Crawlspace Cover and Basement Well Cover Information

Gearing up for the New Year, removing and preventing mold helps to reduce allergies!

2012-01-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are behind us and the dead of winter is among us, homeowners tend to direct their attention to home improvement projects for the New Year.

A project to consider in 2012 is cleaning up the crawlspace. Damp crawlspaces provide the ideal place for mold growth. Continued exposure to mold spores is the trigger to a variety of allergic reactions. For asthma sufferers, this constant exposure may be enough to trigger attacks year round.

While musty smells are sometimes disregarded, this can be a sign that water is present in the crawlspace allowing mold spores to grow.

This project may involve hiring a licensed contractor to perform the cleanup, inspect the foundation and repair any cracks where water is being allowed to enter.

Keep in mind, inspecting your crawlspace access door for proper fit and function, installing an exterior area wall and proper fitting cover, or purchasing a cover to fit your existing exterior area wall, can also help to eliminate moisture and elements from entering the crawlspace area.

Homeowners that take the necessary steps to clean up the crawlspace area by removing existing mold, and put barriers in place to minimize future mold growth, will be on track for healthier lives in 2012.

Happy New Year!!

Polycarbonate Sheeting – vs. - Other Building Materials

2011-08-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

Polycarbonate sheeting is a type of building material used to replace acrylics, metals, wood etc. and can be used in a variety of applications. This product is often referred to as Lexan®or Makrolon®, which are among the most popular brands of polycarbonate sheeting.

Polycarbonate sheeting is highly durable, dimensionally stable, and extremely impact resistant and offers greater light transmissions than many types of building materials.

One of the biggest advantages of Polycarbonate is its impact strength. Polycarbonate is virtually unbreakable, making it extremely safe to use in areas where parts may be exposed to impact. This material is often used as an alternative to glass in doors and windows, over exterior window wells, in showers or may be found in sporting areas, where it is used to protect spectators from hockey pucks or flying balls. When exposed to repeated heavy blows, the material tends to cold form rather than shatter.

One of the disadvantages of Polycarbonate sheeting compared to other building materials, polycarbonate sheeting tends to be fairly expensive, driving up the final cost of the produced product.

Purchasing a high end product built using polycarbonate, however, will over time save the consumer the cost associated with replacing a lesser product more frequently, or the time and cost associated with the upkeep and maintenance necessary when using some other types of building materials.

Spring Is Almost Here!

2011-03-02T16:33:00.000-08:00

Finally, it has been a long winter! It’s nice to know spring is just around the corner.

Spring is my favorite season. I can start cleaning up the outside of my house and look forward to the renewed life in my gardens.

Spring, however also means the potential for heavy downpours and some areas more frequently than others.

Homeowners with basement window wells that are uncovered or are covered with an open style cover in place (steel grate, rebar, or lattice) should make checking and removing any accumulated debris a priority. Ensuring your well is clean and free of debris will allow the drain (typically located in the bottom of your well) to function properly during this season when rain is likely.

Perhaps your home has a crawl space instead, and is equipped with a sump pump to aid in water removal. Spring is the perfect time to check that the sump pump is functioning and removing water properly. Homeowners should also inspect the crawl space door for proper fit and closure.

Create a home improvement to do list for yourself.

Replace that worn out crawl space door. Purchase a crawl space well cover that is custom designed and fabricated to fit your existing crawl space well. The cover needs to fully enclose your area wall and door. A proper fitting cover that is designed using polycarbonate material will eliminate the constant changing weather exposure your crawl space door endures.

Is your crawl space hard to access? Purchase and install a crawl space well package. This allows homeowners to enlarge the area wall on the exterior of the house for easier access.

Clean out that basement window well one more time, and then purchase a polycarbonate basement window well cover.

This simple home improvement will free up some time, eliminate constant maintenance, add aesthetic appeal to this open exterior hole, provide safety and allow you to focus on the more enjoyable spring projects.

Have a wonderful spring!!

Tips on how to find the best deals cheap on whatever you're looking for!

2011-01-06T08:32:00.000-08:00

1. Do a search on Yahoo, Google or Bing for the product (Laptop, Computers, Electronics Etc...) reviews and also the Consumer Products Protection sites like (consumersearch.com or consumerreports.org).

