Your Cottage: A place for a retreat, not for additional headaches!
Ah, the cottage life! Waking up to birds singing, sipping coffee on the deck with a view over one of nature’s masterpieces!
Whether your haven is nestled near a quiet lake, or deep in the woods, a cottage is the perfect break for life’s shenanigans. It’s nature therapy at its finest.
HOWEVER ...
You most probably open your cottage for a few months, usually during the sunny summer season. The remaining time, nature’s cold and extreme conditions might jeopardize your paradise destination. And your biggest disappointment on your first weekend is finding a musty smell, mold on the walls, or standing water in the crawl space.
So, to prevent the getaway from becoming a headache, here are a few helpful tips to protect your cottage.
1. Your Crawl Space Should not be a moldy bathtub!
Many cottages are built on crawl spaces rather than full basements. These spaces are often poorly insulated, and prone to humidity, mold, condensation, and rodent invasions. If your crawl space is damp and unsealed, you’re risking developing structural issues!
Fun Fact: Rodents and insects love invading crawl spaces. Unlike you, they don’t pay rent. Unfortunately, you’re the one stuck with the bill when they cause damage.
Solution:
Encapsulation is the optimal solution. That means sealing the ground with a drainage matting and a vapor barrier, insulating the walls, and controlling humidity with a proper dehumidifier. You’ll feel the difference in indoor comfort and protect the structure of your cottage.
Bonus: You can also use the encapsulated crawl space as a stockage area.
2. Waterproofing is Crucial!
Mountain weather is beautiful but unpredictable. Snow melt during spring or one good rainstorm and your cottage basement or crawl space could witness severe consequences, especially when water meets clogged drains!
Solution:
Install a performant and durable drainage system connected to a sump pump and discharge line. These systems collect and redirect water away from the foundation before it reaches and deteriorates your cottage’s lower levels. Also, your gutters and downspouts should be inspected to make sure water is moving away from your foundation.
3. Sump Pumps: The Hero of a Dry Cottage
Even if your existing sump pump is newly installed, it will be useless during a power outage or in the event of heavy water infiltration. Even worse, if your cottage doesn’t have a sump pump at all, you’re playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette.
Solution:
Invest in a modern sump pump with battery backup. That way, even if the power goes out while you’re away, your basement stays dry. In addition, the best systems have alarms and monitoring options you can check remotely. Technology can nowadays save your cottage 200 km away.
4. Foundation Cracks
Seasonal cottages are prone to settle due to the weather cycles and soil movement. What starts as a tiny crack can grow into a serious structural problem that’s more expensive to fix and will surely affect the value of your property.
Solution:
Check for signs like “staircase” or horizontal cracks in walls, bowing walls doors or windows that don’t close properly, or sagging floors. If you spot them, it’s time to consult a foundation repair specialist. Solutions like Push Piers can stabilize your cottage without major excavation.
In Conclusion, no one buys a cottage dreaming about vapor barriers and sump pumps. But if you want your cottage to stay that magical retreat for years to come, giving attention to these layers of protection is a smart investment.
Want peace of mind while you’re away? We’re just a call away!
