Your Dependable Woodland, WA Wet Basement & Foundation Crack Repair Experts

This homeowner called us up since they knew their crawl space needed some attention. They had glanced under there, unaware how it had been holding up over the years. When they glanced they found tears in their old vapor barrier as well as the fiberglass insulation falling in stipes. The entire space smelled damp, and so John's was called in for a full inspection and so they could learn about encapsulation. 

To begin on this project, we removed all of the old insulation and vapor barrier. Once cleared out we installed a full drainage system with a TripleSafe sump pump and sealed the vents shut. We then insulated the dirt floor using TerraBlock insulation. Next a layer of CleanSpace is installed. This goes under each wooden post, seals and anchors to the rim joist, and is sealed along all of the seams. We finish insulating the space properly we then applied spray foam along the foundation walls. This both air seals and insulates. The home is now set up with a system that will last, and the homeowners won't have to stress about their crawl space getting nasty again. 

This homes floor had a bounce to it, after searching online, the homeowners learned this was generally due to the homes posts needing to be addressed. Unable to go under the home themselves, they called up John's Waterproofing. Our design specialist came out and did a full inspection, and discovered that the three wooden posts on the hillside of the home were floating above their footings, with the worst being a solid three inches above the footing. To solve the homes issues we present a few options and found a solution that fit the homeowners wants. 

To begin we removed the old vapor barrier, old fiberglass, and general debris. We then replaced the floating posts with our SmartJacks. These can adjust to fit the space and realign the floor. We then installed a SuperSump Plus in the lowest point where water will flow down the hillside to be pumped away from the home. TerraBlock was laid over the dirt floor and CleanSpace was installed. This went under the wooden posts, attached along the walls, and was vapor sealed into place. All the vents were effectively sealed shut and we air sealed the foundation. As a final step we installed a SaniDry dehumidifier to keep the space healthy and protect the home from water damage. 

A simple 6 Mil vapor barrier, generally lasts a few years. It can shift position and allow water and moisture on top of it, which leads to water issues for the home. It is also prone to rips and tears, and is easy for critters to chew through. This homes vapor barrier hadn't been replaced in at least six years, and it was long overdue. Mud was caked over the vapor barrier, it had shifted, exposing large sections of mud, and chew marks and rips were scattered throughout. To get the crawlspace back into shape, the homeowners called up John's Waterproofing. 

To begin our work, we cleared the old vapor barrier and debris out. We then dug a trench along the interior perimeter of the space, installing our perforated pipe in a silt sock. This will collect groundwater and grade it along to the lowest point of the crawlspace where we installed a TripleSafe sump pump. From there water is pumped out away from the home homes foundation to a LawnScape outlet. We then laid in a new 6 Mil vapor barrier, overlapping the edges and running it up the wall to help it last a few years until it will once again need the barrier replaced, or they can choose to upgrade to an encapsulation at that point. 

Some odors were coming up into the home from the crawlspace. The homeowner was interested and decided to look under the home. They found the exterior entrance was a simple piece of wood, that was rotting along the edges. Under they home they also discovered mold spores along some of the wooden beams and posts. They called up John's Waterproofing and we sent out a design specialist to perform a full inspection. 

To help out we began by installing a Turtl exterior entrance. This will keep water from entering the crawlspace and won't mold or rot. The crawlspace had a good slope to it, so in the lowest spot, we installed a SuperSump pump to discharge ground water well away from the foundation. We then applied Mold X2 as needed. To insulate the space we then laid down TerraBlock over the dirt floor and encased this with CleanSpace, a 20 Mil vapor barrier. Each vent was sealed up, and spray foam was applied to the foundation walls. A SaniDry dehumidifier was then installed. 

This homeowner lives on a hillside overlooking the ocean and was experiencing water that came down the hill and into the crawlspace whenever it rained. They knew it all needed to be fixed and was interested in seeing what could be done in the way of yard drainage to help stop the flow of water from damaging their home. A System Designer was scheduled to go help design a system to keep the crawlspace dry. He arrived and set to work examining the entire crawlspace and the exterior situation for designing a solution. The major issue for the home was the rain trying to get down the hill to the ocean through the crawlspace. She sat with the System Designer to go over her options and she chose to do a drainage system with a good sump system and replace the old vapor barrier. 