2. Search by product model and name go to manufacturer website for detailed product information.

3. Talk with your friends or coworkers, sometimes people you know can help, most families have a GEEK or two.

4. Look online, at all the daily deals websites & coupons sites, online comparison shopping websites there are so many to help with the best shopping deals online today, this will save you some time searching through all the consumer electronics and computer websites.

5. Social Networking websites like Twitter, Face book, and MySpace are great to get some actual people that already have purchased the products.

6. Local newspaper classified ads and online classifieds under For Sale and Shopping sections. Most up to date deals can be found on the internet daily, all retail department stores advertise online and in the newspaper for the best deals cheap.

Stewart's Bargain Bin

Home inspection prior to purchasing your new home

2010-12-05T20:14:00.000-08:00

So you have found your dream home and have decided to make an offer. Most people shopping for a new home fall in love with the inside of the home because this is where they will spend the majority of their time. Very few buyers actually take the time to inspect the exterior of the home.

The exterior may harbor hidden dangers to your family and future cost to you that possibly could have been negotiated for repairs, replacement or fixing prior to purchasing the home.

Make sure you take the time to walk around the exterior of the home and take into consideration things that may be safety issues, that need repairs or replacing in the near future.

You may be purchasing a home with a basement that has daylight windows and exterior window wells. Are the window wells covered with a protective cover that will prevent someone from falling into the well and being injured?

Does the home you are purchasing have a crawlspace? Did you inspect the crawlspace entry door? If the door is not working properly, rusted out and will not remain closed, this can be a costly repair. The crawlspace may already be harboring costly repairs that you are not aware of.

To be on the safe side it is always best to have a home inspection done prior to purchasing a home. This can be helpful in determining how safe the home is prior to purchasing, and what problems need to be addressed.

It is important that you take into consideration the safety of your dream home first, especially if you and your family plan to live in the home for a long time.

Crawl Space Encapsulation - The Final Step

2010-10-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

Your crawlspace was damp and possibly even contaminated with mold, bugs or rodents and you have spent the money, took the time to clean it up, and went through the steps in placing a protective barrier, or you paid good money and hired a company who did this for you.

No crawlspace encapsulation is complete if the crawlspace door is not in perfect condition and proper working order. The door should remain closed and sealed at all times. Inspect your crawlspace door and if it is not staying closed you need to replace it now to protect your investment.

This is also a good time to prepare for the continued weather elements that the crawlspace door will be exposed to in the coming years and invest in a high quality crawlspace area wall cover to protect your investment of encapsulation.

Another consideration might be “how easy is it to access your crawlspace” with the current area wall that you have in place?

Enlarging your area wall access may also be something to consider. This will allow yourself or contractors doing work or inspections in your crawlspace easier access into the crawlspace.

Custom Covers, Inc. can design a cover to fit your existing area wall. We also stock crawlspace packages for customers or builders who are enlarging crawlspace area wall accesses. Our crawlspace package includes a new galvanized area wall and polycarbonate cover to fit.

How to Cover Your Crawlspace Well

2010-10-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

Homeowners attempting to build a crawlspace area wall cover should address the following concerns when deciding on the design and materials to use. Using high quality building materials will increase the life of your cover saving you time, trouble and money in the long run.

1. The cover should be designed to fully enclose the area wall and crawlspace access door.

2. Material being used should not allow water to penetrate.

3. Material should be strong enough to support weight.

4. Material should be able to withstand temperature change.

5. Cover should be constructed so that it is aesthetically appealing, light weight for easy removal, include hardware that allows you to attach the cover to the well so it stays in place.

Custom Covers Inc. has been designing and building custom crawlspace and basement well covers since 2002. We have replaced several homeowners and builder’s covers built using wood or metal as the building material of choice. Wood or metal covers are a short term solution to covering a well that is constantly exposed to temperature and weather elements. Covers built using wood allow water to penetrate causing the wood to weaken and rot. Covers made out of metal; rust, weaken and are unattractive.

Our covers are built using ¼” polycarbonate material. Polycarbonate is durable and will support weight; it will not become brittle, crack or break when exposed to varying temperature changes. We are able to design covers of any size and offer a flat or sloped design crawlspace cover. All covers are shipped with mounting hardware and installation instructions.

