Musty crawl space smells usually come from poor ventilation and off-gassing encapsulation materials. How a controlled ventilation system handles both.
Watch this playlist for a closer look at foundation inspections, what to look for, and how to evaluate the findings before choosing a repair.
It's one of the questions Michael hears most, and one where homeowners get oversold most often. Read these in order before you sign a crawl space contract.
Ask about your crawl spaceShowing 34 of 34
Musty crawl space smells usually come from poor ventilation and off-gassing encapsulation materials. How a controlled ventilation system handles both.
Read article
A real inspection, filmed start to finish. The main takeaway: never hire a contractor on the first site visit.
Read article
What sealing a crawl space really does to the air in your house and the moisture in your framing.
Read article
Two industry veterans talk frankly about foundation, crawl space, waterproofing and indoor air quality companies.
Read article
The second half of the conversation, and what homeowners should ask before signing.
Read article
A real estate agent asked Michael to review another company's mold job. What he found under the house.
Read article
Spring rains bring seasonal water into crawl spaces. How to find the source before paying for a fix.
Read article
Don't panic after a heavy rain. Most water problems start outside the house and cost less than you think.
Read article
Dew point in Carolina crawl spaces rises and falls with the seasons, and your hardwood floors feel every swing.
Read article
Charlotte's older neighborhoods are full of 1900s to 1940s houses with basements and crawl spaces. What works for them.
Read article
Hurricane season is the time to catch up on drainage, the cheapest way to prevent foundation repair.
Read article
Chimneys carry a lot of weight on a small footing. Why they tilt, and how one was pulled back.
Read article
For homeowners, realtors and property managers with a decaying timber wall, repair is often an option.
Read article
Qualified crews are getting harder to find. What to ask so you hire someone who knows the work.
Read article
A smell nobody could find, a skeptical homeowner, and the crawl space fix that ended it.
Read article
Michael and other industry experts on the radio, talking crawl space science, air quality and mold.
Read article
Heavy rain, then heat. Summer dew points make this the season everyone asks the question.
Read articleAs spring turns sub-tropical, dew points climb and floors over crawl spaces start to cup.
Read articleA case where crawl space companies misread the symptoms and quoted thousands in work the house didn't need.
Read article
Franchise networks have spent 20 years trying to dominate the market. Why an independent opinion pays off.
Read article
What a contractor actually does in an encapsulation, and where sealed systems go wrong in Charlotte homes.
Read article
A south Charlotte homeowner sealed every vent and added a commercial dehumidifier. What went wrong.
Read article
Michael and Intellivent owner Billy Mitchell on timing a crawl space moisture control install.
Read article
Bowing in a basement wall has usually been building for a long time. One Charlotte homeowner's repair.
Read articleWhich is better? There's a lot of conflicting information out there. Michael's answer.
Read article
A mild, wet winter kept crawl space humidity and dew points high well into the season.
Read article
Two months of heavy rain, and the phone starts ringing about bowing walls.
Read article
Found during a south Charlotte inspection: a power vent a homeowner used to control crawl space air.
Read article
Crawl spaces need dry air. How controlled ventilation keeps moisture and humidity down.
Read article
Ponding after spring rain. Find where the water comes from before deciding how to stop it.
Read article
The seasonal shift from low to high humidity, and the condensation that comes with it.
Read article
Michael announces his own foundation repair, waterproofing and crawl space air quality company.
Read articleSpring is the time to have your crawl space checked for condensation problems.
Read article
Your foundation sits on concrete footers in Piedmont clay. Here's why that matters.
Read articleTry a shorter word, pick another topic, or ask Michael directly.
Michael brings over 30 years of hands-on experience in foundation repair, crawl space encapsulation, mold, and waterproofing. Tell him what you're seeing and he'll give you clear, professional guidance for your home.
