Crawl space and waterproofing help in Cottondale
Cottondale lies on the east side of Tuscaloosa. Two things set it apart for anyone with a wet crawl space: the creeks, and the fact that one street can answer to the city while the next answers to the county.
City or county? Find out first
Cottondale is not a town with its own council. An address here is either inside Tuscaloosa's city limits or in unincorporated Tuscaloosa County, and that decides who holds your flood map and who issues permits.
- Inside the city: the Office of the City Engineer, through its floodplain determination request.
- In the county: the Floodplain Manager at Tuscaloosa County Public Works, (205) 345-6600.
If you do not know which applies, ring the county number and give the address.
The creeks
Cottondale Creek, a branch the maps call Cottondale Creek Tributary No. 1, and Hurricane Creek all appear in the City of Tuscaloosa's floodplain plan as streams with mapped flood zones. Ground near them is low, and low ground holds water.
For a house close to any of the three, two things follow. Check the flood zone before a company seals the foundation vents, because in a mapped zone those openings may have to stay. And expect groundwater, not only humidity, so ask about drainage and a pump before a liner is discussed.
Ditches and culverts on county roads
If your road drains to an open ditch and the county maintains it, a blocked culvert or a washed-out ditch is reported to Public Works on 205-345-6600 during the working week. Have the address or the nearest landmark ready, and say what you can see.
A ditch that backs up will push water onto the lots beside it however well the house is drained, so make that call before paying for work in your own yard.
What a wet lot usually needs, in order
Roof water piped away, soil sloped off the wall and, where the yard stays soggy, a French drain. Then a sump pump for what still collects under the floor. Only after that does encapsulation make sense.
Other areas
Calling from Cottondale
Give the street and say whether water stands under the house after rain. You will be put through to an independent local waterproofing company.
Calls may be recorded. The company pays this site for the introduction. See the referral disclosure.