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Crawl Space Repair & Encapsulation

The crawl space under your house may be out of sight, but it should not be out of your mind. A lot more could be going in the crawl space than you realize.

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Have you noticed musty odors in your home but can’t pinpoint where they are coming from? Do your floors feel like they are sagging, bouncy, or uneven? Have you spotted more bugs in your home than usual? These issues indicate the presence of crawl space problems. Many southern homes in areas like Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Savannah were built with a crawl space foundation. While this helps to elevate the home and give it a buffer between the ground, a crawl space can be a volatile environment impacting the rest of the home. Your home could sustain structural damage and your family’s health could be in danger if mold and pest droppings are present.


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Causes of Crawl Space Damage

Your home could have been having these problems since day one. The biggest cause of crawl space issues has to do with the way your home and crawl space were constructed.

Crawl spaces typically have dirt crawl floors that are not covered. Simply placing a 6-mil plastic liner on the floor, which is a minimal code requirement, will not cut it. This liner is thin, allows water and moisture to collect, mold to grow and thrive, and leads to a variety of damage. Other liners with thicknesses of 10 and 12-mil are only slightly better, but they still can easily tear and fail.

Water and moisture also can have a significant impact inside your home, as well. If you have a dirt crawl space with open vents, this allows outside air, water, and pests inside the crawl space directly underneath your house to cause a host of problems. More than 50% of the air you’re breathing indoors comes from below-grade areas like crawl spaces. So, whatever is in your crawl space such as mold, moisture, and humidity, also is in the rest of your house and affecting you.

One example of a structural impact is with the support system under your house. If wooden support systems become saturated with water or exposed to high humidity and excessive moisture, they can rot and buckle. Metal supports also will corrode and rust in the same conditions. All this then leads to sagging, uneven floors and problems with hardwood floors. 

The stack effect is the airflow pattern in your house from bottom to top. Air pressure also comes into play. Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. When there is a greater difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the more significant this airflow becomes.

True, you can’t actually see airflow, but it might be helpful to have a way to visualize the stack effect to better understand it. Your home certainly is not located in the northern portion of the country, but a lot of good information can be gained from The Cold Climate Housing Research Center’s YouTube videos, including “Your Nothern Home: Stack Effect” that illustrates the stack effect. 

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Andrew Wright, Cameron andMer-Shevron. Hard workers and professional courteous service. Highly recommend.

Andrew Wright, Cameron andMer-Shevron. Hard workers and professional courteous service. Highly recommend.

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I would like to thank the guys that did the work Donavan Rougeaux, Durand Rougeaux and Dre Nesbitt. There were a couple of other guys that …

I would like to thank the guys that did the work Donavan Rougeaux, Durand Rougeaux and Dre Nesbitt. There were a couple of other guys that worked on the first section but I do not remember their names but Donavan and Durand both worked on all parts of the basement. I could not of had any group of guys that were as nice and respectful as this group. I asked Donavon and Durand many questions and they always had answers for me and did not mind me asking so many questions. I actually asked that they have Donavon and Durand to be assigned the second part of the project. They were awesome and I would recommend Mt Valley to anyone. I actually have already told someone to call and if they had work done by Mt Valley to request Donavon and Durand. I am so happy with the workmanship and the attitude of the crew. They are hardworking gentlemen with a work ethic that is inspiring. Mt Valley you are fortunate to have such great employees, what they reflect on your company is worth a lot in today's world. Employees like these brothers and the people working with them is commendable. Thank you guys it was a pleasure meeting you. Larry, thank you for your help and thank you for having Donavon and Durand do this part. All three of the guys worked so very hard. Thank you guys, I appreciate all your hard work . You are a shinning example to all young people today.

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So far, so good. David Tillett did a thorough job in finding the water sources and presenting a plan for remediation with flexibilty. I…

So far, so good. David Tillett did a thorough job in finding the water sources and presenting a plan for remediation with flexibilty. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the process work out.Well, it's been 8 months and we've had several major rain events. My basement is still dry and I am very pleased with Mount Valley.

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Mount Valley Foundation Services is a very professional company. The crew arrived on time as promised to start the work. Randall & Marcus…

Mount Valley Foundation Services is a very professional company. The crew arrived on time as promised to start the work. Randall & Marcus did a great job! Thank you Mount Valley!

