About Crawl Space Ninja of Columbia, SC
Crawl Space Ninja of Columbia offers service in Blythewood, Cayce, Chapin, Elgin, Gaston, Hopkins, Irmo, Lexington, West Columbia and Columbia communities.
Columbia Services
Crawl space repair in Columbia, SC includes many factors from crawl space dehumidifiers to insulation to mold removal. We approach the repair of your crawl space from an indoor air quality, customer service, and quality perspective.
Crawl Space Repair Done Right
Creating a crawl space encapsulation system that is properly ventilated and controls humidity will ensure soil gas build-up is never an issue. We properly encapsulate with our exclusive no-cat-pee-guarantee vapor barrier, while controlling humidity, standing water, and preventing mold and wood-decaying fungus.
Every part of the Crawl Space Ninja Encapsulation System™ has been perfected to ensure you make a wise investment. We perform crawl space repair according to International Residential Building Code standards and Building Science guidelines to ensure this is the most effective encapsulation system on the market.
Easy to Understand Crawl Space Packages
Our most popular crawl space encapsulation packages are the Gold and Platinum Series. These proprietary packages are exclusive to Crawl Space Ninja. Often referred to as a hybrid encapsulation system, Crawl Space Ninja has developed a unique and trusted way to repair crawl space problems.
Many of our customers rave about our easy-to-understand crawl space encapsulation packages, our certified installers, and the proprietary products only we utilize. Making your crawl space worry-free is the ultimate goal with our corner-to-corner inspections and maintenance programs.
Crawl space vapor barrier or vapor retarder is one of the most important aspects to making sure your crawl space humidity and flooding are controlled. Many contractors promise that humidity can be controlled by the vapor barrier only. We have found this not to be true. Loose lay vapor barriers do little to control humidity. Reinforced vapor barriers, or multi-layer vapor barriers, can create crawl space odors. Our unique solid-state vapor barrier and proprietary approach to installing crawl space vapor barrier will make sure your home is protected.
Crawl space dehumidifiers, in addition to quality vapor barriers, help control humidity in your crawl space and the rest of your home. Properly ventilating a crawl space while controlling humidity with a dehumidifier is the key to a healthy home. Controlling soil gases and humidity should be considered with every crawl space encapsulation design. This is why we install crawl space dehumidifiers to control humidity per EPA guidelines to ensure your home is not suffering from poor indoor air quality. Viruses, bacteria, mold, and dust mites thrive in homes with uncontrolled humidity.
Crawl space insulation is vital to the energy efficiency and comfort of your home. The Department of Energy ranks the crawl space and basement as the second most important place to insulate and air seal. There is way more to crawl space insulation than batt fiberglass thrown in the sub-floor. Air sealing the crawl space and insulating the rim joist is recommended. Foundation wall insulation should be ground contact approved. Many insulation products we use contain termite-resistant treatments. Our termite-resistant foam board is installed in the open vents to seal them and control humidity. We don't understand why some contractors choose to not insulate the crawl space while others go so far as to say it is not necessary. The Crawl Space Ninja proprietary encapsulation system includes properly insulating and air sealing the crawl space in accordance with building code and building science guidelines.
Crawl space ventilation is misunderstood by many crawl space contractors. Sealing up all the vents of a crawl space and installing a dehumidifier to help control humidity is widely recognized as an industry-standard practice. What is not recognized is the creation of a dead air crawl space that could potentially have harmful soil gases. Crawl space odors and gases have nowhere to go but into your living space without proper ventilation installed. Foundation vent fans alone will do little to help control humidity. Crawl Space Ninja utilizes vent fans with dehumidifiers, not in place of dehumidifiers, for humidity control. Dehumidifiers remove excess humidity while foundation fans move air regardless if it is wet or dry. Using the foundation vent fan and the dehumidifier together is the best way to ensure your crawl space is dry while controlling odors and soil gases per the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mold removal and prevention during the crawl space encapsulation process will improve indoor air quality in your home when done properly. Installing a dehumidifier does not kill mold. A sound mold remediation protocol includes controlling humidity and drying the building materials prior to mold removal. Removal of visible mold in the crawl space should be done, as dead mold is an allergen. Applying a mold cleaner after removal will attack the mold food source and root system. Mold preventatives and controlling humidity will keep your crawl space from growing new mold. Crawl Space Ninja has perfected the crawl space mold removal and prevention system. With our Gold and Platinum Packages and properly maintained equipment, we offer a lifetime mold warranty.
Living in a humid environment wreaks havoc on your crawl space because outside humidity is a destructive problem, even during a drought. High outdoor moisture comes in many forms and at different times of the day or season. Morning fog, passing through rain or thunderstorms, and hot humid summers seem to be the main culprit for high humidity. It is difficult to stop high humidity from entering your home, basement, or crawl space. This is why dampness control is vital to a healthy home.
