DIY Petri Dish Test for Crawlspace - Portland, OR
Challenge
This homeowner had their crawlspace 'repaired' by another waterproofing company. However, it was done done properly. Firstly the old fiberglass was still present and was falling from water weight. It also had critter droppings in it. The footings for the wooden posts were only wrapped along the sides, allowing water moisture to enter the wooden posts, causing rot to begin and mold spores to creep in. The space also had vents open, making an easy entrance for critters to come in, and for the space to still deal with humidity issues. The homeowners performed an at home test using a petri dish, after five days they checked the dish and found some nasty evidence of what was occurring in the crawlspace. To talk over options and see what they could do, the homeowners called up John's Waterproofing. After a full inspection, and a thorough conversation about why our John's Encapsulation works, they were ready to move forward, impressed by the knowledge and science that backs our system and how we install.
Solution
To begin, the crew pulled out all of the old insulation, and the vapor barrier and debris from the other company. We then installed a full drainage system with a TripleSafe sump pump to dispel the water away from the home. We then laid down TerraBlock insulation and brought in CleanSpace. This 20 Mil woven vapor barrier is inserted under each wooden post, attached along the foundation rim joist and fully sealed into place with a special four inch wide waterproof tape, ensuring moisture won't seep up into the wooden aspects of the home. Each vent was also fully sealed up. We then installed a SaniDry dehumidifier and applied spray foam along the walls to insulate and air seal. The homeowners did a second petri-dish test in the crawlspace, and after five days, checked. The homeowners were amazing with how much cleaner their crawlspace is and had to share their petri-dish findings with us. We love seeing how our system works and knowing we make homes dry and healthy!