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Great job

Great job

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This company is the real deal. Very professional. Well organized. Free inspection. On site proposal for the work. No pressure. Miles…

This company is the real deal. Very professional. Well organized. Free inspection. On site proposal for the work. No pressure. Miles Suffling was our Field Inspector. Very helpful. Great guy. I will use this group for any foundation needs I have in the future. Well done!

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John Willis came out to my mom's house and was very informative.He made my mother and I feel very comfortable in understanding the issues…

John Willis came out to my mom's house and was very informative.He made my mother and I feel very comfortable in understanding the issues we have in the crawl space of the home. He answered all questions without making us feel rushed or pressured. He was enlightening providing us with solid options on what would be best for the home regarding the foundation.

Anthony B. Thompson, Jr.

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Nathan Bligen, Brady McDowell, Tyler Williams, and Danny Goings did a great job. Nate and his crew were very informative, professional,…

Nathan Bligen, Brady McDowell, Tyler Williams, and Danny Goings did a great job. Nate and his crew were very informative, professional, very courteous and completed this job and just 2 and half days! I would definitely recommend this crew to my friends and family without hesitation.

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COULDN’T ASK FOR A BETTER CREW! Wesley Capps, Ray Sherbert, and Horace Sherbert went above and beyond when they encapsulated our crawl…

COULDN’T ASK FOR A BETTER CREW! Wesley Capps, Ray Sherbert, and Horace Sherbert went above and beyond when they encapsulated our crawl space. We would recommend Mount Valley to anyone!

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The contractor was professional and friendly. He made sure I was informed throughout the job.

The contractor was professional and friendly. He made sure I was informed throughout the job.

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John DeCarlo and his partner were very professional,informative,and courteous. It was a pleasure doing business with Mount Valley Fountain. …

John DeCarlo and his partner were very professional,informative,and courteous. It was a pleasure doing business with Mount Valley Fountain. John Penn even came back a second time to answer some questions before we hired Mount Valley to do the job The rest of the staff were also very helpful

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William, Greg and Lewis worked on our house for 2 days. They installed 7 push piers the 1st day and 9 IntelliJacks the 2nd day. They did…

William, Greg and Lewis worked on our house for 2 days. They installed 7 push piers the 1st day and 9 IntelliJacks the 2nd day. They did an excellent job with the installations. They back-filledthe holes, mortared the cracks and restored the landscaping so that it was almost impossible to tell any work was done. They were all very courteous, polite, professional and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend them. I would have given 5 stars, but one minor problem occurred. A light fixture was broken in the crawl space which I was not told about and discovered it after they left. I reported it to the company and a supervisor offered to come out to replace it, but I had already gotten replacement parts for it. It would have been nice if they offered a credit to my account instead. I wish I could give them 4 and 1/2 stars, but I'm limited to 4.

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Installers Alex Meyers and Rae-Kwon White Robinson out of the Charleston office really went above and beyond to take care of my foundation…

Installers Alex Meyers and Rae-Kwon White Robinson out of the Charleston office really went above and beyond to take care of my foundation needs. I very much appreciated how polite and thoughtful they were, as well as efficient. I felt like I was in good hands with them, they answered any questions I had. Thanks guys!

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Scott Mcclosky was my certified inspector. He was very knowledgeable, and patient. He outlined all the work that needs to be done in a…

Scott Mcclosky was my certified inspector. He was very knowledgeable, and patient. He outlined all the work that needs to be done in a simple well designed manner. He gave me many options for repairing my foundation.

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they need more then days Job was not completed in the schedule time.

they need more then days Job was not completed in the schedule time.

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Very informative in all that was going on , kept me up to speed thru out the job.

Very informative in all that was going on , kept me up to speed thru out the job.

Kevin T. Bessellieu

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When I set up the appointment, I was afraid I'd feel pressured to use the service. Bradley Dixon, with the Greenville/Spartanburg office,…

When I set up the appointment, I was afraid I'd feel pressured to use the service. Bradley Dixon, with the Greenville/Spartanburg office, was very courteous. I found him to very honest. Since there is a minimum upfront cost, and my project was very small, I decided to leave the sidewalk the way it was. Bradley was fine with my decision and didn't try to change my mind. If I ever have another project, I will certainly call them first.

