Wood Damage Repair in Michigan

Repairing Wood Damaged By Mold & Pests in Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo

Wood rot destroys about 20 billion board feet of timber each year, this is far more than the annual amount destroyed by fire damage.

Repairing wood damage in crawl spaces caused by rot, mold, and termites can seem like a daunting and expensive task.

But, if you can catch the problem before it's too far gone, it can be quickly and affordably remedied by a professional crawl space contractor.

At Ayers Basement Systems, we specialize in repairing crawl space issues of all types, including moldy or damaged wood. For a free quote, contact us today!

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We serve the Michigan & Indiana area, including Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo surrounding areas such as South Bend, Muskegon, Battle Creek, Elkhart, Jackson, Traverse City, Mount Pleasant and nearby.

What to Do Before Replacing Rotted Crawl Space Wood

Many homeowners and contractors repair damaged crawl space wood and consider their problem solved. Unfortunately, the problem will most likely come back, because they didn't target the source of the problem. So what did cause the rotting wood in the first place?

Before you remove and replace the wood, consider these tips:

Remove All Water Sources: Any plumbing issues and groundwater leakage need to be fixed. It's very common to have more than 1 leak source in a crawl space!
Grading & Clogged Gutters: If the ground around your home is sloped toward the house or gutters are pouring water back around your foundation, then water will pool around (and inside) the crawl space, which then promotes mold and rot.
Get Rid of Pests: If you've a pest problem in your crawl space or home, you'll need to make sure they're eliminated.

Mold and rot can lead to potentially serious structural damage to your home if not resolved. A professional can help find the source of the problem and repair all structural damages.

Restoring Rotting & Moldy Crawl Spaces

There are three main challenges when inspecting the damage:

Finding the wood which must be replaced
Evaluating where repairs are not needed
Assessing where wood can be repaired

When structural wood is being fixed, the whole piece of wood needs to be replaced or reinforced, not just the damaged part.

The nature of the problem in your home isn't always clear to an untrained eye. A professional should be called in to identify what causes the damage so it doesn't come back.

Wood Rot Vs. Surface Mold

Why aren't trees damaged by mold and rot? The answer to this question can help you understand something important about mold:

As mold begins to grow, it feeds on the sugars, starches, and other compounds in wood. Living wood protects itself from this kind of mold and rot damage with its bark. Bark is absent of the sugars and starches that mold eats, discouraging mold growth. When wood is cut and processed, it loses this natural layer of protection and opens the door for mold and rot growth.

Surface mold is able only to consume the sugars and starches in the wood, which does not influence the strength of the wood.

Wood rot is able to consume sugars and starches as well, but it's also able to convert the structural polymers in wood fibers to food, which weakens the wood's strength.

If you have surface mold, it can be cleaned off without having damaged your wood. Wood rot is a deeper problem that may require serious repairs.

Crawl space jack posts do more than just reinforce your rotting crawl space beams and posts -- they can also be used over time to attempt to restore your floor to its original, level position.

Crawl Space Supports

It's often not necessary to replace the wood when a crawl space frame shows mold damage. In these cases, we usually recommend crawl space jack posts, or crawl space supports, to repair the damage. These adjustable beams can be installed quickly under the home and to restore strength to the structure.

A new wood sister beam can be installed along the old rotted support beam to add strength.

After a Crawl Space Repair

Repairing your crawl space is not a job you want to do more than once. So to prevent future problems with mold and rot, follow these steps:

Dehumidify: Mold, rot, and pests all need water to survive. Drying out the space with a dehumidifier helps keep these critters out.
Seal It: Humidity and cold air can make their way into a crawl space through vents. A plastic liner and vent covers will hold back moisture and humidity -- and it creates a physical barrier between pests and your home.
Move Firewood Away: Pests can live in piles of wood, leaves, and debris. Keeping these away from your home helps prevent the colonies from spreading.

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