Guides

Answers first, sales pitch never. Every guide here is written to be useful whether or not you ever call anyone.

Waterproofing & drainage

Animals in the crawl space Rodents, snakes and insects get into crawl spaces through the same openings water does. Why pest control alone keeps failing, and what to seal. What crawl space humidity should be The relative humidity and wood moisture targets that prevent decay, how to measure both, and why Tennessee crawl spaces are wettest in summer. Crawl space insulation falling down Fallen fibreglass in a crawl space is a moisture symptom, not an insulation failure. Why re-stapling it is the wrong fix and what to do instead. White powder on foundation walls Efflorescence is harmless in itself, but it is proof water is moving through your block. How to read where it appears and what that means.

Foundation & crawl space repair

Crawl space failed the home inspection The eight crawl space findings inspectors flag most, which ones threaten the loan, and how to negotiate them inside your option period. Does insurance cover foundation repair in Tennessee? Almost never — earth movement is excluded on standard policies. The short list of exceptions that do pay, and what Tennessee's sinkhole statute adds. Doors sticking: foundation problem or humidity? How to tell seasonal wood swelling from actual foundation movement, using tests you can do yourself in an afternoon. Foundation crack types: which ones matter A visual triage guide to foundation and wall cracks — direction, width and pattern — and the thresholds that decide whether you need an engineer. Does a home warranty cover crawl space or foundation problems? Home warranties cover systems and appliances, not structure. What that means for crawl space and foundation work, and the narrow case where a warranty does help. Sagging, bouncy or sloping floors The four causes of soft floors ranked by likelihood, how to measure the slope yourself, and when it is cosmetic versus structural. What a structural engineer's report costs — and when you need one What an independent structural engineer charges in Tennessee, what the report contains, and why it is the cheapest $600 you will spend on a five-figure repair. Who pays for crawl space repairs, buyer or seller? How crawl space and foundation repairs get negotiated in a Tennessee sale, what the disclosure law actually requires, and why 'Unknown' on the form is not a loophole. Sinkhole damage and insurance in Tennessee Tennessee law requires insurers to offer sinkhole coverage but not to include it. What the statute actually says, what it excludes, and which counties genuinely need the endorsement.

Water damage

Does homeowners insurance cover water in a crawl space? The one distinction that decides every crawl space water claim — sudden and accidental versus gradual seepage — plus the four causes adjusters almost always deny. Sewage backup in a crawl space and insurance Sewer backup needs its own endorsement on nearly every policy. What it costs, when the city is liable, and why Category 3 water is not a DIY job. Water under the house after heavy rain How the timing of water arriving tells you whether you have a cheap gutter problem or an expensive water table problem, and what each costs to fix. Standing water in a crawl space How to work out where crawl space water is coming from before you call anyone, what removal costs in Tennessee, and how long you actually have before it becomes structural.

Mold remediation

Does insurance cover mould in a crawl space? Mould is covered only as a consequence of a covered peril, and almost always capped by a sublimit far below your dwelling limit. How the cap works and what triggers a denial. Musty smell in the house Why a musty smell in a Tennessee home almost always begins in the crawl space, how to read the smell as a diagnostic, and what fixing it costs. White growth on floor joists Three things look identical by torchlight and mean very different things. How to tell mould from efflorescence from white rot, with tests you can do yourself.