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Home»About Us»Photo Gallery»Sealing and Insulating a Quinton, VA Crawl Space

Photo Album: Sealing and Insulating a Quinton, VA Crawl Space

A homeowner in Quinton called us out to investigate their crawl space for any damage or moisture issues. A well-trained Home Performance Advisor was sent out to inspect underneath the home, and we found mold and mildew growth on many of the floor joists. The fiberglass insulation batts hanging from the floor joists were also damp with moisture, and beginning to sag or fall out of place in chunks. Much of the excessive moisture in the crawl space can be attributed to the exposed dirt floors, which in many areas were uncovered and unsealed. The porous foundation walls, which were made of cinderblocks, can also allow outside moisture to seep through them during heavy rainstorms, while the open vents lining the walls allow air and moisture to freely enter the crawl space and affect the relative humidity and environment. This crawl space needed serious solutions to help protect it from outside influence, and mitigate the issues caused by excessive moisture.

Mold Growth, Damp Fiberglass

Mold and mildew have formed along the floor joists of this crawl space. This can occur on organic materials of the crawl space when the relative humidity reaches over 60% during warmer temperatures. Musty odors and mold spores can reach the floors above and irritate those with allergies and asthma. The fiberglass insulation batts are also damp with moisture, which can pull the fibers apart and cause the fiberglass to fall out of place in chunks.

Exposed Dirt Flooring

Many areas of the crawl space were uncovered and allowing moisture to rise from the earth and affect the relative humidity and environment. Building material and debris are littered around, and the muddy floors and the lack of liner also make it difficult for service persons to maneuver around the crawl space.

Porous Foundation Walls

Outside air and moisture are able to penetrate through these porous cinderblock walls. This can lead to an elevation in the relative humidity, which can cause mold or mildew growth, high energy bills, and uncomfortable floors or temperatures during the cold or hot seasons.

Mold Remediation and Fiberglass Removal

An antimicrobial, called Shockwave, was used to eliminate mold growth on any affected floor joists. This application will kill the mold and mildew but it does not remove any staining left behind by the growth. We also removed the damp fiberglass batts from between the floor joists, as we will add a different form of insulation later on.

CleanSpace Vapor Barrier

We installed a 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier over the dirt flooring of this crawl space. This heavy-duty liner was wrapped around all piers, sealed with vinyl tape, and mechanically fastened to the foundation walls six to eight inches above outside grade. CleanSpace will help to protect the crawl space from any moisture rising out of the earth and adds a clean and bright aesthetic to the crawl space.

Closed-Cell Spray Foam

We applied an inch and a half closed-cell spray foam over the foundation walls of the crawl space. This will act as an air barrier and vapor retarder and will protect the crawl space from any outside influence. The open vents lining the walls are also covered using custom foam board pieces, sealed with can foam, and then covered with spray foam, as well.