The Drying Company Before & After Photos

This homeowner in Richmond, VA called us out to discuss insulating their crawl space. We sent one of our Home Performance Advisors to inspect the situation and found that there was an abundance of mold growth on many of the floor joists in the crawl space. This can occur on any organic material in the crawl space so long as the relative humidity reaches over 60% during warmer temperatures. We used an antimicrobial, called Shockwave, to eliminate mold growth in any affected areas. We also removed the existing liner and any fiberglass batts from the crawl space. This was so we could replace it with a durable 10-mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace Light, which would protect the crawl space from the earth's rising moisture. The liner gets wrapped around all piers, sealed with vinyl tape, and mechanically fastened to the foundation walls six to eight inches above outside grade. We also noticed that the foundation walls were made with porous cinderblocks, which was allowing the outside moisture to seep through and affect the relative humidity. Open vents lined these porous walls to also allow the outside air and moisture to infiltrate the crawl space. We used custom foam board pieces to internally block off these open vents, then we used Foamax to insulate the crawl space walls. Foamax is 1.5 inches thick, giving it an insulation value of R-10. It acts as an air barrier and vapor retarder and helps to protect the crawl space from any outside influence. Finally, a high-performance dehumidifier called SaniDry Sedona was installed in the crawl space alongside a LittleGiant condensation pump to regulate and control the temperature and relative humidity. A hygrometer was given to the homeowner to monitor this at all times, and they should feel a definite increase in comfort and decrease in energy bills, as their crawl space is now insulated and sealed off from the outside.

This homeowner had concerns about water entering their basement, especially during the heavy rainfall the Virginia Peninsula and Richmond have been seeing. The solution was to install a complete basement waterproofing system. CleanSpace was installed covering the below-grade portion of the basement walls to direct any water infiltration into the drainage system. The WaterGuard Drainage System was installed to collect any water entering the basement that was directed downward by the CleanSpace and direct it toward the SuperSump System. The SuperSump System is a 1/3 hp sump pump, that pumps water out of the basement and away from the home. In these photos, you can see the bottom of the stairs in the basement. The before photo shows staining on the walls and a collection of silt and sediment where the floor meets the wall. these are clear signs that water is entering the basement. Since the basement is used for storage and laundry this poses a threat to the homeowner's valuables and washer and dryer. In the after photo, you can see the dark line of cement around the perimeter of the basement where the WaterGuard system has been installed and the bright white walls that are lined with CleanSpace. 

A homeowner in Richmond, VA was experiencing flood within their basement and had us install a Super Sump to help remove any excess water. The Super Sump has an efficient 1/3 cast iron pump on top of a CleanPump stand with an air-tight lid covering the sump basin. It is also equipped with a WaterWatch alarm system in case the pump fails or the water exceeds its capabilities. A drain line is connected to guide any water collected out of the basement and to a predetermined location on the homeowner's property.

Before: The foundation walls of this crawl space are covered in efflorescence, which indicates that water infiltration has been present for this home. Efflorescence occurs when water from the outside seeps through these porous cinderblock walls, bringing all the inner salt and sediment of the blocks to the surface and leaving these stains and marks upon the walls. The water that finds its way into the crawl space can elevate the relative humidity, leading to wood rot, mold and mildew growth, and material damage.

After: The crawl space walls have now been insulated and sealed with Foamax foam board pieces. These 1½ inch boards act as air barriers and vapor retarders, protecting the crawl space from outside influence. They are mechanically fastened to the walls, while the cracks are sealed with can foam. A 2-inch viewing strip is left on the top for termite inspectors, and the bottom is attached to the 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier. The crawl space is much more protected from outside air and moisture.

Before: The fiberglass insulation in this crawl space is beginning to fall out of the floor joists, suggesting that there is an excessive amount of water being absorbed by the insulation, making it too heavy to stay in place. Fiberglass acts as a sponge and will pull in moisture from the surrounding air, but the water droplets will pull apart the fibers, and gravity will pull it down in heavy chunks. If the fiberglass has paper-backing, there is a good chance that mold growth will occur, for paper-backed insulation is considered “mold candy” for how easy it is for mold to thrive on it.

After: The crawl space walls have been insulated using Foamax foam board pieces, which are 1½ inches thick, and act as an air barrier and vapor retarder against outside influence. The open vents lining these foundation walls have also been covered on the inside using precisely cut foam board pieces and sealed with can foam. With the walls protected with Foamax, and the dirt floor covered with a 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier, outside moisture, and air will find it difficult to penetrate the underbelly of this home.