Ineffective Crawl Space Humidity Solutions
The debate may always rage about how to remove crawl space humidity and standing water. One thing is certain, if done incorrectly it can cost you way more money and create potential health risks. No one wants to spend their hard-earned money only to discover the crawl space humidity control solution is ineffective. This is why hiring Crawl Space Ninja and installing the Ninja Crawl Space Encapsulation System will save you time and money in the future.
Yard drainage and downspout problems can allow water to enter and flood your crawl space and basement. Crawl Space Ninja's approach to crawl space waterproofing is unique. We install a new vapor barrier as part of our waterproofing system. Encapsulating your crawl space without addressing future flooding or hydrostatic pressure is a mistake. Having to redo an encapsulation many years later because of flooding can be costly. Crawl space waterproofing should include a full perimeter french drain and sump pump to push water outside your home and a properly installed vapor barrier. The crawl space vapor barrier should be overlapped and sealed. The plastic should also be mechanically attached up all walls and pillars to secure it and keep it from shifting during a flood.
Fixing sagging floors is needed with heavy moisture and wood rot damage in your crawl space. Sagging floor repair can be accomplished with a combination of floor joist jack posts and sistering floor joists.
Make sure you correct what caused the sagging floor problem before starting the repair. Termites and mold or wood rot fungus are typically present in sagging floors, damaged sill plates, rim joists, and rotten joists in the crawl space.
Getting a crawl space foundation inspection is vital to determining if cracks in the walls, bowing walls, or other foundation problems are cosmetic or causing structural damage.
Foundation Problem Warning Signs
- Doors that stick or do not open properly
- Windows that are hard to open or appear uneven
- Cracks in foundation walls
- Separation of walls from adjoining floors
- Cracks in exterior walls
- Separation of walls from adjoining walls
- Cracks in interior walls
- Separation of walls from adjoining ceilings
- Cracks in ceilings
- Uneven floors
- Water intrusion
Foundation walls can crack, bow, and tip due to settling of the foundation, temperature changes, hydrostatic pressure, or other structural problems. Ignoring the early warning signs of a crawl space foundation repair can lead to high foundation repair costs.
Benefits of Duct Cleaning
- Improve HVAC efficiency
- Improve indoor air quality
- Reduce dust and allergens circulating in the home
- Potential reduction of ductwork odors
Should I Clean My Ducts?
Over time, dust and debris can begin to build up in your duct-work. This happens every time your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system turns on to circulate air throughout your home. The buildup can accumulate even quicker if you have pets, residents who smoke, a recent renovation or remodel, leaky duct-work, or even a poorly sized or unsealed furnace filter.
Columbia Crawl Space Encapsulation Benefits
Why Do I Need Crawl Space Encapsulation in Columbia, SC?
Columbia, SC crawl space encapsulation has been scientifically proven to be the most effective way to fix your crawl space problems. There is more to encapsulating a crawl space than just a vapor barrier. Humidity control with crawl space dehumidifiers and mold prevention is vital to improving indoor air quality.
Crawl space waterproofing and insulation should also be part of your project. Research has shown a properly encapsulated crawl space will improve your home's indoor air quality and energy efficiency while making your family more comfortable.
Georgia Homes Built with Crawl Spaces
Building science has proven that vented-only crawl spaces are bad. Builder-grade crawl spaces with loose-laid vapor barriers should be a thing of the past. But even today, general contractors and developers are constructing homes all over the country with wet crawl spaces. In many cases, the crawl space is flooded and growing mold before the project is complete. If your crawl space is vented with a loose-laid vapor barrier, chances are it is wet and inefficient.
Our Unique Approach to Fixing Crawl Spaces
The Crawl Space Ninja Encapsulation System™ is created and installed by Certified Crawl Space Ninja Installers. Our proprietary installation methods make every crawl space encapsulation unique to your crawl space needs. The goal is to make your crawl space worry-free and this is why improving your indoor air quality is our top priority when developing your crawl space encapsulation package. Beware of contractors that create crawl space odors due to improper encapsulation methods.
Why do South Carolina homeowners like you spend millions of dollars every year to encapsulate their crawl space? Indoor air quality.
That's right, indoor air quality is the #1 reason people invest in crawl space encapsulation. Crawl space encapsulation by Crawl Space Ninja is the best way to ensure your home is dry, clean, and efficient. Our optional lifetime warranties and fantastic customer service are second to none. Don't trust the indoor air quality of your home to cheap, fly-by-night companies that claim to be crawl space encapsulation professionals. Learn more by clicking our FAQ below.
More Resources
Essential Guide to Crawl Space Encapsulation is one of the best resources available for homeowners to learn what all goes into proper crawl space repair. We have learned that a well-educated homeowner will not fall for slick salespeople making unobtainable promises at cheap prices. This free guide is a way to protect yourself as you begin your journey to choosing the best crawl space encapsulation contractor.