Your crawl space is one of the most sensitive spots in your home. If you don’t keep an eye on it, it can rapidly become a source of not only water damage but insects, animals, and other problems throughout your home.
Crawl space inspections allow professionals with experience in maintaining these spaces to look over your space and identify any potential weak points. But is an inspection really worth the time and money?
Whether you’re purchasing your first home or moving to a new area, you’re going to want to take care of your budget. Why can’t you knock a crawl space inspection off of your to-do list?
Unfortunately, your crawl space can begin to suffer from near-invisible damage if you don’t take care of it. A professional inspector will be able to assess your crawl space and keep an eye out for:
There is no specific time in your home’s life when you need to have your crawl space inspected. Rather, you should determine when you want to invite an inspector into your home based on your own concerns.
Ask yourself: Has it been raining heavily in your area? Have you been smelling something musty throughout your home? Have you just moved into a new space? These reasons and more are cause enough for you to invite an inspector out to your property.
That said, your home will let you know when a more thorough crawl space inspection may be necessary. You’ll want to get in touch with your local professionals if you notice any of the following:
Everything on the aforementioned list is a sign of crawl space damage. If you notice any of these throughout your home, you’ll need to get in touch with a crawl space repair contractor before any damage can spread.
The inspector you call in to look over your crawl space will break the process down into three parts: entry, superficial, and full inspection:
Before professionals can inspect the whole of your crawl space, they’re going to need to look over your crawl space’s entrance. These entry points need to be wide enough for a person to comfortably enter. If an inspector can’t safely get inside your crawl space, your space will fail its inspection, and you’ll need to talk to a contractor about widening or otherwise reinforcing your entrance. According to national law, all crawl space entry points need to be at least two feet wide and 18 inches tall.
If your entry point is wide enough, inspectors can begin a more thorough investigation of your entire crawl space. Initially, they’ll glance over the space to determine if there’s anything obviously wrong with it. This means looking for mold clusters, exposed wiring, standing water, any vapor barrier issues, and so on. If inspectors can identify something wrong with your crawl space during this superficial investigation, then you’ll be able to discuss potential fixes with your local contractor.
Finally, if there’s nothing immediately wrong with your crawl space, then the inspector you call in will dive into the nooks and crannies of your space. This means inspecting not only the trouble areas in your crawl space but also any waterproofing measures you’ve previously put into place.
Failing a crawl space inspection isn’t like failing an exam at school. You’re not going to be punished for it. You will, however, be expected to fix any problems discovered within your crawl space, as these issues can compromise the overall health of your home. Luckily, you’ll be able to work with the contractors in the DC area to ensure you get your space up to code.
Don’t let the care and keeping of your crawl space fall to the wayside. Reach out to JES professionals in the DC area today for a free inspection. Should your crawl space need repairs or updates, the professionals you call will be able to provide you with a free quote on potential services.
Groundworks Editorial Team
