Guides
All guides
Every guide we’ve published, grouped by topic. Each one answers first, then explains what changes the answer.
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Crawl spaces
How vented and closed crawl spaces work, what encapsulation involves and what it costs, and what to do about humidity, water and mold under the floor.
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Basements
Where water gets into a basement and what fixes it, what to check before you finish one, and how egress windows and window wells work.
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Foundations
Foundation types, which cracks matter and which don’t, bowing walls, and the wood where the house sits on the foundation. Structural information is reviewed by Daniel Mercer.
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Water & drainage
Moving water away from the house before it reaches the walls, and pumping out what gets in anyway: grading, downspouts, French drains and sump pumps.
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Moisture & mold
Humidity, condensation and smells, and the mold that follows them: how to tell what you’re looking at, what you can clean yourself and when to call a professional.