Crawl Space Repair Before & After Photos

Crawl spaces are often easy to forget about. They are out of sight, therefore, out of mind. Most homeowners don't know that about 40% of the air in their home is coming from underneath, so if the crawl space is full of dirt, debris, mold and rodents, that is what is circulating in their air.  These homeowners felt like their air quality seemed poor, they also noticed a strong odor which lead them to checking their crawl space and after seeing the state of it, they knew they had to transform the space. They gave us a call and scheduled their free visit and we went out and thoroughly inspected the space. After, we met with them to discuss options and provide a permanent solution; encapsulation.

First we remove all of the debris, damaged vapor barrier and fiberglass insulation. This crawl space did not have much water activity so we install one of our SmartDrain systems which will alert the homeowner to a plumbing leak with an audible alarm and drains the water away into a drywell underneath the waterproofing system until it can be addressed. We then make sure to cover all of the vents and seal them shut to ensure no outside enters. On the dirt floor, we install our TerraBlock material which is 3/4th inch foam acting as ground insulation. On top of the TerraBlock system, we place our 20 mil thick liner, CleanSpace, which is placed between each footing and wooden post and anchored into the foundation walls, up to the rim joists. This is sealed with our heavy duty CleanSpace tape. We install a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier to effectively eliminate odors by drying and filtering the air. This product will also keep the crawl space at a healthy relative humidity and create better over all air quality. To finish this encapsulation, we install our foam insulation onto the foundation walls, up to the rim joists. This is sprayed onto the foundation walls and expands, filling every crack and void guaranteeing a complete airtight seal. This encapsulation is now complete and these homeowners can now have peace of mind knowing their home is protected. 

This homeowner knew they needed crawlspace repair. When the noted a damp earthy smell, they opened up the crawlspace entrance in their closet, only to find a muddy flood. They called up John's Waterproofing for a full encapsulation. We first performed a full dry-out and then encapsulated the space to make it dry and healthy. 

When moisture is a constant issue in the crawl space, this can lead to a plethora of issues. For this home it meant that the old fiberglass insulation was water logged and drooping from the HVAC systems. There was also a significant amount of debris that had been caked over the old vapor barrier, and a few wooden posts were damp, but not quite yet irreparable. To get the space healthy we would install a full waterproofing system. We installed a interior perimeter drain system which would collect groundwater and channel it to a newly installed TripleSafe sump pump. From here the water is discharged away from the home. TerraBlock insulation was than laid over the dirt floor and CleanSpace wrapped over it. CleanSpace is a 20 Mil vapor barrier with a woven fiber through it which helps to make it more durable and helps it to protect your home. 

This before and after shows that process of applying Spray Foam insulation to the walls of the crawlspace after Cleanspace is installed. Insulation is not needed on the sub-floor because the Spray foam on the walls is working with the cleanspace to encapsulate, waterproof, and insulate. They work better together than apart! Spray Foam is closed-celled so it will not allow water to collect or stick to it. 

Most crawl spaces are unintentionally neglected. That is, until a problem that cannot be ignored presents itself. This crawl space was causing humidity and damp smells throughout the living area, which concerned the homeowners. Water in the crawl space causes moisture that raises indoor humidity leading to musty smells, discomfort and potential damage to the flooring, walls and even furniture. Wanting to find a permanent solution, these homeowners gave us a call and we went out to perform a free estimate. During the thorough inspection we found signs of active water, rodent nests and droppings. After the inspection we met with the homeowners to discuss options that will not only address all the issues but will keep the home protected for years to come. We went over the benefits of a full encapsulation and the homeowners moved forward with the estimate and scheduled their project.

First, we start by removing all of the debris and old vapor barrier. Next, we dug a trench around the interior perimeter of the crawl space and placed a 3 inch perforated pipe into a silt sock to create a secure passage for water to properly drain to the lowest point. At this low point we installed our TripleSafe system that collects all of the water that enters and pumps it outside through a discharge line. We then make sure all of the vents in the crawl space are covered and sealed shut. Next, we install our TerraBlock. This system is designed to be installed onto the dirt floor to insulate and help block moisture. On top of the TerraBlock, we installed our CleanSpace system which is a heavy duty 20 mil thick barrier. We seal this at the footing of the wooden posts with our waterproof CleanSpace tape. This liner also gets anchored into the foundation walls, up to the rim joists. Outside, we install our EverLast door to create sealed exterior access into the crawl space. To control the environment, we install our SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier that will eliminate damp and musty odors by drying and filtering the air and keep the home at a healthy relativity humidity; promoting healthier air throughout the entire home. To finish this encapsulation, we install our spray foam insulation onto the foundation walls. These homeowners can now have peace of mind knowing that their home is protected for years to come.