Questions
Everything homeowners ask us
Costs, timelines, what actually happens at the estimate, and a few things we would rather you knew before you spend anything. If yours is not here, call — we do not mind the question.
Getting started
What happens at the free estimate?
An estimator comes out, goes under the house, and looks at the whole picture — the crawl space itself, the grading around it, the gutters and downspouts, and how the lot sheds water. Expect about an hour, expect photos, and expect to be shown what he is looking at rather than just told. You get a written price afterwards, not a number on the doorstep.
Is the estimate really free, and is there a travel charge?
Yes, and no. The estimate costs nothing and carries no obligation, and there is no travel charge anywhere in the 6 counties we cover — whether you are ten minutes from the office or an hour out.
Can you give me a price over the phone?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who will. Two crawl spaces of the same size can need completely different work depending on where the water is coming from. We can tell you the range a job like yours usually falls in, but the actual price comes after we have been under the house.
Do I need to be home for the estimate?
Please be. We want to walk it with you and show you what we found, and questions are much easier to answer standing at the access than over the phone afterwards. For the work itself you usually do not need to be there, as long as we can get to the crawl space.
How soon can someone come out?
Most estimates get scheduled within a few days, and you get a time window rather than an all-day wait. If water is actively coming in, say so when you call and we will fit you in as early as we can.
Cost and payment
What does crawl space work usually cost?
It depends entirely on the size of the space and what is causing the problem. As a rough guide: a vapor barrier runs $1,500–$4,500, a dehumidifier $1,800–$4,000, an interior French drain $2,500–$7,000, and a full encapsulation $5,000–$15,000. Those are ranges, not quotes — yours comes in writing after the estimate.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. Ask about it at the estimate and we will go through the options with you before you decide anything.
Is there a discount for new customers?
There is 10% off your first service. Mention it when you call so it is on your estimate from the start.
Do you take a deposit?
The terms are set out on your written estimate before you sign anything, including what is due and when. If anything on it is unclear, ask — we would rather answer it then than have it come up mid-job.
Do you pay for referrals?
Yes — if you send us someone and they go ahead with work, there is a $100 gift card in it for you. Just make sure they mention your name when they call so we can tie it up.
Will my homeowners insurance cover this?
Sometimes. Sudden damage — a burst pipe, a storm event — often is covered; gradual moisture damage usually is not. We are not insurance specialists and we do not file or negotiate claims, but tell us what happened and we will give you an honest read on which category you are likely in before you go to your insurer.
The work itself
How long does a job take?
Most run one to three days. A sump pump or a straightforward vapor barrier can be a single day; a full encapsulation with drainage and structural repairs takes longer. The expected timeline is written on your estimate.
How much mess does it make?
Interior work stays in the crawl space and we clean up behind us. Exterior drainage means digging in your yard and it will disturb landscaping — we tell you that at the estimate rather than on the morning, and where an interior system would do the same job we will say so.
Do you use your own crews or subcontractors?
Our own. The people who quote the job are the people who do it, and we stay in constant communication with you until it is finished.
What warranty do I get?
Our work carries a workmanship warranty, and the materials we install carry the manufacturer’s own coverage. The exact terms depend on the scope of your project, and they are written on your estimate before you sign anything.
Do you need access to the inside of my house?
Usually only to the crawl space access, which on most East Tennessee homes is outside. If the only way in is through the house we will arrange that with you in advance.
Understanding the problem
Does a crawl space really need to be dry, or is damp normal?
Damp is common, but it is not harmless and it is not something to live with. Bare soil gives off gallons of water a day, and that moisture goes into the framing above it and into the air you breathe upstairs. Wood that stays damp loses strength, and mold does not need much encouragement.
Should crawl space vents be open or closed?
It depends on whether the space is sealed. Vents were standard for decades on the theory that airflow dries a space out, but in a humid southern summer they do the opposite — warm wet air comes in, hits cooler surfaces, and leaves its water on them. In a sealed and conditioned crawl space the vents get closed. In an open, wet one, closing them off just traps the moisture in.
Why does my house smell musty when the smell is coming from under it?
Air moves upward through a house — warm air rises and escapes, and it draws replacement air in from the lowest point. Over a crawl space, a large share of the air on your first floor was under the house a few minutes earlier. That is why crawl space work is an air quality measure as much as a structural one.
Why are my floors bouncy?
Almost always the framing below rather than the floor itself: a joist or girder that has lost strength to rot, a support that has settled into soft ground, or a span that was marginal to begin with. It is worth looking at sooner rather than later, because the underlying cause is usually moisture and moisture does not stop on its own.
Can I just put plastic down myself?
You can, and it is better than bare dirt. The reason a proper barrier costs more is what happens at the edges — a reinforced liner sealed at the seams, up the piers and up the walls behind. Thin plastic laid loose over the dirt curls up, tears and stops working within a couple of years.
About us
Do you work on basements or foundations?
No. We are crawl space specialists and that is deliberate — it is the only work our crews do. If your problem is a finished basement, a settling foundation, concrete, radon or a roof, we are not the right company and we will tell you so rather than take the job.
Are you local?
Yes — locally owned, 5 years in East Tennessee, working out of 445 South Gay Street, Suite 401, Knoxville, TN 37902. Not a franchise and not an out-of-state company that follows storms.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes, and we are happy to show you the paperwork before any work starts. Ask at the estimate.
Do you offer emergency or after-hours service?
We do not — we are open monday–friday, 9am–5pm. If water is actively coming in, say so when you call and we will fit you in as early as we can.
Still stuck? The services pages go into the detail of each repair, and the service area pages cover what the ground does in your particular town.
Ask us the one that is not on this list
A real person answers, monday–friday, 9am–5pm, in Knoxville. No script and no call center.