crawl space
problems

HUMIDITY & WATER
IN CRAWL SPACE

Water that seeps into your crawl space can serve as a breeding ground for pests, mold, and odor. Crawl space encapsulation is the right choice for homeowners who experience rainy climates and want to protect their crawl space from moisture.

These are some common moisture and water crawl space problems that homeowners in Portland, Salem, Roseburg, and the Seattle-Tacoma areas have asked TerraFirma to diagnose and fix for this space of their homes:

tf wet insulation Crawl Space Problems
Wet insulation is a sign of crawl space humidity, and creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.

Wet Insulation

tf condensation humidity Crawl Space Problems
Does your home tend to be humid? It could be a sign of crawlspace condensation and moisture.

Condensation & Indoor Humidity

tf rotting wood Crawl Space Problems
Floor joists provide crucial support for the floors above. Moisture in your crawl space can cause your floor joists to rot, compromising their ability to bear the weight of the structure.

Rotting Wood

tf torn vapor barriers Crawl Space Problems
Torn vapor barriers and vapor barrier puddles mean moisture and possibly unhealthy air quality

Torn Vapor Barriers

tf exposed ground Crawl Space Problems
Exposed dirt in your crawl space will release gasses, odors, and moisture under your home that can seep up into your living space. As the damp soil dries it shrinks allowing the post and beam structural supports to settle causing damage to your home.

Exposed Ground

tf doors vents Crawl Space Problems
Open crawl space vents and loose crawl space doors can cause high humidity as well as insect and mold problems.

Crawlspace Door and Vents

tf wet insulation Crawl Space Problems

Wet Insulation

Wet insulation is a sign of crawl space humidity, and creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew.

tf condensation humidity Crawl Space Problems

Condensation & Indoor Humidity

Does your home tend to be humid? It could be a sign of crawlspace condensation and moisture.

tf rotting wood Crawl Space Problems

Rotting Wood

Floor joists provide crucial support for the floors above. Moisture in your crawl space can cause your floor joists to rot, compromising their ability to bear the weight of the structure.

tf torn vapor barriers Crawl Space Problems

Torn Vapor Barriers

Torn vapor barriers and vapor barrier puddles mean moisture and possibly unhealthy air quality

tf exposed ground Crawl Space Problems

Exposed Ground

Exposed dirt in your crawl space will release gasses, odors, and moisture under your home that can seep up into your living space. As the damp soil dries it shrinks allowing the post and beam structural supports to settle causing damage to your home.

tf doors vents Crawl Space Problems

Crawlspace Door and Vents

Open crawl space vents and loose crawl space doors can cause high humidity as well as insect and mold problems.

SAGGING FLOOR JOISTS
& STRUCTURAL ISSUES

Built directly underneath your home, the crawl space plays a key role in your home’s structural integrity. Many crawl spaces are designed with a support system that is either inadequate, rotting or has unstable soils underneath the support posts.

If you’re unsure whether it’s a foundation or crawlspace issue, note whether the visible problem is centered around the interior or exterior of the structure. Homeowners in Oregon and Washington frequently benefit from waterproofing as part of their foundation repair and/or crawlspace repair.

dehumidifiers titlesection 2 2 Crawl Space Problems
  TF Crawl Space Repair icon s Crawl Space Problems
Crawl Space
Structural Issue
TF foundation repair icon s Crawl Space Problems
Foundation
Settlement
TF Basement Waterproofing icon s Crawl Space Problems
Basement
Waterproofing Issue
Cracks in Crawl Space Walls   tf expert check Crawl Space Problems tf expert check Crawl Space Problems
Cracks in foundation or crawl space walls   tf expert check Crawl Space Problems tf expert check Crawl Space Problems
Leaking cracks in foundation walls   tf expert check Crawl Space Problems tf expert check Crawl Space Problems
Sticking or cracked exterior doors and windows tf expert check Crawl Space Problems tf expert check Crawl Space Problems  
Sticking or cracked interior doors tf expert check Crawl Space Problems tf expert check Crawl Space Problems  
Sinking, sagging floors tf expert check Crawl Space Problems tf expert check Crawl Space Problems  
Cracked or sagging floor joist support beams tf expert check Crawl Space Problems tf expert check Crawl Space Problems  
Floor crack with water seeping up   tf expert check Crawl Space Problems tf expert check Crawl Space Problems
Standing water in crawl space tf expert check Crawl Space Problems tf expert check Crawl Space Problems  
Tilting chimney   tf expert check Crawl Space Problems  

