3 Common Causes of Crawl Space Damage in Texas

Early detection is the most effective thing you can do to prevent long-term structural damage caused by crawl space problems. Our technicians have more than 20 years of experience and want to share some of the common causes of crawl space damage so you can identify and put an end to them before they get worse.

1. Excessive Moisture

Too much water is a leading cause of crawl space damage. Although we don’t get a ton of rain in Texas, if the interior and exterior drainage is inadequate, there is a possibility for a buildup. When rain or water from a plumbing failure pools up around your crawl space, it often finds a way to enter. If you don’t have any drainage in your crawl space, the water gets stagnant because it has nowhere to go. The real problem is what the water causes which can be everything from harmful mold and mildew to wood rot.

2. Crawl Space Vents

It wasn’t very long ago that people thought crawl spaces needed vents to dry out. As a result, many houses today still have vents in their crawl space even though it is no longer the recommended practice. Crawl space vents are open access for critters, pests, and moisture to enter, all of which have the potential to cause irreversible structural damage. Don’t freak out if your home has open crawl space vents because the Foundation Support Specialists have the vent covers you need to seal them off.

3. Over Spanned Joists

The joists that support your home are spaced out in a way so that they provide enough support to carry the weight of the rest of your home. Unfortunately, the moisture in crawl spaces tends to weaken the joists until they no longer support the same weight. If your floors sag or you have a space between the walls and the floor, your joists are likely in an overspanned state.