How Much Does Crawl Space Repair Cost in 2024?

Average Cost to Repair a Crawl Space

Average Cost to Clean a Crawl Space

Cleaning your crawl space costs $500 to $2,000 on average. You may pay up to $4,000 if it includes any remediation for mold or large projects. Cleaning often happens after flooding, before encapsulating, or for major repairs. The process generally includes:

• Removing debris

• Checking for pests and insects

• Ensuring vents are unblocked

• Dehumidifying the space 

• Using disinfectants 

• Deodorizing the area 

Cost Factors for Crawl Space Cleaning and Repair

The average cost to repair a crawl space is $6,000 if it's part of an encapsulation process and includes improving structural elements, like beams and joists. Beyond the crawl space encapsulation cost, you may also need to pay for other minor repairs, such as fixing vents, which can cost between $150 and $450. Other repairs might include:

• Water damage

• Insect damage 

• Rotting structural elements

• Foundation issues

• Insulation replacement

Some crawl space cleaning and repair cost factors to consider are:

Size of the Space

The larger the area of your crawl space, the longer it will take to clean it out, and the more you’ll need to pay. A small crawl space will cost between $500 and $2,000 for cleaning alone, with larger crawl spaces ranging between $2,000 and $4,000 for cleaning. Prices will increase similarly if you’re factoring repair and restoration costs in as well.

Problem Type

Your total crawl space repair cost can vary greatly depending on the problems you’re dealing with. If there are no additional problems, standard cleaning and junk removal will cost between $500 and $1,500. But if there are more serious problems that need to be addressed, such as a foundation in need of repair, mold, faulty sealing, or an outdated drainage system, the price can rise significantly—as much as $3,000 to $15,000.

The worst-case scenario would be a large crawl space with severely rotten wood in the joists and beams, extensive flooding, and a severe mold problem. The structural repairs and other treatments for this type of space could exceed $20,000.

Accessibility

If your crawl space is less than three feet high, it will be much harder for your contractor to access it. There’s usually a fee for less accessible crawl spaces—expect to add an additional $100 to $500 to your total bill if you have a low-ceiling crawl space.

Overall Condition

Simply cleaning out dirt and other debris can run under $1,000, while removing rodent droppings ranges from $800 to $3,000. With multiple issues (such as water damage and mold), you’ll hit $4,500 or more.

Crawl Space Cost by Repair Type

In many situations, you'll probably find you need a combination of repairs, cleaning, and preventive measures. For example, suppose you have moldy, rotted beams. In that case, you'll probably want to clean them or get mold remediation, replace any damaged beams, and install an encapsulation system to lower humidity levels and avoid future mold issues.

Crawl Space Foundation Settling Repair Cost

Foundation repairs cost $2,500 to $8,000 or more, depending on the extent of the problem. You might need to replace or shore up supports, fix cracks, and relevel the house. A local foundation repair pro typically secures it with piers, piles, or mudjacking.

• Piers and piles cost $1,000–$2,000 per unit

• Mudjacking costs $2,000–$6,000 total

You’ll also want to ask your foundation repair pro about any related soil issues that might cause the foundation to settle further or cause other problems.

Water Damage in Crawl Space Cost

Water damage restoration costs around $1,500 to $5,000, with repairs after extreme flooding exceeding $10,000 to fix. You can prevent future water damage through encapsulation and waterproofing, but that adds more costs—anywhere between $1,500 and $15,000, depending on the size of the crawl space. With flood damage, you'll want to consider hiring a local water restoration company, while a crawl space cleaner can usually handle other types of damage.

Support Beam Replacement

Replacing a support beam costs around $1,500 to $4,000 per beam, though some reports have gone as high as $16,000. Prices for beam replacement depend on how hard it is to get to, what material you use (wood or steel), and any other structural damage you might have. You’ll also need to fix the root cause of the problem, usually a settling foundation or water damage.

