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Originally Posted On: https://www.raleighcrawlspacerepair-csn.com/crawl-space-waterproofing-raleigh-nc
We get a lot of questions about our crawl space waterproofing service in Raleigh, NC, and what to answer the five most common questions for you to understand this service better.
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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CRAWL SPACE WATERPROOFING?
Waterproofing your crawl space is redirecting water entering the crawl space from the ground and returning it outside through a french drain and sump pump. Crawl space waterproofing will keep your crawl space dry and soil stable and help eliminate large amounts of moisture from your home that can cause damage foundation.
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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO WATERPROOF A CRAWL SPACE?
The cost to waterproof a typical crawl space is often between $1,500 to $5,000 in most cases. Crawl Space Waterproofing includes installing a french drain around the entire perimeter of the foundation walls next to the footer and installing a sump pump(s) to put the water outside away from the home’s foundation.
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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WATERPROOFING A CRAWL SPACE?
The main benefit of waterproofing a crawl space is to protect the home’s foundation from sinking, causing major structural issues. The second and equally important benefit is waterproofing a crawl space keeps the crawl space from flooding, which causes mold growth, wood rot, termite damage, foul odors, damage to mechanical systems, and more.
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IS WATERPROOFING A CRAWL SPACE WORTH THE INVESTMENT?
Waterproofing a crawl space is worth investing in because the dryer the area under your home, the longer your home will be free of significant structural damage. Investing in a drainage system will also help to improve your overall indoor air quality and eliminate musty odors from the crawl space that find their way into your home.
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WHAT PROBLEMS CAN BE CAUSED BY NOT WATERPROOFING A CRAWL SPACE?
If you choose not to waterproof your crawl space, you run the risk of your crawl space flooding. A flooded or wet crawl space often causes foundation damage, structural damage, water damage, mold growth, wood rot, termite infestations, and other hazards. It is never a good idea not to install a waterproofing system in your crawl space.
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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO WATERPROOF A CRAWL SPACE?
On average, it takes 1-3 days to install a crawl space waterproofing system. Installing a waterproofing system includes:
- Digging a trench around the perimeter of the foundation walls.
- Installing the drainage pipe.
- Surrounding the pipe with an aggregate
- Installing a sump pump
OUR PROCESS: CRAWL SPACE DRAINAGE IN RALEIGH, NC
Below we will break down our process for waterproofing a typical crawl space here in Raleigh, NC. If you still have questions, please reach out to us so we can answer them.
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STEP 1 – REMOVE DEBRIS
Before a crawl space is adequately waterproofed, all debris should be cleared to provide a safe workplace and grade the soil properly after installing the drainage system.
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STEP 2 – DIG TRENCH
A trench must be dug next to the footer and around the perimeter of the foundation walls. The trench should be dug 12″ wide and 8-24″ deep to collect the optimal amount of stormwater.
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STEP 3 – INSTALL FOOTER DRAIN TILE
There are multiple options for drainage pipes that can be used effectively when constructing a french drain in a crawl space. The pipe will channel the water to a sump pump, collected in a sump basin, and pumped away from your home’s foundation.
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STEP 4 – COVER WITH AGGREGATE
Covering the pipe in the trench with either a natural stone or synthetic aggregate makes no difference—the aggregate filters out large debris from clogging the french drain and allows more water to be collected.
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STEP 5 – INSTALL THE SUMP PUMP
For a crawl space drainage system to work, a sump pump must be installed. Water collected by the french drain will be diverted to the sump pump, where it is contained in the sump basin and eventually pumped out of the crawl space and away from your home’s foundation.
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REGRADE SOIL
Once the dewatering system is installed in your crawl space, the soil should be graded from the center with a slight pitch downwards towards the foundation walls. This is done so that any water that can come from inside your home or overwhelm your drainage system would allow the water to flow to the french drain.