Visit www.customcoversinc.com and provide us with your crawlspace dimensions, and a digital photo of the well you would like to cover. We will be happy to provide you with an estimate to fabricate your new crawlspace cover.

Enlarging Your Crawl Space Well for Easy Inspection and Maintenance

2010-10-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

When it comes to home maintenance most homeowners do not think about visually inspecting their crawl spaces. This is an out of sight area of the home that is easily overlooked. This is also the darkest and dampest area of most homes that make it the ideal breeding ground for mold and pests.

Homeowners should inspect their crawl space regularly and visually inspect for the following:

1. Leaking pipes & standing water

2. Saturated floor joists or moisture standing on wood

3. Rotted wood or sagging floor beams

4. Loose duct work

5. Pests & Mold

6. Frayed electrical wires

7. Missing or loose insulation

8. Trash or debris left behind by hired workers

9. Proper fitting access door that remains closed and sealed

Let’s face it, the reason most homeowners over look this task is because the crawl space is generally hard to gain access into because of such a small access area wall and they are poorly lit.

Hired contractors having to access this area can also have difficulty maneuvering their body into the area wall and through the crawlspace door along with materials needed to make repairs.

Custom Covers, Inc. carries crawl space packages that allow homeowners to increase the size of the area wall making it easier to access the entrance into the crawl space. The package includes a new galvanized area wall and polycarbonate cover.

You may have already increased the size of your area wall to create easier access into your crawl space. Custom Covers Inc can fabricate a custom polycarbonate cover to fit your area wall dimensions, flat or sloped design crawl space covers are available.

Crawl spaces that are easily accessed will more likely be inspected and maintained!

Crawlspace & Window Well Maintenance

2010-09-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

We are approaching seasonal changes once again; winter is just around the corner! This is the time of year that homeowners will be cleaning up their yards, putting away garden hoses, lawn furniture, yard decorations and adding additional layers of mulch to protect perennials.

Basement window wells need to be checked, cleaned out and kept free of debris throughout the fall. Falling leaves and blowing debris tend to pile up in these wells during the fall season. Keeping your window well cleaned out will eliminate the potential for a clogged drain which is located at the bottom of the well; a protective cover should be placed over the well after cleaning.

Crawlspace foundation vents should be closed. The access door into the crawlspace should be checked and securely closed. This is the time of year that unwanted rodents will be searching for a warm place to nest during the winter months. If you have a crawl door that is rusted out or does not close properly it should be replaced. Custom Covers, Inc. offers all aluminum replacement crawlspace doors, as well as custom fabricated crawlspace doors for non standard size openings. A protective cover should be placed over the well. The cover should fully enclose the well and door to eliminate debris and weather elements. Weather elements over time will cause the crawlspace door (generally constructed of steel), to rust causing it to no longer close and latch properly.

If you have a basement or crawlspace area well and you have not invested in a protective cover,
Custom Covers, Inc. provides homeowners with high quality; aesthetically appealing covers constructed using GE Lexan polycarbonate for strength and durability. This will be the last cover you will have to purchase for your well.
Ordering a custom cover made to fit your specific well size and shape will eliminate maintenance on your basement or crawlspace area well and the replacement of your crawlspace door will have you prepared for the upcoming seasons!

Visit www.customcoversinc.com today and let us provide you with a free estimate on constructing a custom fabricated cover for your well.

COVERING AN EGRESS WINDOW WELL

2010-08-04T08:27:00.000-07:00

Installing an egress window well in your home may have been a necessity to follow the IRC 2000 building code. Egress window wells provide homeowners with an additional means to escape in case of an emergency.

Generally these will be manufactured using metal or plastic, but may be custom built using wood timbers or concrete. These wells are typically deep and create a large exterior hole. It is recommended that an escape ladder be placed in egress wells or directly mounted to the inside wall of the timber or concrete wells, this will make for an easier escape if an emergency occurs. If your egress well did not come equipped with a safety ladder you should consider purchasing one.

Due to the size of egress wells you will need to be sure that material being used to fabricate your cover will support weight. Steel grates or grates with mesh or rebar are an inexpensive measure builders use to cover an egress well, but leave homeowners to deal with constant maintenance of keeping the well clean and free of debris. Over time these grates will rust causing an eyesore to the property.

