Water in Your Crawl Space Is Like Smoking 2 Packs a Day — Contractor Mark Garrison Explains Why

foundation risk foundation settlement home maintenance water intrusion Mar 27, 2026

From The Kapowich Vault — 

If your home has a crawl space, this short clip from The Kapowich Vault is one of the most important things you will watch before buying or selling an older home.

Mark Garrison, Principal of MG Constructors and Engineers, does not sugarcoat it. Water in your crawl space is like smoking 2 packs of no-filter cigarettes every single day. And more than 50 percent of homes across the Bay Area — and the West Coast — have exactly that condition right now.

In this clip, Mark and his brother Tim K. Garrison, P.E. explain how water seeps into crawl spaces every winter and lingers. They cover why the posts, piers, and beams found in most older crawl spaces do not meet current building code — 9 out of 10 times. And they explain how downspouts have been quietly dumping thousands of gallons of water directly next to foundations for decades, with no engineer ever consulted on placement or discharge location.

The crawl space is the most neglected area of any home. Most homebuyers never see it. Most home sellers never think about it. And most agents never bring it up.

Do not buy or sell an older home without watching the full interview first.

Full interview: https://youtu.be/IG64RI0kOvw?si=OSWlipocQ3LmHMD5

Contact the Garrison Brothers Tim K. Garrison, P.E. — TimG@TimKGarrison.com Mark Garrison, Principal — mgconstructors.net

Pat Kapowich | California Real Estate Broker | 408-245-7700 | SiliconValleyBroker.com | CalDRE #00979413

 

Not sure where to start when preparing your home for sale? 

I am Realtor Pat Kapowich, a California real estate broker with decades of experience in the San Francisco Bay Area. Across every imaginable market cycle, I have personally helped homeowners get their properties market-ready, resulting in a median of 9 days on the market for houses and 8 days for condos and townhomes.

This curated list exists because most homeowners are overwhelmed by where to start and often begin too late. These are the exact products I recommend to my own clients to get ahead of the process and protect their sale price. Some links are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no additional cost to you. Your support contributes to the channel and supports delivering straight-talk real estate content that protects home sellers.

  • Products I recommend for exterior prep, paint touch-ups, and presentation: 
  •   https://geni.us/ExteriorPrepItems
  • Products I recommend for deep cleaning, interior paint touch-ups, and listing readiness: 
  •   https://geni.us/InteriorPrepItems
  • Supplies that make moving day easier: 
  •  https://geni.us/MovingPackingItems 

Disclosure: I may earn from qualifying purchases made through links in this description.

 

For Housing Market Data in your area, visit my webpage for trends here. Do you have questions about home buying or selling? Full-service Realtor Pat Kapowich is a Certified Trust and Probate Specialist, Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager and career-long consumer protection advocate. He is based in his hometown of Sunnyvale, California. Office: 408-245-7700; Broker# 00979413

DISCLAIMER: This evergreen content is from The Kapowich Vault and is intended for general informational purposes only. Laws, regulations, market conditions, and professional standards change over time. The information presented in this interview reflects the guests' knowledge and opinions at the time of recording and may no longer be current. Always consult a licensed California real estate attorney, a licensed CPA, and a licensed real estate professional before making any legal, tax, or financial decisions related to real estate transactions. CalDRE #00979413