Crawl Space Repair Before & After Photos

Before: The standard 6-mil vapor barrier shown in this crawl space is commonly found in Virginian crawl spaces but offers little-to-no usage when it comes to protecting the crawl from moisture damage. It is flimsy and easily torn by service people crawling on top of it while working. Holes form in this liner, and the dirt floor becomes exposed, allowing moisture from the earth to rise into the crawl space, increasing the relative humidity, and allowing puddles and mud to form. This creates a mess for homeowners and can allow mold and mildew to thrive on organic materials in this dark and damp environment.

After: A durable 20-mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace, has been installed within this crawl space. It is a reinforced 7-layer polyethylene liner, much like a pool liner, which will protect the crawl space from moisture rising from the dirt flooring. The vapor barrier is finished with an antimicrobial, called UltraFresh, which will protect the liner from mold growth, although mold and mildew can still grow on any dust or dirt laying on top of the liner if the environment and relative humidity are not controlled. The CleanSpace gets wrapped around all piers and pillars and is fastened 6-8 inches above outside grade on the foundation walls, adding to the overall protection of outside air and moisture.

This Richmond, VA homeowner contacted us because they noticed moisture issues in their crawl space that they wanted to be addressed. At our inspection, we found microbial growth on the floor joists, no vapor barrier covering the ground, and falling, damaged insulation. 

Once the homeowner's belongings were removed, we cleaned all of the debris out of the crawl space and treated the microbial growth. We then sealed all the vents and air sealed the sill plate and all penetrations through the foundation walls to the outside. Next, our team rolled out a heavy-duty vapor barrier called CleanSpace, it was attached to the foundation walls, wrapped and sealed around all piers, and overlapped and sealed at all seams to seal the crawl space off from the earth's moisture. Now, the space is ready to be insulated with closed-cell spray foam on the foundation walls and in the rim band. Then a dehumidifier will be installed to control the relative humidity. 

Keeping air carrying moisture out and controlling the relative humidity in the space will help to prevent future moisture damage in the crawl space. It also creates a clean dry storage space for the homeowners and will help to keep their floors warmer in the winter and can even reduce energy bills. 

An interior, insulated, friction fit door is installed behind the existing crawl space door. 

Spray Foam insulation is installed on the crawl space walls and the vents, rim & band, and sill plate are sealed and insulated. 

This Dewitt, VA crawl space is encapsulated with a 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier, closed-cell spray foam, a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier, R-11 along the perimeter of the crawl space, and an Everlast Crawl Space door.