When you search for the definition of crawl spaces, you’ll learn that these areas are definitely not spacious by any means. Some crawl spaces tend to be vacant aside from the occasional animal litter, while others continue to remain dark & dingy. Now you might be wondering, do home inspectors inspect crawl spaces as well? Well, in short, the answer is yes.
From regular homeowners inspecting a crawl space might seem like the least important thing to do in a home inspection procedure. But, for a home inspector, a crawlspace can help in highlighting multiple defects, which will help the home inspector in framing his or her inspection report.
The Crawlspace Is Much More Significant Than It Looks To Be
According to professional services for a home inspection in Toronto Ontario, a crawlspace is an area that forms between the ground and foundation of the house. It’s not an attractive place to inspect by any means. But, with the help of this crawlspace, home inspectors can get an up-close look at the overall efficiency & integrity of the home.
If the crawlspace is inspected properly, it can help in revealing various types of structural issues with the home such as poor upgrade or renovation attempts including any other defects that may snowball over a lengthy period.
Since homeowners rarely venture on the underside of their homes, for an inspector, the condition of a crawl space can affect the end result of a home inspection report. Moreover, the report will highlight the defects that will require additional attention.
Crawl Space Dampness Can Affect The Entire Home
Most or at least some of the time, you’ll find crawlspaces to be damped. However, if the ventilation of the area is adequate for the overall location or structure, then some of the moisture will generally run off and evaporate. The bad news is that some dampness issues can reach beyond just the underside of a home and can extend to the whole building structure.
One of the common side-effects of such crawl space dampness is the growth of mould. If the crawl space has an abundance of water, then the water can get absorbed into the foundation, which can lead to the formation of mould & mildew inside the home interiors. Furthermore, in worst cases, water can also attract insects, mice and other vermin inside your home.
Crawlspace Compromise Can Affect The Energy Efficiency Of Your Home
It should be perceived that the energy efficiency of a house starts from its foundation and basement. So, if the crawlspace is affected, then it can directly affect the foundation, which in turn will affect the basement. The basement of the home will then affect the energy efficiency of the house and the condition will simply snowball over time.
So, the faster you solve such a crawl space issue with an inspection process, the better it will be for your home’s structural integrity.
