Protecting Your Wood Against Mold - Sherwood, OR
Challenge
This homeowner noticed a murky odor throughout their home and decided to inspect their crawl space and find the cause of it. They found that the wood in their crawl space was covered in mold and water damage. They contacted John's Waterproofing for help on how they would be able to get rid of the mold and save the homes wooden framing. In order to do so, they agreed a full encapsulation would provide the best solution to eliminate what mold was ruining their wooden posts and take preventative measures in ensuring this wouldn't be a problem for them again.
Solution
A full encapsulation is one of the best solutions to prevent mold from growing because it is able to regulate the crawl space's humidity levels. If there is high humidity levels, this can result in moisture content seeping into the wood because if the environment is damp it will make the wood wet itself. The first step in a encapsulation is removing the previous vapor barrier and fiberglass insulation. Then, we apply a spot treatment, Moldx, to any mold and mildew to kill the growth. A drainage system is set up along the interior perimeter of the crawl space and is connected to a TripleSafe sump pump. This system creates a safe passage for water to flow through and be pushed safely away from the homes foundation. TerraBlock, a 3/4 in. insulation foam, is then installed throughout the entire base of the crawl space. On top of that, CleanSpace is installed which is a vapor barrier that is a 20 mil thick plastic with woven fibers. This vapor barrier is sealed with waterproof tape and is installed even between the footing and wooden posts to ensure there is no exposure for mold or water damage to get into. We then hook up a SaniDry dehumidifier, designed specifically to control the environment by pulling moisture out. To insulate along the foundation walls, Spray Foam is applied and air seals the space. Doing an encapsulation is the best preventative to combat mold growth and preserve the quality of wood that is stabilizing your home.
