Bowral Subfloor Ventilation: Protect Your Home from Mould and Damp

As a family-owned business in Bowral, Fresh Ventilation is the only local business providing subfloor ventilation solutions to local residents. Our recent projects in the area showcase our commitment to addressing the unique challenges posed by each property, ensuring a healthier and more durable living environment. Let's dive into some of our recent installations and how they're making a difference in the community.

1. Modifying Ground Levels on Retford Road

On Retford Road, we encountered a house with raised ground levels that led to water pooling underneath whenever it rained. The homeowner had previously attempted to rectify this issue with a drainage pit and sump pump, but it proved ineffective. Our team, together with Andrew Pinkerton Electrical, stepped in with a tailored solution: installing a two-fan subfloor ventilation system to exhaust moist air to outside. This required lowering the ground level to fit the exhaust vents properly. We also took the opportunity to clean up some messy work left by the previous pump installation and crafted a custom cover for our grilles that seamlessly matched the house's existing feature covers.

2. Addressing a Wet Subfloor on Banksia Street

A property on Banksia Street, situated at the bottom of the slope of the Gib, was undergoing extensive drainage works by Readman Building Group due to significant water runoff leading to a very wet subfloor area. To combat this, we installed a three-fan subfloor ventilation system. This solution was specifically designed to manage the high moisture levels, ensuring the longevity of the property's structure and providing a healthier living environment for its inhabitants.

3. Renovating a Historic Home on Rose Street

On Rose Street, we worked on a challenging project involving a house over 100 years old, located very near to the river. The external ground level had been raised above the subfloor, causing water to pool underneath whenever the river flooded. With only about 150mm of space under the house and completely rotten floors, our task was daunting and access seemed impossible. Thankfully, our recommendation of a builder in the warehouse next to us was accepted, and Burlace Constructions stepped in to pull up and replace the entire floor. We installed a four-fan subfloor ventilation system while the floors were being replaced, ensuring that the home’s historical value was preserved alongside modern living standards.

4. Combating Water Runoff Issues on Carlisle Street

Another project on Carlisle Street, this time with Simon from Heat Plus Electrical, involved another home on the side of the Gib, struggling with a very wet subfloor due to water runoff and excessive shading. The limited space under the house, compounded by the presence of bulky air conditioning ducts, made air movement difficult. Our solution was a four-fan subfloor ventilation system, designed to effectively manage the moisture levels and improve the overall air quality in the home.

5. Upgrading Passive Ventilation to Mechanical Ventilation in Arborea Place

In Arborea Place, the owner of a home with a damp subfloor had tried to solve the problem by installing numerous passive vents, to the extent that daylight was completely lighting up the subfloor area. However, despite the installation of vents, the tenant reported a persistent musty smell in the home above. We addressed this issue for Drysdales Property by installing a two-fan subfloor ventilation system, which quickly eliminated the dampness and the accompanying odours, restoring comfort to the tenant above. Ventilation, by definition, is the process of replacing air in a space to provide higher air quality in that space. This is where passive air vents alone fall down - without mechanical ventilation to extract the air inside so that fresh air is drawn back through, they don’t actually replace much air at all. This is because air will always take the path of least resistance!

Conclusion

These projects in Bowral highlight the diverse challenges associated with subfloor ventilation and the effectiveness of customised mechanical ventilation solutions. At Fresh Ventilation, we take pride in our ability to provide tailored, efficient systems that not only solve immediate issues but also contribute to the long-term health and structural integrity of homes. Our commitment to the community and our expertise in the field make us a trusted partner in maintaining healthy, comfortable homes in Bowral and beyond.