DIY guideBasement and foundation

Inspect the crawl space

Look into the crawl space with a bright light: the plastic on the ground, the vents, the posts and piers, the wood on the walls' top, and any water.

7 steps

Tap a step to watch it again.

Open the hatch and shine a bright light in before going anywhere.
Water near wires, droppings or a strong smell: stay out, and skip to the last step.
The plastic on the ground should cover it all, its seams overlapped, with no tears or water on top.
Go in only if it's dry, with gloves, a mask and someone who knows you're there.
Vents in the outside walls should be clear of leaves and insulation, their screens whole.
Each post should stand straight on its pad, with no gap at its top and no soft or crumbling wood or block.
Shine along the wood on top of the walls: dark stains, soft spots, mud tubes or fine dust need a look.
Photograph anything you found, with the light on it, so a pro can see it too.
Standing water, a leaning post, soft wood or mud tubes: ask Handyman for a foundation pro or a pest pro.

Handyman says: Leave it. I'll find a foundation pro.

Free for every home. Handyman asks a few questions, then books a pro it trusts.