NEW ORLEANS Blog

Is There Moisture Under Your House? How Will That Impact Spray Foam?

This is something that we discover and remedy for our clients all the time.  Many times they don’t even know the problem exists, but there has yet to be a homeowner that has not taken our recommendations seriously to fix the problem.  Moisture is a house killer!

Mold growth, musty smells, pests, water damage, and structural damage are all potential side effects from moisture underneath your home. At Koala Insulation we often find homes that suffer from severe moisture problems caused by our humid climate, as well as homes that may need better drainage. 

When it comes to insulating under a home, our team is unable to spray under a home until we rid the space of any moisture, to ensure proper application of closed cell spray foam.  We test the wood with a moisture meter to ensure that it is not holding moisture in order to properly apply spray foam.  If the wood is holding greater than 18% humidity, then we have to address the issues that may be causing a moisture rich environment.  Many times, we find puddled water under a home from heavy rains, which just sits there and provides tons of problems creating an environment to rot wood, as well as serve as an environment for mosquitoes and termites. 

Depending on the situation, we consider a lot of options to address the issue to bring about a dry environment.  Often we will work with the homeowner to properly diagnose the issues at hand.  We will look at where we believe the runoff is occurring to hold water under the house and if there is enough dirt under the house.  In some instances, to address this problem we pump river sand under the house to ensure the water doesn’t have an opportunity to pool, then we add a vapor barrier to prevent moisture from rising into the wood. Following this step we then place a dehumidifier under the home to dry out the space and bring the wood to sprayable humidity levels. When all the moisture is eradicated we are then able to move forward, and properly insulate your home. If we don’t address this moisture problem your home may face many problems in the near future.  

Note: If we see issues or areas where the ground may slope or gutters that may have holes or have shifted over time to allow water to be directed under the home, we will point those out as well.  While we’re not experts, we know what to look for and this often leads to fixing the problem.  Sometimes we can resolve the problems on our own and sometimes we work with other companies to help us remedy the situations.  E.G. we don’t do gutters.

The Tell-Tale Moisture Signs

In order to tell if your home may have moisture problems check for the following signs: 

• Musty Odors 
• Visible Mold or Mildew
• Rotten Wood
• Sticking Doors and Windows
• Floorboard Issues
• Bubbling or Peeling Wallpaper
• Water Stains on Your Ceiling
• Pooling Water Under Your House After It Rains

Homes in New Orleans are susceptible to mold and mildew issues because of our climate, and the many hurricanes that our city has endured. We love our city, and our historic homes, so it’s important to maintain proper insulation in order to prevent damage to the home itself.  

Our Koala Insulation of Greater New Orleans team is happy to help, so call us today for an estimate!