Texas Crawlspace Dry Outs

5/12/2021 (Permalink)

Flooded Crawlspace After Heavy Rain

In Texas, we typically don't have basements.  This is due to several factors.  Soil can be damp or have clay in it which can expand and contract causing foundation issues.  Additionally, the water table and frost line are much shallower which doesn't give the depth in the ground for a basement.  Bedrock, which is found throughout a good portion of the state, also makes it expensive to dig through to build.

Without basements, houses in Texas are either built on a slab or pier and beam.  Pier and beam equates to many concrete/stone/wood piers that stick out of the ground with wood beams running across the top supporting the weight of the home. Pier and beam means you will have a crawlspace.  

For a variety of reasons, crawlspaces can flood. Primarily we have found this is due to poor drainage around the house when it rains.  Often, older houses don't have good vapor barriers under the flooring which can allow moisture to seep under the floors and into the house. This may require extraction from the crawlspace followed by drying it out.  Special tools and processes like an indirect fired heater and pulling out wet air via ducting and axial fans can assist in this situation. It is also recommended to check the humidity in the living area to make sure elevated humidity does not cause secondary damage to walls, floors, personal items, etc.  Having a good water mitigation company at hand is key in these situations. 

A mitigation company like SERVPRO of Southwest Dallas can help work through this issue but a permanent solution should be explored.  Some homes have built in trash pumps to pump out the water anytime it floods.  Other home owners may require more extensive work done such as putting in a new drainage system like French drains.