Charleston Homeowner Paid Thousands for a Piece of Plastic: Here's What We Found
Crawl Logic Lowcountry
Some Companies 'Cover Up' Real Problems
We're the guys you call to do the job right the first time!
You know what really gets under my skin?
When I crawl under a house and find "fixes" that aren't fixes at all.
Recently, I got called to a downtown Charleston home near the College of Charleston. A concerned father had bought the house for his son who's attending school there.
He'd already paid thousands to another company to fix the crawl space issues. Their solution? Well, that's where this story gets interesting – and frustrating.
This other company had promised the works: removing all the insulation, installing a sump pump, and putting down a vapor barrier.
Basic stuff, right?
But when I got there, what I found was far from basic.
It was more like a horror show.
Welcome to Crawl Logic Lowcountry!
The Initial Inspection
Right from the moment I crawled in, I knew something was wrong. The foundation was sitting low on one side of the lot, and there weren't really any proper walls – just blocks. But that wasn't even the crazy part.
There, taking up nearly the entire front of the crawl space, was a mountain of bricks. We're not talking about a small pile here. We're talking about thousands of bricks stacked almost to the ceiling. And get this – someone's idea of fixing the problem was to throw a 10x10 foot piece of black plastic on top of it. That's like putting a Band-Aid on a broken arm.
The rest of the crawl space? No vapor barrier at all. Sure, they installed a sump pump like they promised, but they didn't even finish pulling down all the insulation. Their excuse? They "couldn't get to it" because of the brick pile. So they just... left it there.
The Real Problems
Let me paint you a picture of just how bad things were.
Water was flowing freely in from the open sides because of how the lot was graded.
The wood moisture content was sitting at 25% - that's way too high.
For reference, anything over 15% means you're asking for trouble.
And there was nothing directing water to that lonely sump pump they installed. No dehumidifier, no proper drainage system, nothing.
To be honest, when the contractor who brought this to my attention asked what it would take to fix it, I almost laughed.
Not because it was funny, but because the scope of work needed was massive.
This wasn't a quick fix situation - this was a complete overhaul.
What Real Solutions Look Like
Here's what actually fixing this mess involved: First, we had to get that mountain of bricks out - all 1.1 tons of it.
Then we had to excavate the crawl space.
When all was said and done, our team moved 14 tons of dirt by hand.
That's not a typo - fourteen tons, all moved with sleds and pure manpower.
I was right there with my crew, leading the charge.
Only after clearing all that could we start the real work: properly enclosing the crawl space, installing a complete vapor barrier system (not just a piece of plastic), and setting up proper drainage and dehumidification.
This is what a real crawl space solution looks like - addressing the root causes, not just covering them up.
Protecting Charleston Homeowners
Look, I hate seeing homeowners get taken advantage of like this.
Here's what you need to watch out for:
- Companies that offer quick fixes without addressing underlying issues
- Work that's only partially completed
- No proper documentation of what was done
- No invitation to inspect the completed work
At Crawl Logic, we do things differently.
We document everything and actually encourage homeowners to see their crawl space when we're done.
Can't make it down there?
We'll take a full video tour to show you exactly what you're paying for.
Because at the end of the day, this isn't just about fixing crawl spaces - it's about protecting Charleston homes and the families who live in them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know if my crawl space needs professional attention?
A: Look for signs like musty odors, warping floors, high humidity, or visible moisture in your crawl space.
Q: What should I expect during a crawl space inspection?
A: We'll do a thorough examination, take moisture readings, document any issues with photos, and provide you with a clear explanation of what we find.
Q: How long does a proper crawl space repair take?
A: Every job is different - some take a few days, others (like this one) can take weeks. We'll give you an honest timeline based on your specific situation.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're a Charleston homeowner and you've got concerns about your crawl space, don't wait until your floors start bowing or you smell that musty odor. And definitely don't settle for band-aid solutions that'll cost you more in the long run.
Want to know what's really going on under your home? We'll give you an honest assessment - even if that means telling you that you don't need our services right now. And if you do need work done, we'll show you exactly what we're doing and why we're doing it.
No mysteries, no shortcuts, just honest work done right.
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