During the period of basement construction, civil engineers construct crawl space according to the guidelines of real estate sectors. It is a shallow and uninhabitable area which is situated between the first floor and soil. The crawl space is many times neglected by home owners, making them very dusty and prone to have mold. A standard crawl space has minimum access opening of 18” by 24” and clearance between soil and joists is 18” by 12”. An expert home inspector inspects some key things of a crawl space, these are given below:
- Mold inspection
A mold is a fungus which grows in the form of multicellular filaments. Multicellular filaments are called Hyphae. A network of Hyphae is called Mycelium. Most of the Hyphaes are transparent. Hyphae can create a thread to the surface and cross-walls of a crawl space. Molds can create allergic situation because it creates spores that are toxic. Molds produce a large number of spores at a time. Most of the molds grow on dead organic matter. Mold is a common problem in a crawlspace. Before hiring a mold inspector, we need to identify the place for mold growth. Molds grow in the cross-walls or damped walls in a crawl space. - Moisture problem
It is true that mold needs moisture to grow. At the initial level, home inspectors control moisture level in a crawl space. To be free from moisture in a crawl space, we need to repair the leakage of water pipes and underground drainage system. If the moisture is extremely in excess, then it can also cause deterioration in the piping and woodwork, creating a hazard that could lead to many safety problems.
- Pest control
Pests destroy wood and walls of a crawl space. Be sure to look for wood destroying insects like termites, carpenter ants etc. Many times squirrels, raccoons, mice, and other small mammals will make their home in a crawl space. Be sure to watch out for the signs of nesting and areas where they might be destroying the supports of the home.