The Drying Company Before & After Photos

Moisture has been wreaking havoc in this crawl space. Mold and mildew are growing on the floor joists and the insulation has fallen and is damaged from the moisture. Efflorescence and staining on the foundation walls tell us that moisture is not only entering through the open vents but also through the block walls.

The homeowner wants to seal and insulate the crawl space to prevent future moisture damage and microbial growth. We began by treating the mold and mildew growth with shockwave, and antimicrobial that kills the microbial growth. Then we set to cleaning the space out then sealing all vents, penetrations to outside through the foundation walls, and the sill plate. CleanSpace Vapor barrier is installed, wrapped and sealed around all piers, attached to the foundation walls, and sealed at all seams. Finally, the rim band is insulated and foam board insulation is installed on the foundation walls and sealed at all seams. A dehumidifier is installed to control the relative humidity and help prevent future microbial growth. 

Moisture was seeping through the porous foundation walls of this basement in Colonial Beach. We installed a durable 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier over these basement walls, which will help to collect any moisture seeping through the walls and direct it to the Water Guard XL drainage system. The CleanSpace vapor barrier acts as a barrier between the usable basement space and the outside influences.

This basement in Colonial Beach was having issues with infiltrating water. We created a hole to fit our SuperSump Plus system in connection with the WaterGuard drainage system. This efficient sump pump basin contains a cast iron 1/3 horsepower Zoller pump, a WaterWatch alarm system, a CleanPump sump pump stand, and an airtight lid. Any water directed to this sump system is then drained out of the home via hose line and LawnScape to a predetermined area on the property away from the foundation. 

Utility lines in a vented crawl space are often affected by outside air carrying in moisture. Sealing vents, installing the CleanSpace Encapsulation System and insulating the crawl space walls with Spray Foam will help control the flow of air carrying moisture into the crawl space. 

As the insulation acts as a sponge, it holds moisture against the wood joists raising the moisture content of the joists. Mold requires organic material, warm temperatures, and relative humidity above 60% to grow. Often we see mold growing on the paper backing of the insulation and on wood joists in the crawl space. As the moisture content in the joists increases, the probability for wood rot becomes more likely. Once the joists reach 19% moisture wood rot begins. An antimicrobial called Shockwave is sprayed onto the joists to kill the mold. Once the encapsulation is complete and the dehumidifier is installed it will be set to turn on before the humidity in the crawl space reaches 60% (The ideal point for mold to grow). The Encapsulation system will help prevent ideal conditions for mold to grow from occurring and make the home healthier and more comfortable.