Standing Water

Tips from Real-Estate-Agents.com

by Kathy Maynard, reprinted courtesy of ServiceMagic.com

Q: We have a crawl space under our house with 100% coverage moisture barrier as recommended by an inspector. I recently had my annual termite inspection and was disappointed that there was no change in this condition. He said that the barrier was practically floating. With this problem, of course, there is fungus and mold not to mention the odor. I don't think it is plumbing related as I think my water bill would reflect this. They say there are many springs in this neighborhood. It is frustrating. We want to live here a long time. Who do I need to call to deal with this problem?

A: Standing water can be a serious problem because in addition to odor, fungus and mold it could cause health problems for your family and eventually damage building materials in your home. Since you may be dealing with underground springs, I suggest you contact a soil engineer to determine the source of the water and recommend ways to divert it away from your house.

You can find a soils engineer by visiting our site at http://www.servicemagic.com, and select the project category "Architects, Designers and General Contractors." Once your soils engineer recommends some solutions, you can return to our site to find the ideal landscaper or other Service Professionals in your area to do the work.

Good luck!

Kathy Maynard

-- Tips courtesy of Service Magic