Encapsulating a Wet Crawl Space in Nashville Homes

11/10/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians Offer BOTH Water Damage Remediation and Prevention Services

Most Nashville homes have a basement or a crawlspace under their home. A finished basement is usually dry, with only the humidity being a problem for a homeowner or resident unless there is a burst pipe or water seeps in through the walls.
 
A wet crawl space in a Nashville home is another problem entirely. They usually have a dirt floor, which is often not level which results in pools of water forming in different areas underneath the home. It makes sealing off the area more difficult, but SERVPRO has the training and knowledge to turn even the soggiest area into a dry space fit for storage or just to prevent further damage.
 
After stopping any leaks, our first step is to encapsulate the crawlspace. We fill in any low points and then cover the dirt floor with polyethylene sheets and reinforce them with a commercial grade polyester mesh. Technicians seal the two layers to the foundation walls with a polyurethane caulk or a waterproof, foundation tape. Once in place, the two layers seal the floor and prevent moisture from coming in through the ground.
 
Before we seal the floor entirely, one of our inspectors checks the cinder block foundation walls for cracks and spots where water may seep in from the outside. Response team members fill each crack, spot, and the seams between cinder blocks with hydraulic cement. This material works as a water barrier, and then we cover the basement walls with masonry cement which works to seal against even the smallest seep.
 
To completely seal off a crawlspace from outside water, we recommend that homeowners waterproof the outside of the foundation as well. SERVPRO technicians excavate around the foundation walls and coat them using a liquid rubber. Once applied, water only gets into a crawlspace if the water rises high enough to flood the home and then work its way downward.
 
If you have water underneath your home or want to seal your crawlspace by encapsulating it, contact SERVPRO of South Nashville today. We can seal most areas in just a day or two and help you keep your home dry and safe. Call us today at (615) 331-0200.
 
For more information about the City of Nashville, Tennesee visit:  https://www.nashville.gov/