Crawl Space Waterproofing in West Los Angeles
Crawl space waterproofing keeps outside water from collecting under a raised-floor home. You need it when you find standing water or wet soil under the house, damp or stained floor framing, or a musty smell coming up through the floors. Absolute Maintenance & Consulting seals the stem walls and low openings where rain gets in, then dries the space and its framing. Projects start at $2,275, after an inspection that costs $375 to $775.
Schedule a crawl space inspection or call (310) 678-4345.
Licensed California contractor (CSLB #998184) · IICRC-certified firm (#70018676) · 4.8 stars, 180+ reviews across Google, Yelp, and BBB
Quick links: What it involves Signs Process Cost FAQs
Water under your raised floor? We seal where it gets in and dry the framing.
What Crawl Space Waterproofing Involves
Crawl space waterproofing is one part of our waterproofing work: we seal the short foundation walls around the crawl space and close the low openings where rain gets in, then dry out the space underneath. Raised foundations are common in older Los Angeles homes, including pre-war and mid-century houses. The work includes:
- Sealing cracks and gaps in the stem walls
- Waterproofing foundation walls where water pushes through
- Closing entry points around vents and openings at ground level
- Drying the crawl space and its wood framing once the water is stopped
Signs You Need Crawl Space Waterproofing
The clearest signs are a musty smell in first-floor rooms after rain and standing water or wet soil under the house. You may also notice:
- Floors that feel soft or bouncy
- Warped or cupped wood flooring
- Mold or mildew on baseboards
- Water stains or white deposits on the stem walls
- Dark or damp floor joists and subfloor
Standing water is a problem on its own, because it keeps the soil, stem walls and framing wet, and wet wood is where mold and rot start. Air from under the house also rises into the rooms above, so a damp crawl space can feed mold you’ll need mold remediation to clear.
Musty floors or damp joists? Book a crawl space inspection before the wood starts to rot.
Our Crawl Space Waterproofing Process
We inspect under the house, trace the water to where it enters outside, seal the entry points and walls, then dry the framing and recheck it.
1. Crawl Space Inspection
We go under the house and check the soil, stem walls, vents and wood framing. Moisture readings on the joists and subfloor show how far the dampness has spread.
2. Tracing the Water to Its Source
Then we go outside and look for what’s feeding it: grading, downspouts, cracks and vents. Thermal imaging and moisture mapping confirm where the water enters.
3. Sealing Entry Points and Walls
We seal cracks and gaps in the stem walls, close openings at ground level and apply a waterproofing system where water pushes through the concrete.
4. Drying and Checking the Framing
We dry the crawl space and framing to normal moisture levels once the water is stopped. If we find mold or damaged wood, we show you what we found and what it takes to fix it.
5. Final Moisture Check
The last set of readings gets compared with the first. You also get the outside changes, like redirecting a downspout, that will help keep the space dry.
How Much Does Crawl Space Waterproofing Cost?
Crawl space waterproofing costs $2,275 to $2,600 for a small project and $3,000 to $10,000 for a medium one, after an inspection that costs $375 to $775.
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic Inspection (about 15 to 20 minutes, infrared camera) | $375 to $575 |
| Detailed Inspection (up to about 1 hour, one home up to 3,000 sq. ft.) | $575 to $775 |
| Small project (up to 3,000 sq. ft.) | $2,275 to $2,600 |
| Medium project (3,000 to 10,000 sq. ft.) | $3,000 to $10,000 |
| Large project (10,000 to 50,000 sq. ft.) | $10,000 to $50,000 |
| Large waterproofing project | $50,000 to $150,000+ |
| Crawl space mold remediation, if mold has grown | $2,850 to $6,800 |
The price rises with the number of entry points to seal, how wet the framing is and whether wood needs repair. Mold remediation is separate work with its own price.
Water testing isn’t included in inspection prices. When we do the work, the fee for a Basic or Detailed Inspection is credited toward the cost of the work. Multi-Unit / Larger Property Inspection fees and water testing fees are not credited. Your final price comes in a written estimate after the inspection.
Call (310) 678-4345 to schedule an inspection, or email photos of the crawl space to info@leakmoldrepair.com with your name, property address and a brief description.
Your inspection fee is credited toward your crawl space waterproofing when we do the work.
Why Choose Absolute for Crawl Space Waterproofing?
Homeowners choose our crawl space waterproofing services because we handle both the water and the mold.
One Team for Water and Mold
We’re an IICRC-certified firm (#70018676) and a MICRO Certified Firm, so you don’t need one company for the water and another for the mold.
We Find the Source First
Our specialty is finding and repairing leaks from exterior sources. We trace crawl space water back to where it enters, so the fix holds past the next storm.
Licensed California Contractor, 30+ Years
We’re licensed by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB #998184) and have more than 30 years in business. Our founder, Cameron Figgins, has more than 30 years of hands-on experience with water intrusion in Southern California homes.
One licensed, IICRC-certified team for the water under your house and the mold it leaves.
Crawl Space Waterproofing FAQs
Why does my crawl space smell musty?
A musty crawl space usually means moisture and mold or mildew growth under the house. The dampness often comes from outside: rain that runs toward the foundation, cracks in the stem walls or water seeping in on the uphill side. Because air rises from the crawl space into your rooms, you often smell it inside first.
Do you repair water-damaged framing in a crawl space?
Yes, we repair water-damaged crawl space framing. If joists, subfloor or sill plates have gone soft from water, we show you what we found and include the repair in the written estimate. Waterproofing stops new water, but it doesn’t fix wood that has already failed.
Do you work on commercial buildings with crawl spaces?
Yes, Absolute Maintenance & Consulting waterproofs crawl spaces under apartment buildings, small commercial buildings and homes. For property managers and HOA boards, we document what we find with photos, moisture readings and written findings, so the repair is easier to plan and explain.
Still have questions? Our experts are here to help.
Book a Crawl Space Inspection
Schedule an inspection or call (310) 678-4345. We serve West Los Angeles, Culver City, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and Bel Air.
We trace the water to where it enters, seal it and dry the framing.