andrem
06-03-2004, 11:27 AM
Our basement is close to full height (~6.5) with a 5-ft wide "shelf-like" crawl space around the perimeter. From what I've been told, this type of basement is called a Boston Crawl.
The house was built in the 30's with a stone foundation wall. The crawl space retaining wall is cinderblock. The cement floor of the basement is very irregular in elevation and in thickness (~ 1 inch in some places). In fact, the floor has deteriorated in some places exposing soil. The crawl space grade is soil, but we've placed a plastic liner held down with stones as a vapor barrier.
Our basement has always been "moist". We can run a dehumidifier 24/7 even in winter; however, it takes a 10-year storm for us to have standing water in the basement. Last fall, we had a termite treatment during which the technician pulled up the edge of the plastic barrier and injected chemicals along the foundation wall and the crawl retainer.
Just last night, while sifting through some boxes, I notice that we have mold growing in our storage area and on the crawl retainer near a place where the technician didn't replace the barrier.
My questions are:
1) What is the best way to get rid of the mold that is there?
2) What is the best method for preventing this problem in the future?
3) In terms of Basement Systems, how do you handle moisture problems in Boston Crawls?
4) Is there anything that can be done to the basement floor to provide more headroom and minimize water seepage?
The house was built in the 30's with a stone foundation wall. The crawl space retaining wall is cinderblock. The cement floor of the basement is very irregular in elevation and in thickness (~ 1 inch in some places). In fact, the floor has deteriorated in some places exposing soil. The crawl space grade is soil, but we've placed a plastic liner held down with stones as a vapor barrier.
Our basement has always been "moist". We can run a dehumidifier 24/7 even in winter; however, it takes a 10-year storm for us to have standing water in the basement. Last fall, we had a termite treatment during which the technician pulled up the edge of the plastic barrier and injected chemicals along the foundation wall and the crawl retainer.
Just last night, while sifting through some boxes, I notice that we have mold growing in our storage area and on the crawl retainer near a place where the technician didn't replace the barrier.
My questions are:
1) What is the best way to get rid of the mold that is there?
2) What is the best method for preventing this problem in the future?
3) In terms of Basement Systems, how do you handle moisture problems in Boston Crawls?
4) Is there anything that can be done to the basement floor to provide more headroom and minimize water seepage?