Technical Papers

Crawl Space Repair - The Benefits of Encapsulation for your Foundation Posts

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2021 by Jessica Dingle

FOUNDATION FOOTINGS AND WOODEN POSTS

WHY ENCAPSULATION KEEPS POSTS HEALTHY 

When we encapsulate a crawlspace with our CleanSpace vapor barrier, it comes protected with product warranties, and is made to seal your crawlspace from water intrusion. One aspect that we focus on to keep water out, it sealing off each wooden post with CleanSpace. Depending on the footing we have two options; lift the wooden post enough to slide the vapor barrier under it, or fully wrap the beam footing and sealing it up so water wont penetrate the wood. Either way water is kept from this important foundation piece. When water can work it's way into the woodwork it is absorbed and can cause many issues including rot and/or mold, both of which deteriorates the woods integrity leading to bowing and uneven floors. 

In the example here we can see a home that had water penetrate the wood work, it caused some wooden posts to rot, others to mold, and the flooring above was bowing and uneven. We had to replace one of the wooden beams under the home, and nine of the wooden posts to restore the homes structural integrity. If you chose to do a simple 6 Mil vapor barrier, please remember to have your crawlspace regularly inspected so water issues can be detected before your homes foundation is at risk. We work to keep your home dry and healthy, as well as safe for you and your family to live in. 

If you have questions about our full crawlspace encapsulation, reach out, any of our design specialists will be happy to chat about the benefits it can offer for you and your home. 

This post no longer rests on the footing, floating above it from the shift in the homes foundation due to rot nearby.

 

 This post no longer rests on the footing, floating above it from the shift in the homes foundation due to rot nearby. 

 

 

The Benefits of Encapsulation for your Foundation Posts - Image 4

 

This post had been elevated, and the homeowners had inserted some additional support for this beam, however water was still absorbing up into the woodwork, causing mold to grow.

 

 

The Benefits of Encapsulation for your Foundation Posts - Image 2

 

 The homeowners tried to add support to the home by building their own foundational reinforcement.

 

 

The Benefits of Encapsulation for your Foundation Posts - Image 3

 

 As the water absorbs into the wood, it creates water marks showing where rot and mold is beginning to take hold. 

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219 Airport Road
Silverton, OR 97381
1-503-419-0404


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12108 Mukilteo Speedway
Mukilteo, WA 98275
1-425-475-1500
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