HIGH ELECTRIC BILLS

Crawlspaces are often unconditioned spaces, meaning they are not heated or cooled like the rest of the house. High electric bills are a giveaway that your home is not energy efficient.

Floor insulation and Wall insulation will help to prevent heat transfer between the crawl space and the rest of the house, reducing the amount of energy needed to heat or cool your home. This can lead to lower utility bills while creating a more comfortable indoor environment.

Creating a controlled environment in crawl spaces is essential for maintaining energy efficiency, controlling moisture and pests, and preserving the structural integrity of the home. Maintenance also plays an important role as floor insulation is susceptible to the environment, can become loose, moist, and lose effectiveness.

dehumidifiers titlesection 3 2 Crawl Space Problems

POOR AIR QUALITY

Humidity and condensation in a crawl space are a recipe for disaster. Excess moisture leads to mold growth, wood rot, and foul odors, causing issues for your home’s health, air quality, and value.

After removing any organic materials, making sure your waterproofing system is working correctly, and installing vent covers, you should still consider other airborne hazards that, fortunately, can be prevented with the use of a dehumidifier.

Encapsulation and consistent maintenance don’t just protect against crawl space moisture problems—they also retain a stable temperature in this area, improving indoor air quality and reducing allergens. Over time, this can prevent costly repairs caused by worsening structural problems or degradation. Additionally, a well-encapsulated crawl space boosts your home’s resale value; ultimately, it is a wise investment for homeowners intending to stay or sell. So have Terra Firma fix your crawl space problems today to start reaping the benefits.

dehumidifiers titlesection 4 1 Crawl Space Problems

Schedule your free
Crawl Space Evaluation

Schedule your free
Crawl Space Evaluation

TERRAFIRMA IN ACTION

TerraFirma can repair your crawl space, leaving your home with cleaner, healthier air. Read on about our crawl space work and tips below.

crawl spaces
repaired

Don’t take our word for it – see what our clients have to say.
From Roseburg to Eugene, Portland to Seattle, our Crawl Space Repair work speaks for itself

