Your crawl space is especially sensitive to water damage. Its health will not only impact the value of the rest of your home but also to your house’s overall structural integrity.
When you’re preparing your crawl space repair budget, it can be difficult to know what kind of expenses you may face. Your crawl space budget will vary based on the individual features around your home, but you can estimate your costs based on the expenses that come with individual repairs and protective measures.
The Importance of Protecting Your Crawl Space
Protecting your crawl space does more than just keep standing water out of your home. When you invest in waterproofing measures and necessary repairs before significant damage can settle in, you can avoid:Higher bills – The more moisture you have in your home, the higher your electric and water bills may be. Your HVAC system is going to have to work harder to compensate for the temperature changes that excessive moisture in your home elicit. Similarly, exposure to moisture for an extended period of time can compromise the structural integrity of your pipes. This can result in higher water bills as your water pressure drops.
Infestations and pests – As moisture makes its way into your home, it paves the road for other critters and insects.
Mold – The more moisture comes into your home, the more likely it is that the mold particles that have traveled in can take root.
Unpleasant smells – As water and moisture linger in your home, it can begin to make your belongings smell musty, or it can elicit rot. That smell will remain in your home until you clear that moisture out entirely.
Long-term water damage – The presence of water and moisture in your home can inflict extensive water damage on your belongings and structural supports, whether you have them stored in your crawl space or if that water damage manages to extend beyond that space.
How Can You Protect Your Crawl Space?
As mentioned, the methods for protecting your crawl space will vary depending on your home’s needs. Some of the most effective protection you have available to you – and their subsequent costs – include:Interior drain installation – An interior drain relies on a series of pipes installed around the perimeter of your crawl space. These pipes will direct water to a sump pump system so it can be removed from your house. The installation of these perimeter pipes and the forces behind them can cost between $2,000 and $4,000.
Sump pump system – As we just mentioned, any water collected from these internal drains goes to a sump pump system that pumps it out of the crawl space. Depending on the size and model, and whether it has a backup battery, a crawl space sump pump can cost $1,700 or more.
Crawl space barriers – It’s often easiest, when protecting your crawl space from damage, to invest in something like a vapor barrier or full encapsulation. The cost of this installation will vary based on the size of your crawl space and the materials you want to protect your space with. On average, these installations can cost anywhere between $5,000 and $15,000.
Dehumidifiers – If moisture and high humidity are ever-present nuisances in your crawl space, you need a trusted dehumidifier to combat these problems that can lead to mold and unpleasant odors. For an energy-efficient model, you can expect to pay around $1,800.
Additional repairs – The longer you leave your home to suffer from crawl space damage or moisture, the more likely it is that your home will suffer from internal or external damage. Just like with foundation damage, you’ll want to try and repair these kinds of damages before investing in crawl space waterproofing measures. While you can never entirely predict how much these types of repairs will cost, you’ll want to have between $500 and $1,200 set aside.
These costs, however, do not include excavation fees. Sometimes, if you’re suffering from foundation damage in addition to crawl space damage, contractors will need to excavate your home to access your crawl space supports. On average, the cost of excavation can start at $5,000. In the same vein, you’ll also want to have some money set aside for the cost of labor, which can cost you between $1,500 and $3,500. For a more individual and free quote on the cost of repairs and waterproofing measures around your home, you’ll want to reach out to the contractors in the Winston-Salem, NC, area. The experts at Tar Heel Basement Systems can conduct a thorough evaluation of your crawl space and then recommend solutions tailored to your specific repair needs.
