Crawl space help for Florence and the Pee Dee
A musty smell in the hall, insulation hanging from the joists, a bedroom floor that slopes toward the wall: one call connects you with a crawl space company that works in Florence and the towns around it.
What's going on under your house?
- Crawl space encapsulationSeal the vents and line the floor and walls so the space under your house can be kept dry.
- Vapor barriersReplace torn or missing plastic on the crawl space floor with a properly lapped ground cover.
- Moisture control and dehumidifiersDehumidifiers, drains, sumps and gutter fixes that keep water and humid air out from under the house.
- Sagging floor supportShore up bouncy, sloping or soft floors with new posts, beams and sistered joists.
- Crawl space repairFix rotted sills and joists, fallen insulation, damaged ductwork, access doors and storm damage.
How it works
Call or send a request
Tell us your town and what you've noticed under or inside the house.
We connect you
We pass your call to an independent crawl space company that serves the Florence area.
They call you back
The company inspects the crawl space and quotes the work directly to you.
Who is this site for?
Homeowners, buyers and landlords in Florence, Quinby, Timmonsville, Darlington and nearby Pee Dee towns whose houses sit over a crawl space instead of a slab. That includes a lot of brick ranches, older frame houses near downtown Florence and farmhouses out in the county. If you can find a small access door in the foundation wall or a hatch in a closet floor, you have a crawl space, and this site is for you.
Why do crawl spaces around Florence stay damp?
Three local conditions work against a dry crawl space here:
- Humid air coming in through the vents. Florence has a humid subtropical climate with long, muggy summers. The U.S. Department of Energy points out that in humid climates the outdoor air is often wetter than the air already under the house, so foundation vents can bring moisture in rather than let it out.
- A high water table in the soil. The Rains soil series was first described from a field about two miles northeast of Timmonsville. USDA describes it as poorly drained, with a seasonal high water table within a foot of the surface from December to April. Soils like it are common on the flats and Carolina bays of the Pee Dee.
- Heavy rain. Florence averages a little over 48 inches of precipitation a year. During Hurricane Matthew, the city logged 11.74 inches on October 8, 2016, a one-day record. Water that pools against the foundation finds its way underneath.
What are the warning signs?
- A musty or earthy smell inside, worst on hot days or when the air conditioning first kicks on
- Fiberglass insulation sagging, falling or wet between the floor joists
- Puddles, mud or a torn, flattened plastic sheet on the crawl space floor
- Floors that feel soft, bounce or slope, or doors that start to stick
- Ductwork sweating or dripping under the house in summer
- A CL-100 wood infestation report that notes high moisture, decay or conditions that invite termites
What fixes a damp crawl space?
It depends on where the water is coming from, so a good company starts with an inspection rather than a product. Typical fixes, often combined:
- Getting rainwater away from the house with gutters, extended downspouts and soil sloped away from the foundation
- A vapor barrier over the dirt to slow moisture rising out of the ground
- Encapsulation, which seals the vents and covers the floor and walls so the space can be kept dry
- Moisture control such as a dehumidifier, a drain or sump, or conditioned air
- Floor support and repairs where damp wood has already rotted or the floor has settled
What does the building code say?
South Carolina enforces the 2021 International Residential Code with state modifications, and local building departments have been required to use it since January 1, 2023. Under the IRC, a vented crawl space needs a set amount of vent area, while an unvented, sealed crawl space needs a ground cover that's lapped, sealed and run up the walls, plus a way to dry the air. The City of Florence Building Department handles permits inside city limits, and Florence County Building Inspections handles the unincorporated county. Your contractor should know which one applies to your address.
Does the contractor need a South Carolina license?
Usually, yes. The SC Residential Builders Commission, part of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), requires a residential builder's license for home improvement jobs that cost more than $5,000 and a residential specialty contractor registration for specialty work over $500. Florence County says it won't sell a permit to anyone who isn't licensed or qualified, and it tells homeowners not to pull a permit on a contractor's behalf. Look up the company on LLR's license search before you sign. The how it works page has more hiring tips.
Buying or selling a home with a crawl space?
Most South Carolina home sales include a CL-100, the Official South Carolina Wood Infestation Report, done by a licensed pest control company. It covers wood-destroying insects and decay, and state regulation 27-1085 requires the inspector to record wood moisture readings in the crawl space. Under that regulation, excessive moisture is present when readings reach 20% or standing water is in the crawl space or around the foundation, and decay fungi become active at 28% and above. If the report flags moisture or damage, a crawl space company can tell you what's causing it and what it would take to fix, which helps when you're negotiating repairs.
Are you a crawl space company?
No. Florence Crawl Space Pros is a referral service. We connect you with an independent crawl space company that serves your address, and that company inspects, quotes, does the work and stands behind it. Read the Florence crawl space guide before you hire anyone.
Areas we cover
Planning ahead? Read our Florence crawl space guide.
Common questions
Who will actually work on my crawl space?
An independent crawl space company that serves your part of the Pee Dee. We connect you with them. We don't inspect, seal or repair crawl spaces ourselves.
Is there a charge for using this site?
No. Calling or sending a request is free. The company you're connected with quotes and bills its own work.
Which towns do you cover?
Florence, Quinby, Timmonsville and Darlington, plus Lake City, Pamplico, Johnsonville, Coward, Olanta, Effingham and other parts of Florence and Darlington counties.
Why does my house smell musty in summer?
Humid outdoor air comes in through the foundation vents and meets cooler surfaces under the house, and damp soil adds more moisture. Mold and mildew grow on the wood and insulation, and the smell rises into the living space.
Damp insulation, a musty hallway or a floor that dips by the tub?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a crawl space company that works around Florence.