How Much Will I Spend To Clean My Crawl Space?

While cleaning your crawl space may not be on your to-do list, it’s good to know how much the exercise will cost you when you finally decide to clean yours. Besides, a clean crawl space is good for your family’s health and safety. Mold, rodent droppings and dust may adversely affect your home’s atmosphere.

Costs vary depending on many things. Here’s a break down of the cost you’re likely to incur to clean your crawl space in Cleveland, OH:

1) Crawl Space Foundation Repair

Fixing a sinking foundation after flooding may cost anywhere between $3,000 to $15,000. Costs vary depending on the extent of damage and the needed foundation repairs. You might need to re-level your home and fix large cracks. Check the stability of the soil underneath your home. Steel-based foundations are harder to repair than wooden based foundations. For this, you might require an additional $2,000 – $4,000.

2) Crawl Space Insulation Removal

Set aside $800 to $1,200 to replace old or damaged crawl space insulation. Again, these are conservative estimates. Costs could be higher depending on the type of insulation and whether you waterproof your foundation or not. Ensure the insulation material you use is allergen-free, and avoid materials such as fiberglass as they’re known to cause allergic reactions.

3) Crawl Space Fungal Treatment

Fungi and mushroom removal will cost anywhere between $1,500 to $4,000, depending on the extent of growth and spread. We recommend using the same professionals to treat all these growths. As the snow begins thawing in Cleveland, OH, we expect dampness and favorable conditions for fungal growth, which will affect the cost to clean crawl space.

4) Damp Crawl Space Repair

Water damage repair will likely cost $1,000 to $5,000. However, the cost to clean a flooded crawl space might exceed $10,000. Wooden floors tend to rot in damp conditions. And to replace them, you may incur an additional $1,000 to $3,000 to the crawl space repair cost. Cleaning costs can increase with waterproofing, wall replacements, and mold removal. Fixing insulation damage will also be an additional cost.

5) Crawl Space Support Beam Replacement

A crawl space support beam costs anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000. The cost depends on the type of material used. Structural damage and the difficulty of accessing the beam might also add to the cost of replacing your beam, which in turn adds to the cost of cleaning the crawl space.

6) Crawl Space Pest Control

Like every Cleveland homeowner who’s struggling with a pest infestation, pest control is something you can’t avoid or overlook. Rodents carry diseases and introduce fleas to your home. Sealing runs and fumigating the crawl space as part of clean-up and pest control is likely to cost you up to $700. The cost could be higher depending on the level of infestation.

7) Crawl Space Mold Removal

If you have mold in your crawl space, you’ll have to remove it or spores could make their way to the living space above and cause respiratory problems. Mold removal is going to set you back $1,500 to $4,000. Mold could also be an indication of water leakage issues or high humidity, which has to be dealt with separately.

8) Crawl Space Size

The cost to clean a crawl space that’s less than 1,000 sq feet is roughly $3,000. Areas that are larger than 1,000 feet can cost $15,000 or more. The extent of the damage per square foot might also affect the total cost to clean crawl space. A crawl space that is difficult to access might add $2,000-$4000 to your budget.

Cleaning a crawl space may take one to several hours depending on the size, complexity and the extent of the damage. A simple cleanout that involves the removal of droppings and debris could take an hour or two. Thorough cleaning, which involves repair and replacement of damaged sections, might take several days. Ultimately, how much you are going to spend depends on the size of the crawl space, its condition and the kind of repairs it requires.

As part of your crawl space cleaning exercise, consider annual service maintenance with your local basement contractor. It will help you prolong the lifespan of your below the ground fixtures and appliances.

Are you ready to improve the health and appearance of your crawl space and home? Contact the expert team at Ohio Basement Systems today for a free crawl space inspection and repair estimate.