When the crew arrived, they removed the old vapor barrier and other assorted debris. Next they installed a 3" perforated drain pipe around the interior perimeter of the crawlspace and terminated at a TripleSafe sump system. This system is complete with a primary pump, a backup pump should the primary fail or is unable to keep up with the water and an UltraSump Battery backup to ensure continued operations in the event of a power outage. The sump system also includes an alarm to alert the homeowner should it fail. The new 6mil vapor barrier was laid out and overlapped as well as run up the foundation walls to assure that any water intrusion from the walls or footing would be led to the new drain system. 

This homeowner noticed their exterior crawlspace entryway had some chew marks along it. To check what was happening, they removed this and found water in the crawlspace. While the pest situation wasn't prominent, the water and high humidity was. Knowing that water moisture can lead to mold and structural damage, they called up John's Waterproofing for a solution. 

To begin this project, our installation crew cleared out the damaged fiberglass insulation, old vapor barrier, and debris. We then installed a SuperSump Pump to collect groundwater to divert out and away from the home. To add in insulation we then laid TerraBlock over the dirt floor. The space was then encased with our CleanSpace vapor barrier. This is installed under each wooden post, anchored along the foundation rim joists, and sealed into place. To insulate the foundation walls we then added in spray foam. We changed the exterior entryway to a Turtl entrance and upgraded the vent covers. The final thing we did for this job was a SaniDry dehumidifier to ensure this space stays dry and healthy. 

High energy bill fluctuations can be a good indicator that the heating and cooling your home does is getting wasted. When your home lacks sufficient insulation it has to work harder to regulate a set temperature your energy bill goes up. This was the issue that this homeowner was facing so they called us. 

Our crew quickly found that the fiberglass insulation that had been installed under their home was drooping, soggy, and not doing its job. So to begin we removed all of this, and any other debris we found. With a clear space to work our crew installed a TripleSafe sump pump to divert all groundwater a safe distance away from the home. We then laid down TerraBlock crawlspace insulation. This is specially made, so it will not be damaged by water. We then encased the area with our CleanSpace 20 Mil vapor barrier. We isolate the posts and fasten to the foundation walls, and this product comes with our 25-year warranty against rips and tears. The foundation walls were then sprayed with spray foam. Each vent cover was then recovered and a SaniDry Sedona was installed to dehumidify the crawlspace. The homeowners saw an instant decrease in their energy bills and were so please to have the job done right!

Homeowners had a part of their basement finished a few years earlier. Their large basement had been sectioned off so they had a general storage room, an office space, and a work out room with a portion still being unfinished that had a shorter ceiling than they rest of the basement. When a big rain storm hit, they learned that not all of the basement had been finished properly. The stairs leading into the basement were weeping water from the unfinished room into the finished portion. When John's came out to examine the space, it was discovered that the rain gutter was draining all the water right next to the unfinished portion of the home, where it seeped into the space and was working its way to the finished spaces through the stairwell.

To begin this waterproofing job we had to dry the space and remove any permanently damaged wood and clean out the debris. Once the space was prepped we added a LawnScape outlet on the gutter drain so it would take all of that water out to a safe distance from the home. We added in a pipe on the interior of the unfinished portion of the basement with a TripleSafe Sump Pump and Smart Drain so that if any water did make its way into the basement it could be safely cleared away. We then added ThermalDry and Brightwall paneling to the unfinished portion so that no water could make its way through the concrete slab walls. We covered the floor with our ThermalDry Carpeting so that it would be clean and easy to maneuver through. 

The homeowners were lucky that the finished portions of their basement was done properly, the original contractors had just overlooked the unfinished portion and how water could work through stairs. Luckily we were able to do damage control and put a waterproofing system in to save the finished basement and protect the home from any further waterproofing issues.