- Moisture or standing water in the crawl space
- Musty odor in living areas
- Condensation on water pipes
- High humidity levels inside the house
- Condensation on A/C ducts or equipment
- Condensation on insulation
- Insect infestation
- Wood rot on floor framing
- Uneven floors
Repair Methods for Damaged Crawl Spaces in Lafayette
Many homeowners do not realize that their crawl spaces require repair until they notice sagging floors or moisture. The Lafayette crawl space repair team at Van Matre Construction, LLC, provides solutions such as joist reinforcement and crawl space encapsulation to prevent dangerous moisture from getting into your home. We may recommend one or more of the following repair solutions:
- Joist Reinforcement – Joist damage can be costly and time-consuming to fix when joists support much of the floor’s weight. In these cases, reinforcing the joists is often the best solution. A “sister joist,” an additional joist identical to the damaged one, is combined with the existing joist to help bear the load.
- French Drains – As a supplement to other crawl space upgrades, we may recommend installing a French drain if we find water seeping into your crawl space from outside soil. By redirecting water away from your crawl space, a French drain can prevent water from collecting and creating an environment for mold, mildew, and pests to thrive.
- Crawl Space Encapsulation – Encapsulation involves cleaning out and sealing a damp crawl space to prevent further moisture infiltration. This includes installing vapor barriers, insulation, drainage systems, a dehumidifier, vent covers, and access portals. By completely sealing off and dehumidifying your crawl space, our Lafayette team can boost your energy efficiency and prevent future structural damage.
Why Choose Us as Your Lafayette Crawl Space Repair Contractor
Van Matre Construction, LLC has been repairing crawl space and foundation problems in Lafayette homes since 2001. We specialize in assessing and completing customized crawl space repairs for each Lafayette client. Our years of experience in the Metro area have given us knowledge of the unique soil conditions throughout Colorado and their impact on crawl spaces. We quickly determine the root cause of your crawl space problems and offer cost-effective solutions. Contact us today for your free estimate!
