acceptable amount of water in crawlspace

[jjcold]

We had some VERY heavy rains last week, and my new house is built in a clay rich area. So, I went in the crawlspace yesterday to check it out. there was no standing water on top of the black plastic, but the clay soil underneath was very "workable", soft, squishy and there was small puddles in places when I lifted the plastic.

they did put a perimeter drain around the outside of the footings, and this summer I'm going to install a french drain in the back yard that will intercept the flow of drainage according to the plat map. (was planning to do that anyway, not because of this)

what is acceptable for water in the crawlspace? I am allergic to mold, so I absolutely do not want any problems with that. Plus, I live in the Pac Northwest where it rains sometimes...

[Rich]

If you have an issue with mold - then very little water is acceptable. Although it really depends on many variables.. I've seen homes with a consistent level of standing water in crawlspaces without ever seeing mold... and others have been dry as a bone yet have some mold in the corners of the foundation and darkening of lumber.
As long as it's under your plastic and the plastic is sealed fairly well I don't foresee any problems.

[roger g]

I agree with RIch. I can't understand though why they only leave plastic down. I'm used to seeing concrete even on really low crawspaces. If you ever use the crawl space for a furnace or storage then you always risk damaging the plastic. To me, plastic seems such a mickey mouse way of doing it but I'm sure it is the way it is done where you are.

roger

[jjcold]

Well, this house is an "economy" model, so for what it is it was done fairly well, but no, around here no one that I've seen would spend the money to pour a concrete slab in a crawlspace. For that one might as well go the extra money and put in a basement. Also, no one that I'm aware of uses their crawlspace for storage or has the furnace down there. Pretty much just utility access.

[jjcold]

Wow, I just noticed I'm a developer now!!! I thought I had to get a whomp-ass crew cab f350 pickup truck and a yellow cell phone first :-)

[Rich]

That would be a Chevy HD with the Duramax.. don't ever mention Ford on my forum again.. LOL j/k
And it's a yellow and black Nextel phone. haha.
It's a little easier in Montana - you only need a truck that can hold a dog in the back and a level in the back window. :)

[jjcold]

Yea, sorry Rich!! Actually, I was thinkin' Chevy, but I couldn't remember what their whomp -ass trucks were called. How about a Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins 600 Turbo diesel?

You know, that describes my builder perfectly! He has a red Chev Z71 crew with a chow dog in the bag and a yellow phone. I figured that's about all it took...

[Rich]

LOL
Dodge isn't bad.. actually Ford isn't either. I just can't stand how loud their diesels are. I've heard gas motors louder than the Duramax Diesel.
As much as I hate to say it, it really doesn't take much to call yourself a contractor. Some places don't even require a license... although it's getting better.

[jjcold]

Wards Auto News just voted the Cummins turbo diesel found in the Dodge trucks on their 10 best engines list for 2004. Apparently it's a pretty incredible engine.