Author
Robert Stulpt
Robert writes every guide on Below the Sill. He is a licensed contractor in Virginia who specializes in moisture, water and mold.
- Based in
- Virginia
- Role
- Author of all guides
- Specialties
- Moisture, water and mold
Certifications and license
Robert holds five certifications from the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification):
- Building Moisture Inspection (BMI)
- Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT)
- Applied Structural Drying Technician (ASD)
- Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT)
- Mold Remediation Specialist (MRS)
He holds a Virginia contractor license with the RBC (Residential Building Contractor) and H/H (Highway/Heavy) classifications and the HIC, CEM, BRK, LSC and UUC specialties, as defined by the Virginia Board for Contractors.
His work and this website
Robert owns a small remediation company in Virginia. Below the Sill does not send him customers or promote his company, and the site does not take requests for repair work. The guides on moisture, water and mold are based on his own work in Virginia; when a figure, a rule or a recommendation comes from somewhere else, the guide cites it.
Structural information is reviewed by Daniel Mercer. When a situation calls for a structural engineer, the guides say so. Robert is a relative of the person who runs this website; see our editorial policy.
Guides by Robert Stulpt
Crawl spaces
- Crawl spaces: how they work and what can go wrong
- Crawl space encapsulation: what it is and when it's worth it
- Crawl space encapsulation cost and repair prices
- Crawl space vapor barriers and liners
- Crawl space humidity and moisture
- Crawl space dehumidifiers
- Water in the crawl space
- Crawl space mold removal: what you can clean and when to call a pro
- Crawl space vents: open or closed?
- Crawl space insulation: floors, walls and rim joists
Basements
- Egress windows: what they are and what the code requires
- Egress window wells: size, ladders, drainage and covers
Basement water
- Water in the basement: where it gets in and what to do first
- Basement waterproofing: interior vs. exterior
- Flooded basement: what to do and how to prevent it
Basement finishing
Foundations
- House foundation types: slab, crawl space, basement and pier and beam
- Foundation cracks: types and when to worry
- Horizontal cracks and bowing basement walls
- Sill plates and rim joists: what they are and how they fail
Sump pumps
- Sump pumps: what they do and whether you need one
- Sump pump not working? Troubleshooting by symptom
- Sump pump battery backup, water-powered pumps and alarms
Drainage
- Yard grading: how to slope the ground away from your foundation
- Downspout drainage: how far, how to extend it and when to bury it
- What is a French drain? How it works and when it helps
Moisture & mold
- Basement humidity: ideal levels and how to measure
- Basement dehumidifiers: size, drainage and placement
- Dew point and condensation on basement walls
- Mold in basements: causes, cleanup and when to call a pro
- Mold inspection and testing: when it's worth it
- Mold remediation cost in crawl spaces and basements
- Musty and sewer smells in the basement