Copy of The $30 Secret to Knowing if Your Charleston Crawl Space Actually Needs Work
Crawl Logic Lowcountry
Not Every High Reading Needs an Expensive Fix
WHEN TO FIX IT AND WHEN TO LEAVE IT ALONE
Just left an inspection that perfectly shows why I sometimes drive my competitors crazy.
A young Charleston homeowner called me in, worried sick because her HVAC company told her she needed an immediate crawl space encapsulation.
Why?
Because they found some high moisture readings.
But here's the thing - they were trying to sell her thousands of dollars worth of work she didn't actually need.
Now, don't get me wrong. I make my living fixing crawl spaces.
But I've built my business on giving honest advice, even when that means telling people to keep their money in their pocket.
Sometimes that's exactly what homeowners need to hear.
Welcome to Crawl Logic Lowcountry!
Understanding Moisture Readings
Let's talk about what these numbers actually mean. When someone sticks a moisture meter in your crawl space wood and gets readings between 18-21%, yeah, that sounds scary. Most companies will tell you anything over 19% means you need immediate work. But here's what they're not telling you: numbers without context are just numbers.
Think about it like this: your 1950s Charleston home has been standing strong for over 70 years. Those old builders knew a thing or two about dealing with our humid climate. They used wood treatments that, while they wouldn't be allowed today (mostly because they were tough on the guys applying them), did an amazing job at preventing mold and rot. That's why you can sometimes find high moisture readings in older homes without any actual problems.
The Three Real Reasons to Worry
Here's what actually matters when it comes to moisture in your crawl space. First, are you planning to sell your house soon? If you are, yeah, those numbers might matter to buyers. But if you're staying put for a while, like my client today who's keeping her house for at least a decade, it's less urgent.
Second, are your floors actually showing problems? I'm talking about visible issues - bowing, cupping, or feeling spongy when you walk on them. This homeowner's floors made it through one of Charleston's worst summers without a single problem. That tells you something.
Third, and this is the big one - is there actual mold growth or rot that could make you sick and cost you serious money down the road? In this case, despite those "scary" moisture readings, there was almost no mold in the entire crawl space. Just one small patch where someone missed a spot with the treatment, and a tiny area where someone added some new, untreated wood.
The 1950s House Example
Let me paint you a picture of what I found under this house. The moisture readings were between 18-21%, numbers that would have most companies writing up a big estimate. But when I actually got in there and looked around, the wood was solid. The original treated wood from the 50s was doing its job perfectly - barely any mold growth despite our famous Charleston humidity.
This is why I always do a thorough inspection instead of just taking readings and writing quotes. Numbers don't tell the whole story. You've got to look at the big picture - the age of the house, the type of wood, previous treatments, ventilation, and actual visible problems (or lack thereof).
Smart Ways to Handle Moisture Concerns
Here's what I told this homeowner, and what I'll tell you: if you're worried about mold, start with air sampling. It costs a few hundred bucks - way less than a full encapsulation - and it'll tell you if you actually have a problem worth fixing. It's like getting a blood test before agreeing to surgery.
If you've got an older home with treated wood that's been doing fine for decades, sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. Sure, we can send you a quote for preventative work if it helps you sleep better at night. But I'd rather be known as the guy who saves you money than the one who sells you work you don't need.
The Only Way Forward
Listen, I know it can be scary when someone tells you there's a problem under your house. Especially when they throw around numbers and technical terms that make it sound like your home is about to fall apart. But sometimes the best solution isn't the most expensive one - sometimes it's no solution at all.
Here's what I want you to take away from this: moisture readings are just one piece of a bigger puzzle. Before you spend thousands on crawl space work, ask yourself:
- Has your house been standing strong for decades?
- Are your floors solid and level?
- Do you see (or smell) any actual problems?
If you're still worried, give us a call. I promise you'll get the same honest assessment I gave this homeowner today. Maybe you need work, maybe you don't. Either way, we'll tell you straight - no scare tactics, no unnecessary fixes, just honest advice about what's best for your home.
And if that means telling you to keep your money in your pocket? Well, that's exactly what we'll do. Because at Crawl Logic, we're building trust one honest inspection at a time.
