Open the Door to a Safer, Healthier Cottage This Season
Opening your cottage or lake home for the season should be exciting, not stressful. But for many Michigan and Northern Indiana homeowners, stepping inside after months away reveals more than just cobwebs. A musty smell, sticky windows and doors, or visible signs of water damage can quickly dampen your plans for a relaxing summer.
Whether your lake home is your favorite family getaway or a retreat you rent out during the warmer months, keeping it healthy and safe is the first step toward enjoying it. At Ayers, we specialize in solving the unique challenges of lakeside living, like high humidity, seasonal flooding, and shifting soil around your foundation. 
Signs Your Cottage Needs a Little TLC
As you open your vacation home for the season, keep an eye (and nose) out for these common red flags:
• Musty odors permeating the air
• Mold presence on cottage walls or in the crawl space
• Sticky or misaligned doors and windows
• Condensation on windows or pipes
• Bouncy, sagging floors
• Presence of animals or insects
• Visible cracks in walls or foundation
• Increased allergy symptoms when staying at the cottage
Even dry crawl spaces can experience problems. Our customer, Susan, discovered that critters were still getting in, tearing up insulation, leaving droppings, and creating a mess. Not exactly a peaceful lake home experience. Watch her full story below to see how we helped restore her space.
Why Cottages Are Prone to Moisture and Settlement
Cottages and lake homes often face conditions that primary residences don’t. Many sit unused for months, giving moisture time to build up undisturbed. Others are built on sandy or unstable soil near water, making them more vulnerable to shifting foundations or water intrusion. At Ayers, we’ve seen it all, and we know how to help:
• Waterproofing Systems protect basements and crawl spaces from seasonal flooding
• Dehumidifiers and vapor barrier encapsulation keep humidity levels low and mold growth at bay
• Foundation repair systems stabilize and protect your home against long-term damage
Related - Ayers customer Susan shares her experience encapsulating and protecting her cottage crawl space.
Get Your Cottage Summer-Ready with Ayers
Don’t let a damp or damaged crawl space keep you from making memories. Our free inspections make it easy to understand what’s going on with your home and what you can do to protect it—all without pressure.
Whether you're along Torch Lake, in South Haven, near Coldwater Lake, on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, or anywhere in between, we’re here to help you make the most of your summer. Reach out to Ayers today to schedule your free inspection and give your cottage the fresh start it deserves.