Cost to Remove Insulation From Crawl Space

Crawl space insulation removal and replacement costs about $500 to $3,700. Damaged or inadequate insulation affects the comfort of your home and raises heating and cooling fees. Prices depend on the type of insulation you use, and whether you’re insulating walls or the subfloor (or both).

Cost by Cleaning Task

Professional crawl space cleaning costs $500 to $2,000 on average, but it might run as low as $200 or as high as $4,000. Prices depend heavily on the type of cleaning you need and the size of the space. For example, removing junk and construction debris won’t hurt your wallet much, but remediating issues with mold or pests can run into the thousands.

Pests or Rodents in Crawl Space

Warm, wet areas attract insects and rodents. Removing rodents costs around $200 to $700 in most minor infestations. However, some homeowners report a complete pest removal, cleaning, and sealing run from around $1,500 to $4,000, depending on the extent of the infestation and resulting damage. Find a pest control service near you to remove unwanted guests and treat the crawl space to prevent their return.

Cost of Mold Remediation in a Crawl Space

It’s vital to keep your air as free as possible of mold, mildew, and bacteria to help with issues like asthma and allergies. Mold removal costs anywhere from $500 to $6,000, depending on the severity. If you have mold, you probably have moisture or water issues too. Dealing with moisture in your crawl space with encapsulation, vapor barriers, sealing, and dehumidifiers can keep this problem from repeating. 

Cost of Removing Fungus From a Crawl Space

Removing fungi like mushrooms, white mold, and slime costs about the same as any mold, around $500 to $4,000. You’ll use the same treatments with the same pros that you’d hire to remediate a mold problem. Most of these other fungus types don't directly threaten your home, but they can trigger allergic reactions and indicate a high moisture level, which is a sign of other potential problems in the future. 

Pre-Repair Cleaning

Cleaning should always be your first step before any comprehensive repairs. We recommend that you hire a trained pro to clean the space. A specialist will have the knowledge, equipment, and protective gear to handle potentially dangerous materials and situations like:

• Pests

• Rodents

• Animal remains or waste

• Fiberglass insulation

• Asbestos

• Small areas

• Limited visibility

• Mold

• Sloped grades

Crawl Space Maintenance Costs

Maintenance costs for crawl spaces typically range from $100 to $700, mostly for yearly inspections and pest control measures. Installing other preventive measures can run into the thousands but can save you just as much in future repairs. 

Preventive Crawl Space Fixes

Consider these preventive measures to avoid future crawl space issues:

• Sump pump installation costs $500–$1,200. You’ll usually want this included with a tile drainage system under the slab.

• A drainage system costs $800–$4,000.

• Plumbers charge $45–$150 per hour and can address leaky pipes to avoid recurrences.

• Crawl space encapsulation costs $1,500–$15,000 and helps avoid humid environments. 

• Landscape grading costs $500–$5,000 and helps drain water away from your crawl space.

Crawl Space Inspection Costs

Crawl space inspections cost around $100 to $250. During the inspection, your pro will look for:

• Insect infestations

• Standing water or other water damage

• Insulation damage

• Moisture content 

• Ductwork issues

Budgeting for Crawl Space Repair

Because of the importance of strong, sturdy foundations, as well as the potential health risks of asbestos, fungus, mold, rodent droppings, and other hazardous materials, we strongly recommend working with a local professional for crawl space cleaning and repair. However, there are a few preventative measures you can take to save money on this important task:

• Regularly inspect your crawl space for any signs of issues (we recommend twice a year), looking for moisture, pooling water, signs of mold or fungus, insects, rodent droppings, rotting wood, and cracked concrete—the sooner you address these issues, the less they’re likely to cost you to repair.

• When you notice a potential issue, call a crawl space inspector right away to diagnose the problem and get recommendations for repair before the issue becomes more severe.

• If your crawl space is prone to getting damp in periods of heavy rainfall, consider regularly running a dehumidifier to reduce moisture and prevent cracks in the foundation, mold growth, or rotting beams.

• Try to keep the crawl space as clear as possible to allow for more airflow and to avoid creating hiding places for mold and pests.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.