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Ok I’ve tried several time to create more than one review but it’s not allowing me too so this will be for both Alex and Rodreck. They…

Ok I’ve tried several time to create more than one review but it’s not allowing me too so this will be for both Alex and Rodreck. They both did a great job putting in our French drain. We really appreciate their hard work. Thank you for getting it done for us and we will definitely reach back out to Mountain valley if we ever need any foundation issues in the future. And they both deserve a 10. Thanks so much. The Kirkbrides

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I can't say enough good things about the team from Mount Valley Foundation Services. Oscar M., Cory H. and Brandon W. did an outstanding…

I can't say enough good things about the team from Mount Valley Foundation Services. Oscar M., Cory H. and Brandon W. did an outstanding job with the foundation repair. I was very impressed with the entire process and the materials used. They explained each step of the repair and completed the job in a very timely manner. Thanks for a job well done!

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I recently had the pleasure of working with Clint Weimann from Mount Valley Foundations in Greenville for foundation repair work on my…

I recently had the pleasure of working with Clint Weimann from Mount Valley Foundations in Greenville for foundation repair work on my house, and I couldn't be more impressed with the results. From the initial consultation to the final inspection, Clint demonstrated exceptional professionalism and expertise. He thoroughly assessed the issues with my foundation, explained the repair process in detail, and provided a clear and fair estimate. Throughout the project, Clint and his team were punctual, respectful, and meticulous in their work. They addressed every concern I had and completed the repairs on time and within budget. The quality of the work is outstanding and I highly recommend Clint Weimann and Mount Valley Foundations to anyone in need of foundation repair.

Is Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation the Right Solution for Me?

Most crawl spaces have open vents when they are built. This traditional practice was meant to allow air to freely enter and exit the crawl space in order to curb problems like mold growth and moisture and humidity buildup. Foundation experts have more recently found the reverse to be true, however, and that those problems often stem from vented dirt crawl spaces.

While having a vented dirt crawl space underneath homes is common throughout areas in South Carolina and nearby, its side effects are far from safe. Because of the region’s wet, humid subtropical climate, unstable crawl space conditions can lead to structural instability and health problems.

To combat these issues, it is important to invest in quality crawl space repair and encapsulation solutions such as vapor barriers, vent covers, interior drainage systems, sump pumps, and dehumidifiers. To get started with creating a safer and healthier home, contact our experienced and friendly team at Mount Valley Foundation Services today to schedule your free inspection and repair estimate.

FAQs

We are committed to your satisfaction and your home’s safety. That is why we only use the very best repair solutions. The products we use are manufactured right here in the United States, and they are tested and proven to effectively work in keeping your crawl space clean, dry, safe and healthy. All these solutions also are designed to work together to give you the most bang for your buck and prevent any further problems. 

Here is how we tackle crawl space problems, as well as the solutions we use and how they work: 

  • Address Leaking Water — To address seeping water, we first need to catch the water, then get this water to a sump pump system, and then send this water away from the home.  

    Our specially designed CrawlDrain™ perimeter drainage system is placed in the dirt crawl space floor around the perimeter to catch seeping water from the walls and floor. The drainage channels then direct this water into the SafeDri™ Crawl Space Sump Pump System, which then pumps the water out of the crawl space and away from the home.  A FreezeGuard™ also can be attached to the exterior sump pump discharge line to prevent flooding if the line should freeze or become blocked. 
  • Seal the Crawl Space from Outside Elements — It is important to seal your crawl space from outside air, water and pests. The first step is having durable vent covers placed over the crawl space vents. 
     
    Then, a heavy-duty moisture and vapor barrier is installed. Our CrawlSeal™ is a true 20-mil liner rated above 25-mil strength at the seams. This liner, which is three times thicker than builder’s grade liner, is used to completely isolate the crawl space from the earth. CrawlSeal™ prevents moisture and vapor intrusion, is waterproof, and has been treated to resist mold. 
     
    Additionally, thick drainage matting can be placed on the crawl space floor before the encapsulation process to help direct water to the perimeter CrawlDrain™ system, as well as enhance the strength of the CrawlSeal™ liner. 
     
  • Properly Insulate the Crawl Space — Rigid ExTremeBloc™ panels placed on crawl space walls will better insulate the area and will not fail or develop mold like fiberglass insulation. These panels resist moisture, and an integrated termiticide is added to deter termites below grade. CrawlSeal™ also helps insulate the crawl space, and spray foam can be added to rim joists to seal gaps around the perimeter of your foundation. These insulation methods help prevent wood rot and enable termite treatments. 
     
