Being this low changes the problem. Around Sullivans Island the ground holds water rather than shedding it, so a crawl space here is frequently dealing with moisture pushing up through the soil rather than running in off the surface. That is a different fix from a leak, and it starts with working out which one you have.
It also means a vapor barrier earns its keep faster here than almost anywhere. With damp soil underneath more or less permanently, an uncovered crawl space floor is a moisture source that never switches off.
We mark the points we take moisture readings from and record them, so there is evidence the structure actually reached target rather than an assurance that it probably did.
Signs worth acting on
Homeowners in Sullivans Island usually notice one of the following first.
- A damp, earthy smell that is strongest in the lowest rooms
- A patch of floor that gives slightly when you walk over it
- Gaps opening at baseboards, or a door that no longer latches
- Condensation on ductwork or pipes under the floor
- Batts of insulation fallen away from the subfloor
- A silt line or watermark on the foundation piers
Water near Sullivans Island
Named water close to Sullivans Island. On the coastal plain, proximity usually means a higher water table and a longer wet season under the floor.
- the Cooper River (stream)
- the Ashley River (stream)
- the Wando River (stream)
- Lake Woodlawn (lake)
Sullivans Island sits at about 7 feet, in the Lowcountry and coastal plain of South Carolina.
Crawl space services in Sullivans Island
Each of these is available for Sullivans Island homes, and each has its own page covering how it works here.
Crawl Space Water Removal in Sullivans Island
Standing water pumped and extracted from under the house, then the saturated material taken out.
Crawl Space Structural Drying in Sullivans Island
Joists, girders and subfloor dried back to a measured target with air movers and dehumidification.
Crawl Space Mold Remediation in Sullivans Island
Contained removal of mold-affected material, HEPA cleaning, and the moisture source shut off.
Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Installation in Sullivans Island
Sealed polyethylene over the soil and up the piers, so ground moisture stops entering the space.
Crawl Space Drainage and Sump Pump Installation in Sullivans Island
Interior drainage to collect water, a sump and pump to lift it, and a discharge that takes it away.
Crawl Space Wood and Subfloor Repair in Sullivans Island
Rotted joists, girders, rim joists and subfloor sections repaired or replaced once the space is dry.
Our Sullivans Island service area
Our Sullivans Island work covers the 29482 area and the rest of Charleston County — from United States Coast Guard Historic District across to Fort Sumter National Monument — along with Mount Pleasant, Isle Of Palms and Charleston.
Nearest towns we also cover
The rest of Charleston County
We cover every town in Charleston County. See all 407 South Carolina towns.
Sullivans Island crawl space questions
Why is my Sullivans Island crawl space wet when nothing has leaked?
Near Sullivans Island that is the normal pattern rather than the exception. At around 7 feet on the coastal plain, the water table sits close enough to the surface that soil under the house can be saturated with no pipe broken.
Does storm flooding reach crawl spaces around Sullivans Island?
Yes, and often with nothing visibly broken. After a tropical system the usual picture in Charleston County is a saturated crawl space where the water came up through the ground rather than out of a pipe.
Does being close to the coast make this worse?
It raises the water table and lengthens the wet season, which is why homes near the Cooper River and the low ground around Sullivans Island tend to need drainage as well as a barrier.
How do I know whether it is groundwater or a leak?
That is the first thing we establish on a Sullivans Island call, because everything after it depends on the answer. A supply line, a drain, water rising through the soil and runoff coming in through the vents each leave different evidence.
Can I stay in the house while the work is done?
In almost all cases, yes. The work happens under the floor, and access is usually through an exterior hatch. We will tell you up front if anything about your Sullivans Island property changes that.
Talk to someone about your Sullivans Island crawl space
A description of the smell, the feel of the floor and where the water sits is usually enough for us to say what the space needs.
Tell us what you are seeing under the house and we will tell you what it needs.