Historic Homes and Fieldstone Basements
Many houses in the Gettysburg Historic District and on surrounding Adams County farms were built in the 1800s and early 1900s on fieldstone or rubble foundations. These walls have no exterior waterproofing and no vapor barrier, so ground moisture moves through the mortar joints.
The result is basement humidity above 60%, white mineral crust (efflorescence) on the stone, and mold on floor joists, sill plates, and boxes stored against the walls. Basement mold remediation in these homes cleans wood and stone instead of tearing out original materials, then adds dehumidification.