  • Condition the Air — Our low-profile crawl space dehumidifier is powerful and energy efficient. It effectively works to clean and filter the air, control moisture and humidity, and reduce odors and potential mold growth. This dehumidifier also is self-draining, meaning there aren’t any reservoirs or buckets to have to worry about emptying. The unit can be directed to drain into the crawl space perimeter drainage system or sump pump system, or a condensate pump can be installed. 
     
  • Reinforce Support Systems — Wooden floor supports and light-duty jack posts commonly fail in wet and humid crawl spaces. Our durable IntelliJacks™ are made of galvanized steel, making them more reliable supports that can stabilize and lift sagging floors and floor joists back to level. 

When you contact us, you can speak to one of our customer care representatives about your crawl space concerns. We will then work with you to schedule an appointment for a free inspection and estimate with one of our certified field inspectors.  

Here’s what you can expect during this consultation. The inspector will:  

  • Complete a thorough evaluation of your home’s interior and exterior. This includes going into the crawl space to check the condition of the area including any water intrusion, damage, pests, etc.  
  • Discuss his findings with you, as well as your goals with a repair project.  
  • Offer customized solutions that best fit your repair needs.  
  • Provide you with a proposal of recommended solutions before leaving your house.  
  • Discuss payment and financing options with you. 

Then, if you decide to move forward with a repair project, we will work to schedule your repairs with one of our highly trained installation crews. Our crew members will treat your home as their own, with the utmost care and respect. They will use world-class solutions for your repairs, and their work is not complete until you are 100% satisfied with the job. If something crops up after installation, we will return to fix any issues. We also offer various service and maintenance opportunities to protect our work and your home.  

Along with writing a review about your experience with us, it would mean the world to us if you would refer us to your friends and family! 

Now that you’ve seen what nastiness could be lurking underneath your feet and the toll it can take on your home and your family, aren’t you motivated to get rid of it? As tempting as it might be to head out to your local home improvement store to gather supplies, pause for a moment.  

Crawl space repair is not something you can tackle in a weekend, no matter how handy you are. A lot can go wrong, and we have seen many problems result from fast fixes. Especially concerning real estate transactions, quick fixes can raise red flags. You’ll then have to spend more time and money to repair these issues. It’s best to leave these projects to professional contractors so the problems will be fixed correctly the first time around. 

We encourage you to educate yourself to make the best decision and sound investment with trustworthy repair solutions from a reliable contractor. 

Why would you want disgusting conditions underneath your home? That alone should be enough for you to want to correct the problems. But you might be wondering, “what’s in it for me?” A lot, actually. There are so many benefits of having a clean crawl space, which you can read about in our blog, “10 Reasons to Clean Your Crawl Space This Season.” Here are a few of the major perks:  

  • Health — A cleaner crawl space means improved health for you and your family. Especially if anyone in your house suffers from asthma or allergies, a cleaner crawl space can help prevent flare-ups and sickness. If you choose solutions like a dehumidifier, the air quality will be greatly improved throughout the entire home. 
  • Structural Integrity — Compromised support systems and sagging floors are dangerous and could result in significant structural damage and safety hazards. By shoring up the support system in your home, you will have a more stable living environment for your family. 
  • Energy Efficiency — When you invest in proper, reliable crawl space encapsulation and insulation to reduce energy loss, you can save between 30 and 50% on your energy bills. (Source: Clean Crawls)
  • Functional Space — Once your crawl space has been properly waterproofed, sealed and insulated, you have an area of your home you can use in a new way. You’ll be able to store your belongings in the crawl space without worrying about them being damaged by water, mold or pests. 
  • Real Estate Value — There are a lot of factors that impact a home’s resale value, but issues with the structure, any water intrusion and crawl space problems are all areas you need to be aware of. When selling your house, it is important to disclose any known past or current damage. This sets clear expectations regarding the quality and condition of the home. Homeowners selling their house in South Carolina are required to provide a written disclosure statement to the purchaser noting any known defects. This includes information on the foundation, basement and other structural components, as well as current or prior infestations of wood destroying insects or organisms. (Source: Nolo

If you take a look online for instructions on how to fix your crawl space vapor barrier, you will find there are many DIY tutorials available. Many homeowners think installing a vapor barrier will not take long and won’t be too complicated. After all, it is possible to purchase all the materials you need to do it yourself at your local expert supply store. 

