Hi, I'm Josh — I own Firm Foundations, and I'm the one who crawls under your house.
Call or text me — the inspection is freeFlorida humidity lives under your house.
We keep it out.
Firm Foundations offers custom crawlspace solutions in and around Northeast Florida, protecting the health, safety and investment of each homeowner. Encapsulation, vapor barriers, drainage, exclusion and insulation — inspected and quoted by the owner, free.
Book your free inspection
Josh calls or texts you back the same day.
Why Northeast Florida is different
Flat and wet everywhere. Wet in four different ways.
Sand over a tidal water table at the beach, a river that sets the water table in Mandarin, hardpan that ponds in Nocatee, clay and limestone out toward Gainesville. Where your house sits decides where the water comes from, and that decides what actually keeps the crawlspace dry.
Barrier islands and the Intracoastal
Beach sand and shell over a water table a few feet down, with salt air on everything.
What we install here
Full encapsulation with a sealed liner and dehumidifier, stainless or coated fasteners, and a sump where the water table reaches the crawl floor in storm season.
St. Johns River and tidal creek lowlands
Low ground along the St. Johns, Black Creek, Julington Creek and the tidal creeks that feed them.
What we install here
Drainage first: a perimeter French drain and a sump sized for the volume, then a sealed liner and dehumidifier so the wood can finally dry out.
Pine flatwoods and hardpan
Flat, sandy soil with a hardpan layer a couple of feet down that water cannot get through.
What we install here
Vapor barrier or full encapsulation with a dehumidifier to break the humidity cycle, plus grading, downspout extensions and a French drain where water perches against the foundation.
Karst and clay uplands
Rolling ground over limestone, with clay-rich soils, springs and the occasional sinkhole.
What we install here
Moisture control with a sealed liner and dehumidifier, drainage where clay holds water against the foundation, and an honest assessment of any pier or block movement before anything is sealed.
Our services
Eight ways to fix a crawlspace, one person responsible
Vapor Barrier
The floor of a dry crawlspace.
A vapor barrier is a sturdy plastic layer that covers the crawlspace floor.
Crawl Space Encapsulation
Seal it, condition it, forget about it.
Encapsulations combine a vapor barrier with a complete sealing of the crawlspace plus a dehumidifier.
French Drain
Give the water somewhere else to go.
French drains are placed in a trench around homes that have consistent flooding/standing water issues.
Sump Pump
Move the water out before it does damage.
Sump pumps proactively push water out and away from homes experiencing flooding issues.
Exclusion
Keep the critters out for good.
Wire mesh is secured over all openings under a home where rodents and other wild life may be entering through.
Insulation
Stop paying to cool the ground.
Walls and attics are insulated but the underside is often neglected. Insulate your crawlspace to easily maintain temperatures in your home.
Crawl Space Clean-Out
Start from clean.
A team will come out and begin clearing out old construction debris and organic matter.
Dehumidifier
Hold the humidity where wood stays dry.
High humidity makes a mold/mildew air-freshener.
30-second self check
Is your crawlspace telling you something?
Check anything you have noticed. No email required — the answer appears right here.
Nothing checked yet
Pick whatever sounds familiar
Most Florida homeowners check two or three without realizing they are connected. If you are only here because something smells off in July, that counts.
How it goes
Three steps, and you see everything we see
Our journey began with a clear purpose: to expose the unknown issues right underneath your feet. We believe in proactive crawlspace maintenance to prolong the lifespan of your home investment and keep your family safe from potential hazards.
Call or text Josh
(252) 773-2346Based in Jacksonville, FL · Serving all of Northeast Florida
Mon–Sat 7AM–7PM
Free inspection
During your inspection, we will enter your crawlspace to thoroughly assess what is going on. Photos, moisture readings, and hazardous risks will be collected and then delivered to the homeowner to review. We will provide our recommendation, explain your options and offer a general estimate.
Written quote
A service quote will be sent to the homeowner containing all the information and prices of each solution for the crawlspace. After review and acceptance we will schedule a good time for repair and improvement services to begin.
The work
A team will come out and begin clearing out old construction debris, and organic matter. Whether you are receiving a full encapsulation or just a clean out, we are committed to finishing each job with excellence.
Why crawlspace care matters
What is happening under your feet
Structural Stability
Wood decaying mold and insects pose a serious threat to the integrity of your home. Moisture in your crawlspace softens the wood and invites damage to fester and spread quickly.
Pest control
Even the smallest openings into your crawlspace allow for wild life and pests to burrow, forage, multiply, and die right under your feet. Sealing all openings will keep the critters out and remove the potential smells of feces or decay that emanate into your vents.
Air Quality
High humidity makes a mold/mildew air-freshener. Replacing soiled insulation can block moisture from penetrating your foundation, protecting the wooden structure, and keeping your home warm dry while also keeping the smells outside.
Energy Saving
Money is being wasted on your electricity bill by heating and cooling your crawlspace, walls and attics are insulated but the underside is often neglected. Insulate your crawlspace to easily maintain temperatures in your home.
Where we work
12 counties, 90 towns, one Jacksonville crew
Every county and town below has its own page with the ground conditions, the problems we actually find there, and what we install to fix them.
- Duval County17 towns · Jacksonville
- St. Johns County15 towns · St. Augustine
- Clay County10 towns · Green Cove Springs
- Nassau County8 towns · Fernandina Beach
- Baker County5 towns · Macclenny
- Putnam County9 towns · Palatka
- Flagler County6 towns · Bunnell
- Bradford County4 towns · Starke
- Union County3 towns · Lake Butler
- Columbia County2 towns · Lake City
- Alachua County8 towns · Gainesville
- Volusia County3 towns · DeLand
Questions Florida homeowners ask
Is the inspection really free?
Yes. Josh comes out, gets under the house, takes photos and moisture readings, and walks you through what he found. You get the photos and a written recommendation whether or not you hire us.
How much does crawlspace encapsulation cost in Northeast Florida?
It depends on the size of the crawlspace, how much clean-out is needed, and whether water has to be managed first. Every quote lists each solution with its own price so you can do it in stages if you want to. There is no charge for the inspection or the quote.
Do I need a full encapsulation or just a vapor barrier?
A vapor barrier stops moisture coming up from the ground. Encapsulation also stops the humid outside air from coming in and adds a dehumidifier to hold the space dry. In Florida, with ninety-percent summer humidity, most crawlspaces that have had mold or rot need the full seal. We will tell you honestly which one your house needs.
How long does the work take?
Most clean-outs and vapor barriers are a day. A full encapsulation is usually two to three days depending on the size of the space and how much water has to be dealt with first.
My crawlspace has standing water. Can you still encapsulate it?
Not until the water is handled. We start with a French drain, a sump, or both, then seal the space once it stays dry. Sealing a liner over standing water just hides the problem.
Let's see what's under your house.
Free inspection, photos and moisture readings you keep, and a written quote with every option priced on its own.