Fernando and Eddie did a great job on our dual crawlspace project. Our floors are level, structure secure, and crawlspace is clean and pleasant - almost human livable! Wish we had done this sooner!
The crew at Terra Firma were professional, smart and communicated very well for my project. They worked hard all day everyday in completing my project. My crawl space needed a French drain and sump pump set up as well as removal of all insulation, mold remediation and new vapor barrier. It should have been a simple job by all accounts. After they started to dig, it became clear that this was not gong to be ordinary. They ran into a layer of very hard clay that required much more work than anyone thought. They brought in every power toll they could fit into the crawl space to get it done. at the end of the day everyday no matter how tired they were, they cleaned up the work space and informed me of the status. They covered and protected my floors with no accidents as my crawl space is accessed through the interior of my house. Colin the Forman on the job worked extremely hard with no quit attitude, even when he was unexpectedly short handed one day. All other crew members were also very hard working, friendly and professional. I would recommend Terra Firma and would have them back if I need anymore work done. Thank you all at Terra Firma.
Review from Randy Peldo: From the very first day when Kevin, Zack, and James arrived, I knew I had selected the right company for crawl space full encapsulation! They went above and beyond in protecting my home from dirt and debris on the numerous trips up and down into the crawlspace. Kevin and his team handled any concern I visited with him about with professionalism and kept me well informed throughout the project. I can't forget to mention Katie in the office. Her assistance throughout the project was appreciated and the cherry on top was the call we received the morning after completion to make sure we were satisfied. I would have never expected to be as pleased with TerraFirma as I am! In today's times, you pay for what you get! TerraFirma is well worth the cost!
Terra Firma Foundations did an excellent job encapsulating my Vancouver home’s crawl space: is now now clean, well-insulated, rodent-free and moisture-free. The crew was absolutely OUTSTANDING: Jorge Valencia plus Juan and Manuel. They worked in very cramped space with many obstacles (ductwork) to maneuver around, and they were skilled, efficient and a pleasure to work with. Five stars for the company and the crew. .
Major kudos to Terra Firma for the excellent work they did in my crawlspace. Props to Jonathan, Rom, Logan and Daniel for their great attitudes and professionalism. I definitely recommend this company.
Feels great to finally have our crawl space water issue taken care of once and for all. Our installation crew, Timothy Cranley II, Spencer Hunt, Felipe Jimenez, Gael Ornelas, were all outstanding. Even though it was a big project, they made it as easy as possible on us and cleaned it up well.
These folks are WORTH the call and having them out! Seth, specifically, was amazing at scope, plan and presentation. He was so knowledge and really took into account all of the needs of the house structurally and visually. He was extremely professional in house and on the phone. Nothing was over sold or up sold, and every concern I had was listened to and taken into account. Every detail was in the bid neatly and nothing was out of place. If you've got a basement or crawlspace project, this is as professional as it gets. I will DEFINITELY be keeping this company in mind for future projects and for friends and family. Call. Ask for Seth. He's got you.
We chose TerraFirma to fix problems in our crawl space. We have a perimeter foundation with a post-and-pier system beneath the house. TerraFirma installed steel jacks where wooden posts had split. They also removed waterlogged tarps, soil, and insulation under our floor, then installed a waterproofing system that included a perimeter drain, two sump pumps, a dehumidifier, and a 120-mil encapsulation liner system. They also took care of all the coordination that was needed with an electrical contractor who had to come in and add circuits for the pumps (and do a few other things). The work took 6 long days of work by three TerraFirma crew members, each of whom were very diligent, communicated well, and did a good job cleaning up at the end of each day. (The team was Antonio who was the foreman, plus Jonathan and Riko.) I had lots of questions during the work that each of them answered well and to my satisfaction; they clearly were all very knowledgeable (not just the foreman). Also, the project manager (Jonah) did a great job addressing the many questions I had during the weeks before the crew showed up. This wasn't cheap work, but I felt we got good value and good service and now don't have to work around (and worry about) moisture and mold problems in the crawl space. We also had another crew from TerraFirma do some concrete leveling work, and I was really impressed at how well they addressed one particularly challenging slab that needed a major lift. I am a scientific consultant and in the client-service business, so I am pretty particular in my expectations of a contractor. TerraFirma met those expectations really well; I highly recommend this firm.
Jeff Camp came over and spent an hour thoroughly inspecting the property including going through our narrow crawl space. He was very professional and suggested we do not need to get any work done.
I had a positive experience with vapor barrier application to my basement walls, a draining system install that wraps around the basement walls, installation of a sump pump, foundation crack repair, sealing/ vapor barrier install in a crawlspace.
Basement leaking. Installed sump pump improve drainage in crawl space. Untested as yet not enough rain.
Jason has been here for the third year in a row and has done an excellent job on my crawl space. This time because of the ice out over four days in December 2023, he said it would be a good idea to replace the battery. I went ahead and did it just to be safe. I am glad there are people who can go down in that crawl space and check everything once a year. He eve manages the wolf spiders.

Award Winning
Results Begin Here.

bbb Terrafirma Award 2 Crawl Space Problems
HA elite Terrafirma Awar Banner 2 Crawl Space Problems

Crawl Space
Homeowner FAQs

Crawl space insulation vs encapsulation – which is better?

My concrete seems to have moved up during the winter months, is this a problem?

What causes a floor joist to sag?

Can you repair cracked concrete after going through concrete leveling?

My concrete seems to have settled over the winter. What should I do?