• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header left navigation
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Start Here
  • Money Pit Podcast
  • Leave a Review
The Money Pit house logo

The Money Pit

Home Improvement Tips & Podcasts

  • Media Kit
  • Affiliates
  • Ask a Question
  • Spaces
    • Outdoor Living
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Garages & Sheds
    • Basements & Crawlspaces
    • Home Exteriors
  • Reno/Repair
    • Air Conditioning
    • Windows
    • Floors
    • Roofs & Gutters
    • Insulation
    • Lighting & Wiring
  • Popular Topics
    • Storage & Organization
    • Painting & Decorating
    • Cleaning
    • Pests & Wildlife
    • Buying or Selling a Home
  • Features
    • Green Home
    • Pet Friendly
    • Kid Spaces
    • DIY
    • Quick Tips
  • Podcasts
    • The Money Pit Home Improvement Podcast
    • Money Pit Minute Podcast
    • Your Calls, Our Answers Podcast
    • Top Products Podcast
    • ProFiles Podcast
Man painting a white kitchen

Crawlspace Floods When it Rains

Crawlspace Floods When it Rains

GeneralPodcasts Your Calls, Our Answers Podcast
FacebookTweetPinLinkedInEmail
The Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast Logo
Leslie Segrete & Tom Kraeutler, Hosts of The Money Pit by The Hosts Leave a Comment
  • iTunes logo
  • Google Podcasts logo
  • Spotify logo
  • Chartable logo

LESLIE: Robert in Alaska is on the line with a crawlspace situation. Tell us what’s going on.

ROBERT: Basically, what I’ve got going on is we had a lot of rain this summer, so I had water kind of penetrate the foundation. And I was wondering if there is anything I could do from the inside to maybe stop some of that penetration from coming in and getting on the wood that’s holding up the, I guess, the floor.

TOM: Yeah, absolutely. Now, are you talking about concrete-block walls?

ROBERT: Yes.

TOM: OK. So a couple of things. First of all, we want to make sure that you are doing what you can to slow the collection of water from outside moving inside. So that means looking at your gutter system, making sure you have gutters and that they’re diverting water away from the house, not just a couple of feet from the foundation but well away. And make sure that the angle of the soil around the foundation slopes away and that will do a lot to move the water away from that backfill zone.

Inside the crawlspace, you can add a vapor barrier to the soil and that will stop moisture from evaporating up. And on the blocks themselves, you can apply a product called Ames’ Blue Max, which is a rubber paint. It’s very stretchable and it adheres really well. And when you apply it to the block, it stops any moisture from coming through the block. Ames is spelled A-m-e-s and the product is called Blue Max. You can search for it online. Their website is AmesResearch.com.

ROBERT: OK. Good deal. Yeah, I’ve got a company coming in to, I guess, dig the outside of the foundation and lay some drainage this spring – this coming spring – so …

TOM: OK. Well, let me stop you right there, OK? Because that’s not likely going to help you and it’s not necessary.

ROBERT: Oh, OK.

TOM: If that moisture is consistent with rainfall – in other words, you get a lot of rain, like you mentioned, and then you get leakage – then putting all those drainage pipes and disturbing all that soil is really not the way to go. If you improve your gutter system and you improve the grading – the angle of the soil around the foundation perimeter – that stops the majority of that surface water from getting in.

ROBERT: OK.

TOM: The only time we recommend drainage systems, like what you’re describing, is when you have a rising water table which, if you did, you wouldn’t be getting leakage that’s consistent with rainfall.

ROBERT: Ah, OK. Well, good. That’s important to know then.

TOM: Yep. So now there you go; saved you a bunch of money.

ROBERT: Oh, yes, you did.

TOM: You’ve got it, Robert. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.

GeneralPodcasts Your Calls, Our Answers Podcast

Related Posts

Basement with a wet floor

Basement Waterproofing Tips | How to Fix a Wet Basement

Flooded basement after rain storm

Stop a Basement that Leaks After Heavy Rain: 3 Easy Steps

The Money Pit Tips & Tricks text logo with lightbulb

Repairing Gutters and Downspouts

Basement Game Room

Basement Remodeling: 3 Essential Tips for Success

The Money Pit Tips & Tricks text logo with lightbulb

Checking for Damage After Irene

Gutter full of autumn leaves with a baseball

Does Leaf Filter Gutter Guard Work? Money Pit Reviews

Related Podcasts

Basement Flood: How to Adjust Downspouts and Grading to Prevent

The Money Pit Podcast

Creating a Warm and Dry Basement Living Space, Install a Tankless Water Heater for Energy Savings, a Survivor Story from Hurricane Sandy and more

The Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast Logo

Dry Out a Wet or Flooded Crawlspace

The Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast Logo

Stop Your Basement from Flooding

The Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast Logo

Crawlspace Drainage

The Money Pit Your Calls Our Answers Podcast Logo

Keep Basement Dry When it Rains

FacebookTweetPinLinkedInEmail

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Trending Posts

Get Ready for the Game with The Money Pit’s $1,000 Tailgate Treasures Sweepstakes!

Attic flooring added to increase storage space

How to Floor Your Attic for Storage Without Wrecking Your Roof

Best Garage Floor: Tiles, Mat or Paint?

Garage Heater Dyna-Glo 30,000 BTU Natural Gas Blue Flame Vent Free Wall Heater, White

Best Heaters for a Garage: Forced Air, Infrared or Portable?

Stock your DIY liquor dispenser!

How To Make A Liquor Dispenser | Video

Ask Us Anything

Ask A Question

Favorite Posts

Attic flooring added to increase storage space

How to Floor Your Attic for Storage Without Wrecking Your Roof

How to Get Rid of Thousand-Leggers Without Getting Grossed Out

Best Garage Floor: Tiles, Mat or Paint?

Get Ready for the Game with The Money Pit’s $1,000 Tailgate Treasures Sweepstakes!

Popular Podcasts

Repair Crumbling Cinder Block

Electric Meter

Service Entry Cable and Electric Meter: Who is responsible for repair?

dirt to use around house foundation

Type of Dirt to Use Around House Foundation

What Smells Like Burning Rubber in My Home?

Newsletter

Get weekly updates with the latest tips and tricks to save money in your home.

As Us Anything

Ask A Question

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • About
  • Media Kit
  • Partners
  • Posts
  • Endorsement Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy & Solution
  • Radio Stations

Copyright © 2001–2023 · The Money Pit · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme

Ask A Question