Nobody wants to think about the space under their house, which is exactly why it causes so much trouble. That musty smell drifting up through the floor vents, the cold spots in winter, the humidity that never drops no matter how hard the air conditioner works, and the power bill that keeps climbing can all trace back to a damp, dirt-floored area most have never actually looked at. A&A Waterproofing has been performing crawl space repair and encapsulation for homeowners in Marietta, GA, and nearby areas since 1996. The change people notice first is usually how much better their house smells. After all, what's happening down there affects the air you breathe upstairs more than most people realize.
A&A Waterproofing operates out of Marietta, GA, as a veteran-owned foundation repair and waterproofing contractor under owner Allen Aschwege. Our team seals crawl spaces against moisture using heavy vapor barriers, installs drain systems to handle water that makes its way in, sets up dehumidifiers to hold humidity at a stable level, applies fungicide treatments where growth has taken hold, and installs vent fans when a situation calls for airflow instead.
The trouble shows up in ways that seem unrelated at first. A persistent musty odor, floors that feel cold and clammy, allergy symptoms that get worse indoors, condensation on ductwork, insulation sagging out of the joist bays, and eventually soft spots underfoot where the subfloor has started to give. Wood-boring insects and mold prefer these conditions, and both are expensive guests.
The cause is straightforward once you see it. Bare soil releases moisture continuously, and open foundation vents let humid Georgia air in from May through September, where it hits cooler surfaces and condenses. Warm air rising through the house pulls that damp air up with it, meaning a significant share of what you breathe upstairs passed through the crawl space first. Add any groundwater collecting down there and the situation compounds quickly.
Our fix removes the moisture source rather than trying to ventilate around it. Cleanout comes first, along with removing failed insulation and debris. Then we address standing water with a drain system and sump if the site needs one. A heavy-duty liner gets sealed across the ground and up the foundation walls; seams and penetrations get taped tight; vents get sealed; and a dehumidifier goes in to control whatever humidity remains. Fungicide treatment handles existing mold growth before anything gets covered.
Once it's sealed, the difference is noticeable within days. The odor clears out, humidity upstairs drops, the HVAC system stops working against damp air, and the wood framing gets to dry out and stay dry. Storage becomes possible down there, and our warranty coverage backs the system so you can stop thinking about it.
Projects vary based on what we find under the house, so here's what each piece involves.
Old vapor barriers, fallen insulation, construction debris, and whatever else has accumulated down there gets hauled out before any new work begins. Starting with a clear space lets our crew inspect the framing, piers, and ductwork properly, and it prevents anything contaminated from getting sealed underneath a new liner. Among crawl space encapsulation companies, skipping this step is one of the more common shortcuts, and it shows up later.
Water arriving from the outside needs somewhere to go, and a liner alone won't move it. Depending on conditions, our team installs a perimeter or interior drain line set in gravel, routed to a discharge point or a sump basin at the low spot. Proper crawl space repair handles the water first, because sealing moisture underneath plastic accomplishes very little.
Sealing the space cuts humidity dramatically, though most crawl spaces still need mechanical help to stay in a safe range year-round. Our units are sized for the square footage and set up to drain automatically so nobody has to crawl under there to empty anything. Homeowners who install a dehumidifier in crawl space conditions like ours typically see indoor humidity steady out across the whole house.
Existing mold and mildew get treated before the liner goes down, since covering active growth only hides it. Applications cover the joists, subfloor, and framing surfaces where colonies have taken hold, and removing the moisture source afterward is what keeps them from returning. Treatment and encapsulation work together, and neither one does much alone.
Long-term stability is the real goal, so we look at the whole system rather than any single component. Drainage, the liner, dehumidification, and sealed vents each handle a portion of the moisture load, and getting the balance right for your specific house is where experience earns its keep. Reliable crawl space dehumidification keeps wood framing sound and indoor air comfortable through a Georgia summer.
The liner is the centerpiece of the whole system, running across the soil and up the foundation walls to separate the ground from the air in the space. Our crews use durable material rather than the thin sheeting some contractors get away with, and seams, corners, and pier wraps get sealed carefully because those are the failure points. Proper crawl space encapsulation depends entirely on how thoroughly this layer gets installed.
