Mold Problems Photo Album: Improving Air Quality with Encapsulation - Portland, OR

Have you ever heard of The Stack Effect? This refers to the natural movement of air throughout your house. Warm air rises and exits through the attic and The Stack Effect explains how new air must replace that air from the bottom to the top. This means that the air that is circulating in your crawl space is the replacement air that enters into your home that you are then breathing in. Therefore, if your crawl space is in bad condition with mold or rot, then that directly affects the quality of air in your home. So how does John's Waterproofing fix that? By doing encapsulations on crawl spaces. With this system we are able to keep the crawl space dry and healthy to promote better air quality in your home. The first step in an encapsulation is removing the damaged fiberglass insulation and vapor barrier because those are optimal environments for mold and mildew to grow. Then, we install a drainage system using a perforated pipe and a TripleSafe sump pump. These work together to control the passage of water and collect it to be sent out of the crawl space and away from the homes foundation. Without a proper drainage system installed then standing water occurs, which evaporates over time and gets into the air. Then, we install a thick 3/4 in. insulation foam called TerraBlock. This creates a separation from the earth and the home to control the environment and protect against moisture. Over top of that, a CleanSpace vapor barrier is installed that is made from thick woven fibers that keep water out. A SaniDry dehumidifier is installed that controls the environment and pulls moisture out of the air. This promotes healthier air quality because it regulates the humidity levels in the crawl space. The last step in this process is applying Spray Foam along the foundation walls. This ensures the crawl space is fully insulated and air sealed to protect against outside elements. Once this entire encapsulation is completed, the crawl space can remain dry and promote healthier air quality in your home.