Crawlspaces and Wood Rot: Keeping Your Home In Shape

      Wintertime in California means occasional rain and constant dampness. It also means that homeowners should take special care to make sure that their home is properly weatherproofed and is generally impervious to moisture. Moisture is the cause of many of the problems that afflict a home and can lead to other related problems. Moisture that remains present over a substantial period of time will lead to a homeowner having problems with wood rot. Additionally, homes with improperly designed crawl spaces can be afflicted with a host of moisture problems.
      Wood rot is an overgrowth of fungus that occurs in the cellular structure of wood. The end grain where the wood is cut is most susceptible to wood rot. Wood rot is caused when wood is placed in locations where moisture is present for long periods of time. If left uncorrected, wood rot can completely consume all of the wood members. Eliminating the moisture will prevent the further growth of wood rot, however, the best remedy available to homeowners is to prevent wood rot before it ever occurs.
      One place where wood rot problems commonly occur is where wood members come into contact with stucco. Stucco can absorb moisture and cracks in the stucco itself will allow moisture to penetrate through into the wood. For example, one area where this may happen is around wooden stairs. Homeowners should make sure that stair treads (the horizontal wooden pieces that you step on) are not buried in stucco. The stair treads should be anchored either into wood stringers or into "screeds" that keep them separated from the stucco. In the case of stringers, since they are made out wood and will be in contact with the stucco, it is important that they are made of decay resistant or pressure treated wood. Failure to use the proper wood for a stair stringer or to properly anchor the stair treads could result in an unsafe staircase.
      In California, it is not uncommon to see many homes built on the sides of hills. Building a home into the side of a hill usually results in the formation of empty spaces under the home. These crawlspaces usually consist of dirt floors with the horizontal floor of the home above them. These spaces are another area that can collect moisture and thereby cause a variety of problems. Improperly designed crawl spaces that lack sufficient cross ventilation or sufficient ventilation openings in the walls will lead to mold and mildew growth.
      Inadequate clearance between earth and wood components will result in the rotting of wood framing members that support the floor of the home. Furthermore, if the ground outside of the walls making up the crawlspace slopes down into the walls, water will pond on the outside of the walls and may seep into the crawlspace. The walls themselves need to be covered with proper waterproofing materials.
      Generally, a properly designed crawlspace will have the exterior ground sloping away from it and will have adequate cross ventilation so that any moisture that may make its way down into the crawlspace will quickly evaporate. A crawlspace should also have an access portal large enough so that a person can get into the crawlspace to examine it or any other equipment that may be down there. One tell-tale sign of trouble can be the smell of mold or mildew in the crawlspace or in the lower levels of the home itself. As always, if a homeowner suspects problems with his or her crawlspace or with wood rot anywhere in the home, he or she should contact a professional contractor in order to do a thorough investigation.

Disclaimer- These materials prepared by Shinnick & Ryan LLP are for informational purposes only and are not legal advice. Transmission of the information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Online readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.  [Full Disclaimer]

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