Q: I have an enclosed front porch that has a moisture and mildew problem. Even on days that are just humid, not rainy, the porch smells musty and mildewy. There also is a carpet across the porch floor that stays damp. If I take up the carpet, will that cure the problem? – Doreen in Cleveland
A: Carpets retain moisture, so it could be a major contributor to the mildew smell, even if it’s an “indoor/outdoor” type carpet that dries quickly. But another important question is why so much moisture is getting into the enclosed porch area, and why it isn’t drying out quickly enough to prevent mildew.
Unseen damage and deterioration are usually the biggest culprits in moisture problems anywhere within a home. You need to look from top to bottom for possible trouble spots. If the porch has an overhanging roof, look for damaged shingles or whether the overhang has pulled slightly away from the walls. Check windows for cracks and the frames for damaged or warping. Look for water stains below window frames and at any potential entry points, such as doors, roof eaves and wall corners.
Outside, check the gutter system. Make sure rain gutters are in good repair and note where downspouts are placed and how far from the house they extend. Downspouts that drain next to the foundation can cause all sorts of moisture problems. Extending them is an inexpensive solution.
Now it’s time to look underneath that carpet. Wear a filter mask to protect yourself from mold spores, and carefully pull back a corner of the carpet. Underneath, you may find plastic sheeting, an inexpensive moisture prevention method for front porches. The sheeting keeps water from damaging the porch floor, and weather-resistant carpet provides traction. It’s not an optimal solution, but the alternative involves replacing the flooring and improving the underlayment, and that can be expensive.
Lift up that plastic sheeting as well, drawing both carpet and plastic back a foot or so, and check the floorboards. If they appear to be in good condition, that’s a good start.
You also need to check underneath the porch to see what the flooring looks like from there. This may be tricky, depending on how your house is built. If the porch extends separately from the foundation, you (or a contractor) can likely shimmy into or shine a flashlight into the crawlspace to check the underside of the floorboards and the joists and look and smell for mold. If the foundation extends under the porch, access the crawlspace or basement, and check under the porch for potential water entry spots.
Once you’ve located potential moisture trouble spots, work with a contractor to resolve these problems. Be sure to get estimates from more than one contractor before agreeing to any work. The faster you address the problem, the less expensive it may be to fix.
Send your questions or home tips to ask@thisisahammer.com.
(c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
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