Can Waterproofing Help?

Waterproofing is common in homes across the U.S. because of the many benefits that it offers. Crawl spaces are not the only areas of a property that can be waterproofed, of course. It is also common to waterproof basements.

The Benefits of Waterproofing

Waterproofing and encapsulating your crawl space can have many benefits, some of which are dependent on your home and its current state. However, there are some very general benefits that apply in most situations. The most obvious is an immediate and permanent reduction in dampness and humidity both in your crawl space and your wider home.

Alongside this, waterproofing will prevent or stop the stack effect within your home, making the internal climate more stable (and less prone to sudden influxes of allergens like pollen). This prevents cosmetic damage, lowers energy bills, and makes the environment more comfortable overall. It also leads to a healthier environment, especially if you have underlying health conditions like asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis.

Before You Waterproof

There are some limitations and downsides to waterproofing. The most obvious and serious is this: If you try to waterproof without finding and addressing the source of moisture, you can actually cause more damage to your property in the long run. In fact, it can cause damage frighteningly quickly by creating a kind of hot-box atmosphere. In this environment mold, bacteria, fungi, and pests will truly thrive and spread with alarming ease.

Likewise, if the waterproofing measures you install are inadequate or damaged, they will cease to be efficient and create a kind of incubator for dampness and harmful substances. Finally, waterproofing, by its nature, must be a bespoke process that takes into account all of the needs and limitations of each property. As such, it is incredibly difficult to get right without the right tools, skills, and experience. An ill-fitting solution will not give you the results you need or want.