Crawl Space Repair in Lexington, KY

What the local crew fixes

These are the crawl space problems Lexington homeowners call about most.

• "The floor in the hallway sags."
• "The kitchen floor feels bouncy when I walk across it."
• "The house smells musty, and it is worse in summer."
• "There is standing water under the house after it rains."
• "The wood under the floor looks dark and soft."
• "A home inspector found rot or mold under the house."
• "The interior walls have new cracks above the doors."

Where crawl spaces show up in Lexington

Many Lexington homes sit over a crawl space. These are the usual places to find one.

• Ranch homes from the 1950s to the 1970s. Many were built over a crawl space with block walls around the edge.
• Older homes. Some older homes have a basement under part of the house and a crawl space under the rest.
• Additions. Sunrooms, back porches turned into rooms, and kitchen bump-outs often sit over a short crawl space.

An addition often sits on a shallower foundation than the main house. When the soil moves, the two parts can move apart. A crack where an addition meets the house is a common call.

Why crawl spaces have problems in Lexington

Clay soil. Crawl space posts usually sit on small footings in the clay. Clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry. A post can sink a little each year. The floor above it sags.

Damp air. A crawl space with a dirt floor pulls moisture up from the ground. In a humid Lexington summer, damp air gets into the wood. Over time, joists soften and mold can grow.

Water at the walls. Rain that runs toward the house can collect in the crawl space. Standing water rots wood and makes the soil under the posts soft.

Washed-out soil. In a few spots, water can carry soil down into gaps in the limestone below. The ground under a post can drop.

How a crawl space gets fixed

New supports

The crew adds steel posts, called support jacks, under beams that have sagged. They sit on solid footings. The crew lifts the floor slowly to bring it back toward level.

Joist and beam repair

Cracked or rotted joists can be replaced or "sistered," which means a new board is bolted next to the old one. A beam that has failed can be replaced.

Vapor barrier

A thick plastic sheet covers the dirt floor. It keeps ground moisture out of the air and the wood.

Encapsulation

The crew lines the floor and walls, seals the vents and adds a dehumidifier. The crawl space stays dry all year.

Drainage

If water collects under the house, a drain and small sump pump can carry it out. Better downspouts and yard slope come first.

What it costs

The cost table on this page shows typical ranges from the Fixr and This Old House cost guides, not a quote.

Size and access move the price the most. A low, tight crawl space takes longer to work in. Rot and mold add cost. Encapsulation is priced by the square foot, so a big crawl space costs more.

What a good crawl space inspection covers

• A look at every post, beam and joist.
• A check for soft wood, rot and mold.
• A check of floors above for sag and bounce.
• A look for standing water and wet soil.
• A check of vents, the vapor barrier and insulation.
• A look at gutters, downspouts and yard slope outside.
• A written plan that shows what goes where and what it costs.

Questions to ask before you sign

1. How much lift should I expect in the floor?
2. What size and type of supports will you use?
3. Is a dehumidifier included, and what does it cost to run?
4. Does the warranty cover the supports, the liner, or both?
5. Does the warranty move to the next owner?

Call (859) 681-6936 or send the short form to book a free crawl space inspection.