Crawl Space Repair Before & After Photos

This crawl space was originally encapsulated at construction with a 6 mil Vapor Barrier and R-11 vinyl faced fiberglass insulation. The homeowner complained of an animal urine or ammonia odor in their home. This was a result of moisture entering the crawl space through the porous cinder block walls and saturating the fiberglass insulation. 

We installed a 20 mil Clean Space Vapor Barrier, Foamax Insulation Board, sealed the rim & band and sill plate, and installed a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier. This approach will help keep moisture out of the crawl space and control relative humidity. 

This Midlothian, VA homeowner contacted us because they were noticing odors in their home. Upon inspection of the home, we found that the crawl space had moisture infiltration which led to high relative humidity as well as mildew and mold growth on the floor joists and paper backing of fiberglass insulation. The musty, mildew odors were rising into the home and irritating the homeowners. 

We cleaned out the crawl space, treated the mold and mildew growth with an antimicrobial, and began the process of sealing the space. We want to keep as much outside air and moisture out of the crawl space as possible. We achieve this by installing CleanSpace, a heavy-duty crawl space liner that is sealed at all seams, and mechanically fastened and sealed to piers and walls 6-8 inches above outside grade. All vents, the rim and band, and sill plate are all sealed and all penetrations through the foundation wall to the outside are sealed as well. Then we installed closed cell spray foam on the foundation walls leaving a 2-inch viewing strip at the top of the foundation wall for termite inspections. After keeping as much outside moisture and air out of the crawl space as possible, we installed a Sanidry Sedona Dehumidifier to control relative humidity. 

This will help to prevent future microbial growth in the crawl space and those musty, mildewy odors from rising into the home. 

We replaced the 6-mil vapor barrier in this crawl space with a 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier. CleanSpace is overlapped and sealed at all seams, wrapped and sealed around all piers, and attached to the foundation walls about 6 inches above outside grade. 

Sealing the crawl space off from the earth's moisture helps to prevent water vapor from the earth from rising into the space and increasing the relative humidity. 

Moisture infiltration in this Midlothian, VA crawl space has resulted in damaged and fallen insulation and microbial growth. In the living space, the homeowner is experiencing cold floors and drafts in the winter and humidity in the warmer months. 

All of the debris and old, damaged material is cleaned out of the space. The vents, and any penetrations through the foundation wall to the outside are sealed. Then a CleanSpace vapor barrier is installed. The vapor barrier is overlapped and sealed at all seams, attached to the foundation wall, and wrapped and sealed around all piers. Next, our spray foam technicians will apply closed-cell spray foam insulation to the foundation walls, insulate the rim band, and install a dehumidifier to control the relative humidity. 

We met this homeowner at a home show, where they asked us to come to inspect their crawl space because they were interested in encapsulating it due to moisture and mildew-mold concerns. This section of the crawl space is under an addition. The vapor barrier is unsealed, allowing moisture to rise from the ground and contribute to high relative humidity. Microbial growth is beginning on the floor joists and the fiberglass insulation is beginning to sag and fall.

The old materials have been removed, vents sealed, and the sill plate and rim band have been sealed as well. The CleanSpace vapor barrier has been installed with all seams overlapped and sealed. The moisture barrier is also run up the walls 6-8 inches above outside grade. The walls are prepped for spray foam insulation to be applied.