Covers fabricated using at least 1/4" polycarbonate material will provide homeowners the strength needed to support at least 300 pounds should someone accidentally stand on the cover. Custom made window well covers for egress wells will maintain a neat appearance on the exterior of your home and the interior of your well. Polycarbonate material allows natural light transmission, will withstand temperature changes and not become brittle or break.

Custom Covers, Inc can fabricate any size or style of cover to meet homeowner's needs. Custom Covers Inc. fabricates custom basement and crawlspace well covers using 1/4" pebblized polycarbonate material. The clear pebblized polycarbonate material allows 98% light transmission and in addition allows for privacy, while at night if you have a light on in the basement it prevents someone on the outside from seeing through the window. The pebblized finish also hides dust and dirt that will tend to collect on the window well covers; this creates a cleaner appearance and an aesthetically appealing cover.

For a free quote on covering your egress well, please visit www.customcoversinc.com

Basement Window Well Maintenance & Egress Well Safety

2010-03-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Maintaining a dry basement is critical for the protection and preservation of your home. Providing a protective barrier that is designed to prevent water from entering the basement through a window well can save a home and its belongings from serious destruction. Basements can be kept dry by preventing rain or snow from leaking through basement window wells with a properly fitted, custom basement window well cover. Normal rainfall may not cause much of a problem, but the occasional heavy downpour or snow and ice melt can allow water to enter the basement.

In addition to a homeowner checking gutters, downspouts, grading, and cracks on the walls and floors of a basement, basement window wells left uncovered need to be maintained. The homeowner should check and remove any debris that has collected in the bottom of their window well each spring and fall or more frequently if needed. The window well must be kept clean and free of debris to allow proper drainage. A window well cover that is custom made with a solid protective material and designed to eliminate debris from collecting in the window well will eliminate the constant maintenance homeowners need to perform.

Deep wells, such as egress, can be challenging for homeowners to maintain. Egress wells also create a large exterior hole that small animals and rodents can fall into and become trapped. Injury to children and even adults can occur from a fall into this large well. It is required by law that if the basement room is used for sleeping, an egress well must be installed as another means of escape in case of an emergency. Clear dimensions are stated for the egress through the IRC (International Residential Code).

There are companies that fabricate custom basement covers using thicker grades of plastic making the cover more durable than the thin lightweight covers available in home improvement and hardware stores. Custom fabricated well covers constructed to specifically fit homeowner applications can also include special design options to allow for pipes, concrete application, dryer vents, etc. Covers constructed using polycarbonate material will support weight, ¼” will easily support 300 lbs, allow natural light to pass through, and eliminate constant maintenance of the window well.

You can purchase polycarbonate covers at http://www.customcoversinc.com

This company constructs high quality custom fitted window well covers using green materials so your cover is designed to last, and is also capable of doing custom fabrications for unique applications.

Basement Window Wells - A Simple Solution

2010-03-09T06:06:00.000-08:00

Many homes being built today with rooms below ground level will have window wells installed on the exterior of the home to let in light and provide an egress in the case of an emergency. Sometimes, especially in the case of deep window wells, homeowners have problems with safety, drainage and maintenance.

A simple solution to these issues is to outfit your window wel l with a polycarbonate cover that will help keep the snow, leaves, water, and even animals out. The cover can even help with drainage issues by minimizing the amount of rain water during heavy down pours and by keeping snow from building up in the well during the winter. When the snow melts, unless the well has a specially designed drain, you may have drainage problems and water may be allowed to seep into the foundation and enter the basement.

This article does not suggest that adding a window well cover will eliminate drainage problems, but rather it, along with the addition of a deep layer of stones in the window well can go a long way in dissipating water from out of the well without having it seep into the house through the foundation or window. Purchasing a window well cover is a much cheaper solution than a costly re-grading project, or installation of a French drain around your house.

A deep window well can be hard to keep clean when it fills with leaves, snow, dirt and sometimes even small animals. In some areas of the country it is not uncommon for a deer to become trapped in a large and deep window well. More common are squirrels, mice and other rodents who fall into the well but can't jump out, this will generally cause damage to the window screens by the animals trying to climb out. Again, simply covering your window well with a polycarbonate window well cover will keep debris, rain and snow out of your window well, while still allowing light to filter into the room. Children and small animals will also be kept out of the hole safely.

