Crawl Spaces
Crawl spaces are shallow spaces between the first level floor joist and the ground. Access to this area may be from the inside, outside, or not accessible at all. Ductwork, plumbing and electrical may be installed in the space in which access may be necessary. The floor of the crawl space may be covered with concrete, gravel, or may be the original soil. A vapor barrier may be a sheet of plastic or tar paper and installed over or under this material. The vapor barrier will deter the moisture from the earth from escaping into the crawl space and causing a musty smell. Ventilation is also important to control excess moisture buildup. Vents may be located on the outside of the house and are normally kept open in the summer and closed for the winter (where freezing may occur).

The basement/crawl space diagram indicates areas that are covered and not part of a visual inspection. Every attempt is made to determine if paneling is warped, moisture stains are bleeding through, etc.

Closed crawl spaces that have vents to the outside should have insulation under the floor above the crawl space.

Have Evaluated
We recommend that the walls be re-evaluated by a structural engineer or basement repair company and estimates be obtained if work is required.

Monitor
Monitor indicates that the walls have stress cracks, but little movement has occurred. In our opinion, the cracks should be filled with mortar and the walls monitored for further movement and cracking. If additional movement or cracking occurs, reinforcement may be necessary.