Full sealing suits most homes, but certain situations call for controlled airflow instead, and vent fans provide that. Placement and sizing depend on the crawl space layout and how the rest of the house is built, so this gets decided during the estimate rather than by default. Experienced crawl space encapsulation contractors should be able to tell you which approach your home actually needs.
Water around your foundation has a way of finding weak spots, which is why our foundation waterproofing work starts with figuring out how moisture is getting in. Depending on the property, we may use excavation, waterproof membranes, protective coatings, leak repairs, and drainage improvements to help keep the foundation drier over time.
A damp basement can bring musty odors, peeling finishes, and recurring cleanup after heavy rain. Our basement waterproofing solutions may include interior drain systems, leak repair, moisture control, water management, and sump pump integration for both finished and unfinished spaces.
Cracks, bowing walls, and other signs of movement can point to structural problems that deserve a closer look. We provide foundation repair using methods such as crack injections, carbon fiber straps, carbon fiber stitching, and wall stabilization based on what we find during the inspection.
Pooling water, soggy low spots, and runoff near your house usually mean the property needs a better path for moving water away. Through our French drains and yard drainage, we can provide grading corrections, drainpipe extensions, downspout extensions, driveway drains, foundation-related drainage work, and other practical water-diversion solutions.
If gravity drainage can't move water out of a basement or crawl space, a sump pump may be a sensible part of the solution. Our sump pump installation services include new and replacement pumps, drainage system integration, and guidance on backup options for added protection during heavy rain.
Settling foundations can lead to wall cracks, uneven floors, and other changes throughout an existing structure. We provide foundation stabilization through helical piers, foundation lifting, settlement repair, structural support, and load-bearing reinforcement.
Sagging, uneven, or bouncy floors often trace back to weakened framing or support problems below the living space. Our floor leveling and structural repairs may include floor jacking, joist repair, beam reinforcement, crawl space support systems, and structural floor stabilization for residential properties.
Deciding who to send under your house calls for some trust, so here's what we bring to it.
Thirty years of crawl space work has taught us that every house down there is a little different, and we walk customers through the specifics rather than handing over a one-size proposal.
As a veteran-owned company working in our own backyard, we answer to neighbors rather than a corporate office somewhere else.
Through Acorn Finance, the cost can be spread across manageable payments so moisture damage doesn't get to keep spreading while you save up.
Nothing is owed for the inspection, the assessment, or the conversation afterward.
First responders and military members, current and former, receive 10% off as a thank you for their service.
Depending on the project, our work carries warranty protection anywhere from 10 years out to a lifetime on qualifying jobs.
Crawl space encapsulation can help reduce odors when ground moisture and humid air create damp conditions beneath the home. Sealing the earth with a vapor barrier and controlling humidity helps limit the moisture that supports mold and stale smells.
Crews first address standing water, drainage problems, damaged materials, and fungal growth before sealing the space. A crawl space encapsulation system may include a ground liner, sealed seams, drainage, vent changes, a dehumidifier, and repairs to affected supports or insulation.
A dehumidifier can help maintain lower humidity when sealing and drainage alone don't keep the crawl space dry enough. The unit needs proper sizing, drainage, maintenance, and placement so it removes moisture without creating another water problem.
Ground vapor, plumbing leaks, poor yard drainage, open vents, humid outdoor air, and standing water can all raise moisture beneath a home. Georgia's humid conditions and slow-draining clay soils may allow dampness to linger when the property lacks effective water management.
Musty odors, damp insulation, visible fungal growth, condensation, standing water, damaged vapor barriers, and soft or sagging wood can signal trouble below the home. A crawl space contractor should correct active water sources and damaged materials before installing an encapsulation system.
FAQs reviewed by Allen Aschwege, owner of A&A Waterproofing, an experienced waterproofing service based in Marietta, GA.
As a crawl space encapsulation company that has been at this since 1996, we'll give you a fair price and let the work speak for itself.
Business Name: A&A Waterproofing
Address: Marietta, GA, 30064
Phone: 770-443-1155
Business Hours:
Mon - Sat: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Hometown Heroes Discount
We're proud to offer 10% off for veterans, active-duty military, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders as a thank-you for your service.
Comprehensive Warranty Coverage
We stand behind the quality of our work. Warranty coverage varies by service and repair, with options ranging from 10-year warranties to lifetime warranties on qualifying projects.