Window wells brighten dark basements and provide emergency egress. By covering your window well you can eliminate all of the maintenance problems and prevent many drainage problems. The window well cover should fully enclose the well and window. The cover should attach to the well and be held firmly in place and include hardware that will allow for an easy escape in case of an emergency. It is important to measure exactly to ensure the proper fit of the window well cover. A window well cover should be constructed to protect against injury, allow natural light, minimize maintenance to the well and protect against a potential entry point of an intruder into your home.

A window well cover constructed using a polycarbonate material will address the strength needed to support weight from snow or even a person who accidentally falls or steps on the cover. Polycarbonate material can withstand temperature changes and does not become brittle or crack. Polycarbonate can be easily trimmed for a more perfect fit. Purchasing a high quality constructed window well cover utilizing “green” materials like polycarbonate will eliminate the need to continuously replace well covers that have been purchased from a local hardware store. Local hardware stores generally stock limited sizes and the plastic material is thin and will easily break.

You can find polycarbonate covers at http://www.customcoversinc.com
By installing a high quality window well cover, your window wells can be safe and virtually maintenance-free!

Things To Consider When Planning A Basement Egress Window

2010-02-24T23:04:00.000-08:00

A basement egress window is one of the major considerations you must make when remodeling your basement. Building codes require an egress window in any room used for sleeping. If this includes a newly designed basement room in your home, an egress window is required. A basement window is unique in terms of egress because it also requires an egress window well surrounding it on the outside.

Installing a basement egress window is an involved job that might require professional help if you aren’t sure exactly what you are doing. Among the considerations you must make are the code requirements to meet, dampness issues implicit in the well design, the well itself, available headroom and the type of window you will install. If you opt to do the job yourself, each of these 6 things must be carefully considered before you begin.

Start With A Plan

Installing one or more basement egress windows requires a permit. It also requires that your window meet certain specified requirements so that it provides a safe means of escape. Starting with a plan will not only help you keep the project straight, but it will also let the building inspector know what you are doing. By seeing it, the inspector can better assess the situation.

Code Requirements

It is vital that you adhere to the code or else you may have to make costly modifications to the project. An egress window may be no higher than 44 inches from the ground to the sill inside. It must be at least 20 inches wide and 24 inches high, however, those cannot be the dimensions because it must provide at least 5.7 square feet of clear space when open. The minimum dimensions are 20x41 inches or 24x34½ inches.

Egress Well

The egress well must be at least 36 inches long by 36 inches wide. If it is deeper than 44 inches, it must have a fixed ladder or staircase to exit it. You must dig out the ground around the foundation in order to install the wall sides of the well or insert a molded well. The bottom of the well should provide for proper drainage for rain water.

Dampness

On either side of the egress window frame there should be an 8-inch buffer area to prevent water from seeping in the sides. If the ground around the home is in any way sloped towards the house, water runoff might enter the egress well. In this case the ground must be heightened to slope away from the foundation. Downspouts should be relocated if they meet the ground where the window well will go, and gutters should be checked for leaks.

Headroom

Inside the basement, there must be enough headroom to allow for the installation of an egress window. The height of your basement may preclude such an installation, which is another reason why checking with a building inspector is so important.

Window Type

The last consideration to make is the type of window you use. Casement windows provide a good solution, for their total open area is maximized within a smaller frame. Double hung and gliding windows have to be bigger to provide the necessary area which may present a problem during installation.

A professional contractor is a good idea if you are not absolutely sure of what’s involved. Cutting into the concrete foundation of your home is a serious project. After all of the planning that is involved, the actual work is quite extensive. Be sure you understand the scope of it before you undertake the job yourself.

http://customcoversinc.com

Teaching Your Family Egress Procedures

2010-02-18T13:46:00.001-08:00

Teaching your family, especially children, about the use of egress windows or doors is part of having an escape plan from your home established in the event of an emergency. In homes, the most common types of egress are windows. They are easier and less expensive to install than doors. Every room used for sleeping in a home is required to possess at least one egress window. There are very specific requirements for egress windows in terms of positioning, dimensions and operation. Knowing what to do in the event of an emergency can save lives. Since egress windows are meant for precisely such a scenario, it is imperative that kids know what to do.

