How often do you think about the foundation space under your house?
Probably, not often enough.
This much overlooked space has a huge impact on several critical aspects of your home including your heating bills and termite treatment costs. The foundation space remains one of the top most priorities for property managers. As a homeowner or new home buyer, you can’t be too careful about ensuring that your home’s crawl space is well sealed and protected from the elements.
Protecting and sealing a crawl space effectively can greatly reduce heat loss, water damage and other issues arising in your home from exposure to humidity, pests and insects. One of the most effective ways of keeping your under house space dry and free from moisture is to install high quality crawl space doors.
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your crawl space door. A good one must pass these tests:
1. Does the door fit the exact masonry opening? It is critical that your crawl space door be customized for your home based on accurate measurements of the foundation opening. This is important for effective sealing in order to keep water, pests and rodents out. If there’s a gap around the door, it beats the whole purpose.
2. Is the door durable? Given that your door is meant to keep your crawl space dry, you need a door that does not rot or rust with exposure to moisture. Metal doors tend to rust over time. Wooden doors can rot or succumb to termites. PVC crawl space doors are among the most durable options available today. They need no periodic maintenance or paint treatment and last a long time.
3. Is the door weather-stripped? Such a door will keep crawl space air locked in and ensure minimum energy wastage for your home, thereby lowering your bills.
4. Is the door easy to install and use? On one hand a good foundation space door is supposed to seal off the space from unwanted elements. It should keep children and pets out of this space, as it could be unsafe for them. On the other hand, the door should make your crawl space more easily accessible when you want to go in for routine inspection, maintenance or cleaning. You need a child-proof and pet-proof door that is also easy to use without being a hassle in the process.
5. Does the door uplift your curb appeal? At the end of the day, your crawl space door is a part of your curb appeal and landscaping. So, it’s important that you like how it affects your home’s appearance. Ideally, a crawl space door, though not the focal point of your front or backyard, is an important part of it and should complement the details and style of your home.
Are you happy with your crawl space door? Why/ why not? If you need help selecting a good door for your foundation space, please feel free to contact us. Our PVC crawl space doors are designed to pass each of these tests and have provided lasting peace of mind for our customers.
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