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

We had a water mitigation system installed and a complete encapsulation done. It was done in 4 days. The team was so professional and hardworking and the results speak for themselves. We had a plumber and electrician do some work alongside the TerraFirma team and they both commented on the amazing work being done. The Project Coordinator Heather was very pleasant to work with and readily answered any questions I had. Luis and his crew Antonio, Sebastian, Carlos, and Chris R. were phenomenal. Highly recommend working with them.
Mark Johansen from TerraFirma performed an inspection on our sump pump and inspected crawl space. Mark was punctual and very professional. He explained the various inspection aspects prior to performing the job. He took extra precaution with the job preparation by laying out floor coverings. His cleanup during and after completion was excellent. I am very satisfied with the service he provided and would highly recommend TerraFirma.
Crawl space is now in great, clean condition.
Timothy, Jonathan and James did a phenomenal job today installing a sump pump and drain in our crawl space. Super prompt, friendly and professional. Highly recommend TerraFirma!
Called TerraFirma because we noticed mold in the crawl space several years after inital encapsolation. Turned out there was very little mold and it was dead. Service reps James and Micky were very thorough and explained how our system was working properly preventing any mold from developing. We appreciated their excelent customer service interface. They offered to come back if we saw any further issues, but made it clear everything was working proprerly. Excellent employees.
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.
We're very happy with the TerraFirma experience. They were easy to contact, on schedule, on budget, friendly, professional and approachable. They are the best team we've encountered out of all the contractors we've worked with to repair and improve our home. From the initial consult with Ryan, to the steady project management of Sammie, to Tim's installation crew, they were a seamless team. I have serious health problems and it's easy for me to become overwhelmed with tasks or fail to remember important dates and activities, but Sammie was so gracious and helpful that I didn't feel anxious for a moment. When the team came to overhaul the crawl space and install the sump pump, I was prepared for pet drama, but the team were like ghosts. Even my stupidly anxious rescue dog was calm because it was so quiet. Tim was super helpful with all of my questions during the installation, and when the project started to fall behind he added another man to his team the next day, rather than risk going over the 2 days of work Ryan had estimated. Tim, Chris, Jonathan and Jairo were like extremely polite ninjas that just quietly disappeared beneath my house. When we did interact they were easy to talk to and were able to answer all of my questions. I will absolutely recommend TerraFirma to my family and friends. They do great work and made the whole process much easier than I could have hoped for.
We hiredTerraFirma to waterproof and redo our crawlspace. We live on a hill which means the crawlspace is on a hill, I am sure it wasn't the easiest place to navigate to get the work done. Heather was the projects coordinator and kept us informed of every step of the project, which we really appreciated. Fernando, was the foreman, and his work crew Felipe, Jorge D., and Jose H. were exceptional workers. This was a three-day project and they were always punctual, very polite, and worked extremely hard getting the project done. Everyone did an outstanding job, and we would recommend the workers and TerraFirma to anyone. Extremely pleased with the workmanship and the project was done on time. The McIntyre's in Oregon City
Andrew and his crew completed our work project installing a sump pump, installed drain tile inside the crawl space under the house and finished with a vapor barrier. In addition they also removed all junk under the house. The crew was very efficient, the work space was kept very clean, when they were through you would hardly know they were there. They were very helpful and answered any questions we had and explained what was going on. We highly recommend this crew.
Mr. Stanford did a thorough inspection of our crawlspace and gave us the honest opinion that very little needed to be addressed. He was very professional and clearly very experienced. This was after a competitor came out and tried to convince us we needed an $18,000 encapsulation.
Our 121 yr old home’s 1930 add-on had visible water damage that eroded the concrete foundation in one corner of our home. Upon initial inspection, the plan was to support that corner, replace some posts in the basement, and repair some pony wall framing. I got a couple of other bids and found TFFS to not only be comparable, but to also provide the security of a larger company’s resources. The day work was to begin, the crew realized our home’s situation was more complicated than initially realized. They brought in a specialist to assess the work needed and created a game plan, coordinating w a plumber and fitting us into their very busy schedule. They were able to do the work needed for our home without massive increases to our initial bid, and our floors no longer bounce and slope. Their crew communicated thoroughly throughout the entire process and cleaned up after themselves. The crawl space was leveled and plastic sheeting was in place. The only reason I’m giving this a 4star is because our initial project coordinator let us fall through the cracks when she took an extended leave of absence. However, they responded to my follow up inquiry professionally, promptly, and worked really hard to get our old home in the schedule. We feel much more secure about the health of our home and 100% recommend them.
We recently completed a full crawl space encapsulation including perimeter drainage, sump and dehumidifier. The transformation was extraordinary! We noticed a dramatic improvement in air quality first night job was completed. We also noticed the cold damp air was gone and overall home was very comfortable and warmer. The installation crew (Luis-foreman, Moy and Carlos) were amazing. Our job took 4 full days to complete and the crew arrived punctually every day and cleaned up at the end of each day. Luis would give an overview of work completed and what to expect the next day. He addressed all questions/concerns in a clear and respectful manner. Moy and Carlos were equally friendly, professional and respectful. I have never seen a crew work as hard as they did during the project. They were a pleasure to work with! The entire job proceeded smoothly and owe our thanks to Heather - Project Coordinator. Our expectations were definitely exceeded and we can highly recommend TerraFirma to anyone interested in fixing crawl space issues. Consider yourself very lucky if you get Luis, Moy and Carlos for your work crew! Cheers!

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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?