Step 1: Ensure Your Home Meets Egress Code

Before you can teach your kids proper egress procedures, you have to be sure the egress windows in your homes are up to code. If you installed them yourself or had them installed, they were likely built according to required specifications. Regardless, check them for safety. In basement egress windows, make sure you and/or your children can safely climb out of the egress well once outside. If not, install a ladder to aid in climbing. Check all of the windows to ensure that they will open without undue force or strength and that anyone can unlatch and open them from the inside.

Step 2: Devise an Escape Route for Upper Level Egress Windows

Egress windows leading out of upper level rooms likely take the occupant to a roof. Be sure you have an escape plan in mind to get your children and other family members down safely to the ground. Buy a rope ladder and find a place to attach it to the home's structure.

Step 3: Make a Whole-House Diagram

Draw a diagram of every floor of your house with each subdivided by room. Resembling a top-down blueprint, use this diagram to create safe escape routes from each room, indicating with a red marker the best, safest way outside from each location. For bedrooms that have egress windows leading to a roof, be sure to mark the location of the emergency exit ladder or where it should be placed. Every bedroom with an egress window needs its own emergency escape route diagrammed. This diagram should be laminated and positioned somewhere very visible in the house. Make photocopies of it and place one in each room.

Step 4: Instruct Your Kids

With the emergency escape diagram in place, spend a little time with your kids showing them not only the diagram but how to properly use their egress window. They should know exactly how to open the window in their room, quickly remove a screen if there is one and be able to clear the window quickly. In basement rooms, show them how to get out of the egress well once they've moved out from the window. On upper levels, walk them through the emergency drill including how to properly attach and unroll the rope ladder.

Your kids need not be tested every week like a regular school fire drill, but you should be confident that they know how to quickly clear the egress window in their room and to safely use any supplemental escape device.

Following these procedures could save a life!

Please visit http://customcoversinc.com

Basement Window Well Facts & Information

2010-02-13T07:06:00.000-08:00

These days basements provide homeowners more living space. They become the perfect addition for home theaters, pool tables and family entertainment areas. Children play, home offices are set up in them and they provide sleeping quarters.

Builders offer homeowners the ability to allow natural daylight into the basement by installing window wells or egress window wells when the home is built. Unfortunately this leaves a large exterior hole that the homeowner is left to deal with.

Indiana code requires that all egress wells be covered for safety. Most builders will cover egress openings using heavy steel grates, fencing or a wooden frame with lattice board. This does adhere to Indiana building code for safety, but leaves the homeowner to deal with constant maintenance issues due to this open style cover.

Open style covers still allow weather elements to reach the window, and in time can allow the basement window to leak and allow water into the basement. Open style well covers allow leaves and debris to collect in the wells creating constant homeowner cleaning to assure the drain remains operable and free of debris. Small animals and rodents can fall thru open style covers and become trapped in the well damaging the window screens trying to find a way back out.

Continued exposure to weather elements will cause rust to steel grates making them aesthetically unappealing. These grates are heavy and remain in place, but could be hard for a child to remove if an emergency occurred. Wooden lattice frames over time with weather exposure deteriorate and provide less support and eventually no safety for this large size opening. Fencing can become cumbersome to climb over again and again in order for the homeowner to maintain the wells.

Hardware and home improvement stores do carry basement well covers. They will generally stock a few different sizes, and if you are lucky enough to find one that fits the width of your well, it will typically not have the correct projection you need to fully enclose the entire opening. These covers will be made out of a thin plastic, will easily break and do not address the following considerations a homeowner should address when purchasing a basement well cover.

Things To Consider When Purchasing A Basement Well Cover

If you own a home with a basement window well or are in the process of building a home that will have basement window wells you should invest in a high quality cover that is constructed using Green Materials built to last. A durable and properly fitting cover may cost a little more up front, but in the long run, will limit the frustration homeowners have of trying to find one that actually fits and the cost involved in the continued replacement of the cheaper plastic covers.

1.) STRENGTH:

The thicker the material being used, the more support the cover will provide.

1/4" polycarbonate material will easily support 300 lbs.

