Mold and Mildew Growth
Mold and mildew have formed on many of the floor joists within this crawl space. This can occur on organic materials when the relative humidity reaches 60% during warmer temperatures. The mold spores can the rise into the home and irritate those with allergies and asthma.
Mold Remediation
We applied an antibacterial, called Shockwave, to any affected areas on the wooden floor joists. This will eliminate the mold and mildew, but it does not remove any staining left behind from the growth. It is also important to note that the mold and mildew can return if the temperature and relative humidity are not controlled.
Interior Foundation Drainage
Bulk water infiltration into the crawl space is managed by installing an interior foundation drainage system. A trench is dug around the perimeter of the crawl space and filled with drainage rock and a drain line leading to a sump pump. This will collect and pump bulk water away from the home's foundation.
SuperSump Plus - Sump Pump
The drain line and sump pump are being installed before the new vapor barrier can be laid down. The trenching will be filled with more drainage rock to ensure water can move freely toward the sump pump without clogging the system.
Dirt Floors/Earth's Moisture
The dirt floors of this crawl space are completely exposed, allowing the earth's moisture to rise up and raise the relative humidity. This can lead to condensation, puddling, and mold or mildew growth.
CleanSpace Vapor Barrier
We installed a 20-mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace, over the dirt flooring of this crawl space. This heavy-duty liner gets wrapped around each pier, and is mechanically fastened up the foundation wall six to eight inches above the outside grade. CleanSpace will help to seal the crawl space and mitigate the earth's moisture from affecting the relative humidity.
SuperSump Pump Plus
This 1/3 HP pump system sits inside an airtight basin atop a stand that keeps it out of any sediment that may find its way into the basin. The orange puck you see on the top is a WaterWatch alarm, this alarm will sound if for any reason the pump fails or cannot keep up and the basin fills with water OR if there is a leak from above such as a burst pipe. The lid also features an air tight float that will lift and allow water to drain in the event of water above the pump.
Porous Foundation Walls
The foundation walls of this crawl space made with porous cinderblocks, which could allow the outside moisture to seep through them and raise the relative humidity. Open vents lining these walls were also allowing outside air and moisture to flow freely through them and affect the crawl space environment.
Spray Foam Insulation
An R-10 value of closed-cell spray foam was used to seal and insulate the foundation walls. At one and a half inches thick, this spray foam acts as an air barrier and a vapor retarder, giving protection to the crawl space from any outside influence. The open vents lining these walls were first blocked and sealed using foam board and can foam, then insulated over with the closed-cell spray foam.
SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier
The last step in keeping a crawl space dry and healthy is a dehumidifier. The SaniDry Sedona will cut on only when the relative humidity is over approximately 55%. The unit will remove humidity from the air and circulate dry air throughout the crawl space to help prevent future microbial growth.
Crawl Space Entrance
The door to this crawl space is made of wood, which becomes warped over time by the weather and the outside environment. Over time, cracks and gaps within the door begin to appear, allowing the outside moisture to slip through and affect the relative humidity of the crawl space. It also creates an opening for small critters and insects to sneak in.
Friction Fit Crawl Space Door
Behind the Everlast Crawl Space Door Panel is a custom made, Friction Fit door. This door was developed by Team TDC to insulate behind the crawl space door providing a continuous R-10 of insulation as required by code.
Everlast Door Cover
We replaced the old wooden crawl space door with an inner foam board door, and exterior PVC door cover, called Everlast. These two doors will not warp or be affected by the outside environment, which will help to keep the crawl space sealed and mitigate any outside air or moisture from seeping through.
