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Straight answers about crawl spaces and basements
What Louisville homeowners ask before they call, answered by the people who do the work. Six guides, the cost guide, the FAQ and the warranty, all in one place.
Crawl space moisture
Is my crawl space too damp?
Musty smell upstairs, cupping floors, sweating ductwork. What the humidity numbers mean, what a liner does and does not do, and what to do with the vents.
What humidity should a crawl space be?
Keep a crawl space under 60% humidity. Why Louisville crawl spaces run wet every summer and the fix in order: water, ground, vents, then the dehumidifier.
Read the guide
Crawl space encapsulation vs. vapor barrier
A vapor barrier covers the floor; an encapsulation seals the whole crawl space and adds a dehumidifier. How to tell which your Louisville crawl space needs, and why drainage comes first.
Read the guide
Should you close crawl space vents in winter in Kentucky?
Close crawl space vents in winter to protect pipes and floors; opening them in summer lets humid air in. Why sealing them for good, with a liner and dehumidifier, is the Kentucky answer.
Read the guideWater in the basement
Water in the basement?
What to do in the first day after a flood, and why a sump pump runs when it does.
Basement flooded? What to do in the first 24 hours
Power off, water out, wet material out within a day, then find the cause. A calm first-24-hours checklist for a flooded Louisville basement, including what not to do.
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Why your sump pump keeps running
A sump pump that cycles after heavy rain is normal in Louisville. One that runs on dry ground usually means a bad discharge line, a failed check valve, a stuck float or a worn pump. How to check each.
Read the guideCost and insurance
What will it cost, and who pays?
What insurance usually covers, and what moves the price of the work itself.
Does homeowners insurance cover basement or crawl space water damage?
Sudden water from inside the house is usually covered; groundwater seepage, flooding and sump failures usually are not without an endorsement. What Louisville homeowners should know before they file.
Read the guideThe cost guide
What waterproofing and crawl space work costs in Louisville
Typical Louisville-area ranges for the jobs people ask about most, a calculator that prices your own project, and what the free estimate includes.
The six things that move the price
- Square footage
- How much water
- Mold
- Structural damage
- Access
- What is already there
4 months agoThe team at Watertight was fantastic, every worker was polite and attentive to me and my family's needs. Not once was there any issue at all. Everything was handled correctly and efficiently. If you're looking for the best team in Louisville to do your…
3 months agoGreat company to work with! From the very beginning, their communication was excellent. They took the time to explain the different repair options, answered all of my questions, and helped me understand the best solution before I made a decision. I never…
4 months agoHad a great experience with Watertight Waterproofing. Zach was very professional and easy to work with from start to finish. He sent a crew of two guys out to install a new sump pump in my house, and they did an excellent job. They worked efficiently…
Quick answers
From the FAQ
Four of the questions we hear most, answered the same way they are on the FAQ page.
Where is the water in my basement coming from?
Usually the cove joint where the floor meets the wall, cracks in poured walls, mortar joints in block, or window wells. Louisville's clay soil holds water against the foundation after rain, and hydrostatic pressure pushes it through the weakest point.
Interior or exterior waterproofing?
Interior drainage systems handle most Louisville basements, cost less and do not tear up the yard. Exterior waterproofing is the right call when the wall itself is failing or the layout makes interior work impractical. We recommend based on the house, not on the price.
Is mold in a crawl space dangerous?
It can affect indoor air quality, and it always means moisture is present. We treat it with IICRC-certified methods, then fix the moisture so the conditions that grew it are gone.
How long does a job take?
It depends on the space and what turns up. We tell you the schedule at the estimate and keep you posted during the work.
Also useful
The pages people read next
Free estimate
Reading is free. So is the inspection.
Tell us what you are seeing. A technician calls back during business hours and books a time to come out. No cost, no obligation, written price.
- Photos and a plain explanation of the cause
- Written scope and price
- Lifetime transferable warranty on our work
