Subfloor Ventilation and Subfloor Drying Experts - Melbourne

Welcome to Subfloor Drying.

Our company specialises in the fast drying of subfloor voids (sometime called crawlspace drying) typically caused by all kinds of water ingress and flooding due to stormwater, burst pipes, floods, broken drains, sewer leaks - and also from moisture damage caused by inadequate subfloor ventilation problems.

The faster the drying of a subfloor void after water ingress, the less chance of the moisture causing secondary damage to floorboards, bearers and joists. In addition, the faster a damp subfloor void is dried the less the risk there is of mould growth occurring.

We specialise in fast subfloor drying using high volumes of heated air which is pumped into the subfloor void, quickly drying out the area by promoting faster drying through evaporation. As the heated air is pumped into the subfloor, the evaporating moisture is drawn from the void by both subfloor dehumidifiers and exhaust ventilation. This heat driven process dries the subfloor more quickly than all non-heat driven processes.

The secret to our service lies in both the science of coupling evaporation with dehumidification and through the input of very large volumes of heated air via our specialised subfloor drying trailer mounted subfloor drying equipment. Our diesel fired heat driven trailers are used extensively in both Canada and North America to dry out frozen ground and flooded subfloor voids and buildings.

Two Types of Subfloor Drying

The two main reasons that subfloor voids get wet or damp is either subfloor water ingress or lack of subfloor ventilation. The subfloor treatment will be determined by what is causing the wet or damp subfloor.

1. Subfloor drying following water ingress

There are typically two parts to the drying process following water ingress:

• If your subfloor has become wet due to water ingress - typically after a flood event (due to heavy rainfall), or a burst water pipe or blocked drain, then the subfloor will require drying using specialised subfloor drying equipment. Speed is of the essence in this instance, as the evaporation of the excess water MUST be controlled in order to avoid secondary damage to the structural timbers, floorboards and/or substrate. This is achieved by pumping hot air into the subfloor to evaporate the moisture and draw the evaporating moisture from the subfloor using ventilation fans exhausting from the subfloor and/or subfloor dehumidifiers.
• The second part of this drying process is to install mechanical subfloor ventilation to continue to dry out and ventilate the subfloor after the heat drying process has finished. This is a requirement because moisture will continue to wick upwards from the damp soil and evaporate in the void - often for years following a flood event. This evaporating moisture will continue to be removed via the permanent ventilation system.

2. Subfloor drying following a lack of ventilation

If your subfloor is damp due to an overall long term lack of ventilation (this is typically caused by a lack of adequate ventilation due to not enough passive vents or a subfloor void which is very low) then it may not be necessary to heat dry the subfloor and a longer term approach may be all that is necessary.

This is achieved by introducing mechanical subfloor ventilation (more info about subfloor drying) which introduces fresh air into the subfloor while expelling stale moisture laden air from the subfloor void.

A Healthy Subfloor equates to a Healthy Home

The secret to all healthy homes starts in the subfloor. Whichever way the subfloor has become wet or damp, the problems arising from the excessive dampness must be addressed.

Unless the subfloor is dry and well ventilated, excessive moisture trapped in the subfloor void can impact upon the health of both the dwelling and the occupants.

If the problem has been caused by a lack of ventilation the same issues will inevitably arise, but take much longer.

Why use Subfloor Drying?

We have the knowledge, expertise and equipment to dry your subfloor space and permanently fix the problem by ensuring adequate subfloor ventilation.

Our drying process involves using specialist equipment which will dry your subfloor more quickly and efficiently than any other company in Victoria. This is because we invest in specialist equipment which pumps large volumes of hot air into the subfloor, quickly evaporating the moisture trapped in the void.

Whilst cold air equipment have their place in drying subfloor voids, they are not capable of drying a subfloor anywhere near as quickly or efficiently as are our purpose specific heat drying trailers.