2.) DURABILITY:

Address the material being used to construct the cover. Acrylics and Plexiglas do not provide the strength like Polycarbonate. Polycarbonate will also withstand temperature changes and will not get brittle and break.

3.) FUNCTION & DESIGN:

Will the cover fully enclose your well and window. Some windows extend above the actual well. Also, consider if you prefer the cover to hinge open or prefer it to lift completely off.

4.) AESTHETICS:

Consider how you want your cover to look. A good looking well cover can add value to your property.

5.) SECURITY:

Can the cover be locked from the underneath side to ward off potential burglars, but still allow easy escape in case of emergency.

6.) FIT:

Decide how well you want the cover to fit. Covers that are custom made to fit your well will generally look much more appealing.

7.) VENTILATION:

Proper ventilation reduces condensation and heat buildup.

VISIT: http://www.customcoversinc.com

What should I consider when purchasing a crawlspace cover?

2010-02-02T20:09:00.000-08:00

1. Will the cover you are about to purchase fully enclose the area wall and access door? Purchasing a cover designed to fully enclose both the area wall and access panel door into your crawlspace will prevent water from standing in the area wall and rust occurring to the steel access panel due to changing weather elements.

2. Is the cover you are purchasing constructed using a water proof material? The purpose for your cover is to keep water out of the area wall and crawlspace.

3. Will the cover support any weight? The area wall on most homes sits at ground level, and someone including yourself could accidentally fall or step on the cover.

4. What is the weight of the cover? The cover needs to be made of a light weight material for easy removal when the crawlspace needs to be accessed. The cover should also lock or latch down to ensure it remains in place.

5. Temperatures and climates vary from state to state; will the cover withstand temperature changes? Replacing your cover because it continues to crack or break can become very costly.

Hardware home improvement stores do carry area wall covers. They will generally stock a few different sizes, and if you are lucky enough to find one that fits the width of your well it will typically not have the correct projection you need to fully enclose the entire opening. These covers will be made out of a thin plastic and will easily break. Typically these covers cost around $20.00 but can be higher and do not address the above considerations.

Purchasing a cover constructed using a polycarbonate material will address all things to consider when selecting a cover. Unfortunately home improvement stores cannot stock this type of cover, due to the many variations in homeowner’s crawlspace area walls. These covers need to be custom made, to specifically fit individual area walls and access doors.

A durable and properly fitting cover may cost a little more up front, but in the long run, will limit the frustration homeowners have of trying to find one that actually fits and the cost involved in continued replacement of the plastic covers.

Why should I cover the entrance to my crawlspace?

2010-02-02T19:31:00.000-08:00

Any homeowner living in an older home with an outside access door into their crawlspace, will agree that over several years of enduring weather elements, their steel door begins to not fit properly, will no longer latch shut or completely rust out, making the door useless. This in time creates the perfect entry point for unwanted insects, rodents and water.

Costly repairs can occur to the homeowner when crawlspaces become saturated with water because of improper fitting access doors. Moist environments, and drafts into the moist environment, can stimulate the growth of certain molds. The costly fix is to contract a company that specializes in mold remediation, to treat the molds and to dry out the crawlspace area.

Then there is the frustration of trying to replace the access door that no longer fits. Good luck with this one, it would be a lot easier to accomplish if all builders were required to use the same size access door openings and all hardware stores were required to stock these replacements.

The cost of getting rid of unwanted insects and rodents can add up fast when using an exterminator or animal control company to take care of the problem, not to mention the damage rodents can do in a crawlspace. Homeowners could potentially be looking at rewiring issues due to this chewing, unwanted guest.

Homeowners should also consider that usually the need to access this area will be during the worst of times when it comes to the weather. It is so much easier to access an area wall that is dry, free of debris and not filled with snow.

The best option for homeowners is to purchase a cover that fully encloses the area wall surrounding the access door into the crawlspace. This should be done as soon as construction is complete on your new home.

If you are living in a home and do not currently have a crawlspace cover you should purchase one immediately to avoid the potential for costly future repairs.
If you’re unlucky enough to have already experienced the cost involved to have a contractor correct your crawlspace issues, then you know how important it is to keep your crawlspace dry and to have a properly fitting cover in place.
You should have purchased a cover yesterday!