At Mount Valley Foundation Services, we have installed many crawl space vapor barriers over the years. We can tell you that this is not an easy task, and it is not something that many people can figure out just by watching an online tutorial. If anything goes wrong or you make a mistake, you will still have to contact a professional to complete the task. Therefore it is best to contact our team and have your new vapor barrier installed by members of the oldest foundation services companies in all of South Carolina. 

Contractors once believed that placing vents on the walls of crawl spaces would help improve the airflow in these dark and humid areas. But over the years, we have learned that crawl space vents do more harm than good. They allow moisture to enter into the crawl space, which can promote mold growth and affect the internal temperature of your home, causing your energy rates to rise. 

Crawl space vent covers are the ideal solution to this problem, and they do not take long for our professionals to install. Our crawl space vent covers are made from solid and durable materials, and they are designed to prevent moisture and pests from entering your crawl space. 

If you think you could benefit from installing our vent covers, get in touch with us at Mount Valley Foundation Services today. 

Why Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation Are Needed

As we have mentioned, your home and family can be significantly impacted by crawl space problems. Here are just a few ways you can benefit from trusted, permanent repairs:

open crawl space vent

Avoid Exposure to the Elements

Vented crawl spaces are open to exterior elements prevalent in the region including summertime heat and humidity, year-round precipitation, and coastal storms. Your crawl space can easily flood or sustain other water or moisture-related damage. But with airtight vent covers, waterproofing measures, and encapsulation with a vapor barrier, your crawl space can stand up to the toughest weather challenges.

sagging crawl space

Prevent Structural Damage and Instability

Your crawl space most likely contains your home’s support system made up of beams, girders, and floor joists. Excessive water and moisture within the crawl space can attack these wooden structures in the form of wood rot. Termites also can find their way inside and feast on wooden joists and other supports. These problems can be seen and felt in sagging, uneven floors that are not properly supported. Proper crawl space encapsulation with moisture control measures can save your wooden supports, and specialized crawl space support jacks can stabilize and help lift sagging floor joists.

crawl space encapsulation

Create an Unappealing Environment for Pests

Pests like bugs and small animals love nothing more than an isolated, dark, moist area like your crawl space to call home. Crawl space encapsulation acts as a moisture control measure that reduces pests’ interest in the space. Plus, solutions including airtight vent covers and doors, a thick vapor barrier, and durable, termiticide-integrated insulation panels help make it difficult for pests to access your crawl space.

Common Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation Tips & Mistakes

Mistakes to Avoid:

Tips to Consider:

Find your service area

COLUMBIA. SC

Columbia, SC

Your home’s foundation is impacted by the poor soil; muggy weather and the heavy rain Columbia receives. MVFS has proven solutions to solve your crawl space, wet basement, or foundation problem.

GREENVILLE, SC

Greenville, SC

Homeowners in Greenville, SC, deal with a wet basement and crawl spaces often. The experts at MVFS can permanently repair your basement, crawl space, or foundation before your home is at risk of failure.

Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC

Homeowners in Charleston take pride in their homes. When foundation, crawl space, or wet basement problems plague them, they turn to Mount Valley Foundation Services. For more than 35 years, MVFS has been the trusted name in foundation repair.

Charleston, SC

Myrtle Beach, SC

Being located on the coast, Myrtle Beach has sandy soils that can be easily disturbed by heavy coastal rains. Myrtle Beach gets 52 inches of rain every year, so this can be an issue. However, Mount Valley has industry-leading solutions that protect your home.

SAVANNAH, GA

Savannah, GA

Clay soil and heavy rain are the culprits behind water in your crawl space and basement as well as foundation damage. Learn how MVFS can help.

Augusta, GA skyline.

Augusta, GA

Augusta has mostly clay soils which can be a serious issue for your foundation. Clay soil expands after heavy precipitation and pushes your foundation out of line. Mount Valley has solutions designed to stop this process from causing damage.

Mount Valley Service Map

Our Locations

Asheville Location

53 N Market St, Suite 5
Asheville, NC 28801

Augusta Location

630 Ellis Street, Suite 2-B
Augusta, GA 30901

Charleston Location

1850 Ashley River Rd
Charleston, SC 29407

Columbia Location

2110 Commerce Drive
Cayce, SC 29033

Greenville Location

300 South Ave
Spartanburg, SC 29306

Myrtle Beach Location

1704 N. Oak Street, Suite 3
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Savannah Location

6606 Abercorn St., Suite 211
Savannah, GA 31405