Author: New Leaf Crawl Space

Maybe you noticed him around the house and thought nothing of it.  It is just a cute little raccoon and it doesn’t seem to be bothering anything, right?  Then one day, you noticed that a screen in your foundation vent was open and watched that cute little raccoon run right through it and under your house.  Deciding you better check this out, you crouch down and look through the vent to find your subfloor insulation in tatters.  Air ducts are hanging, shredded to pieces and the vapor barrier is littered with feces.  Unfortunately, this happens all too frequently in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, WA area when a raccoon or opossum get in your crawl space and they can do an immense amount of damage.  So, your crawl space is destroyed and you need to know what to do next.

How To Clean Up After A Raccoon

We get asked all the time about crawlspace and basement waterproofing systems.  Maybe you saw a waterproofing project on TV or heard an advertisement on the radio and it piqued your interest.  So, what does waterproofing actually mean, how much does it cost and is waterproofing a good idea in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington area?
What Is Crawl Space Waterproofing? Crawl Space waterproofing (also called “Crawl Space Encapsulation”) has some variations, but a typical system consists of trenching and drainage to allow moisture to be collected into a sump pump and discharged out of the space.

As a crawl space contractor in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington area, we get a lot of questions about vapor barriers. Many times when a customer calls in, it is generally one of the questions below. If you have questions regarding vapor barriers (also called “moisture barrier”, please take a look at these questions and if you don’t see what you are looking for, please feel free to give us a call.

What Does A Vapor Barrier Actually Do?

If you are living in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington area, you already know that we get a lot of rain.  For most of the year, it pounds our homes with moisture and many home are equipped to handle this much water, but some are not.  Many houses in the Portland Metro area have inadequate gutter drains or just retain ground water that accumulates underneath the home in the crawlspace.  Water in the crawlspace can become a big problem.  If left untreated, it can lead to mold, rotting structural supports and many other issues.  So, let’s suppose that you have a crawl space that has standing water and discuss what a typical drainage solution will likely consist of.

Maybe the long, hot summer made you forget, but last year was the wettest winter we have ever had in the Portland and Vancouver area.  Our homes took a beating with the constant rainfall and some homes just could not hold up.  Water started to find its way into areas it was never supposed to be.  As a drainage contractor serving the Portland metro area, my team got called out to numerous homes that had water seeping in around the foundation of the home and ended up pooling in the crawlspace, causing significant damages.  So, as the wet weather prepares to hit, how can you make sure that your crawlspace stays dry?

Rats and mice are pretty much everywhere in the Portland and Vancouver Wa area.  They infest homes in rural areas, urban areas and every area in between.  Basically, they are just looking for a warm, cozy place to stay and your crawlspace is really the perfect place for them.  They can access your warm, insulated crawlspace in a variety of ways.  Often, your foundation vent screens can be open and invite them right in.  If no easy access is available, they are also pretty good at creating access on their own by digging under the foundation and into the crawlspace.

Living in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington area means that we have to deal with a lot of rain. Sometimes that rain finds its way into your crawlspace and you are left with harmful standing water. Many times, in these situations, our company will recommend a sump pump installation. Listed below are some of the common questions that customers ask us before deciding on moving forward with a sump pump installation.

Water is the enemy of homes in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington area. Our homes here in the Pacific Northwest are constantly shielding us from the abundance of rainfall. Most of the time they do a good job and keep water flowing away from the house, but sometimes water can find a way inside your home. When water seeps in through your roof, you are sure to find it, but when water makes its way in underneath your home and into your crawl space, it is not so easy to detect. Often times, standing water can go unnoticed for months, even years, slowly damaging the structural stability of your home.

Here in the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington area, we live in a very wet place. Our homes are pummeled with rain throughout the year and, unfortunately, some of that water sticks around. Water accumulation in the crawl space underneath our homes is a major concern that can wreak extensive damage to the structural components of your house. As a drainage contractor in the Portland Metro area, I see homes all the time that have serious issues with standing water and design drainage systems to rectify these issues.

A vapor barrier (also called a “moisture barrier”) serves an important purpose underneath your home. A crawl space is a damp, dark place that provides the perfect setting for moisture related problems to arise. This is especially true in the Pacific Northwest where we get such an excessive amount of rain throughout the year. As a drainage contractor serving the Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA area, we get a lot of questions regarding the installation of vapor barriers. Here are some commonly asked questions if you are considering having this service done.

How Much Does It Cost To Have A Vapor Barrier Installed?

Water is the enemy of your home and we get a lot of it in the Portland Metro area. Your home is designed to repel water away from it, but sometimes it finds a way to sleek and slither its way into the vulnerable wood that holds your house up. When moisture gets to where it is not supposed to be, it can wreak havoc on your home. One area of the home that can hold a considerable amount of water in your home without you noticing is your crawl space. Standing water in the crawl space can create a whole host of problems for your home including mold, wood rot and more. So, how do you get rid of standing water in a crawl space?