Damaged & Falling Insulation
Fiberglass insulation absorbs moisture like a sponge. As it becomes heavier, it begins to fall away from the floor joists, and the fibers pull apart creating the stalactite effect. As wet insulation sits in the floor joists, it is also holding that water against the wood.
Microbial Growth on Floor Joists
.Warm temperatures, high relative humidity, and organic material are all mildew/mold needs to grow. In our area, we see hot, humid weather a little over half of the year. As that heat and moisture find their way into the crawl space, they create the perfect environment for microbial growth.
Staining on Foundation Walls
The dark spots on the walls are signs of moisture and water finding their way through the block wall, and condensation collecting on it. You may also see a white powdery substance called efflorescence, which is a result of the moisture pulling minerals in the block to the surface.
Sealing the Crawl Space
The CleanSpace Vapor Barrier is a heavy-duty 20-mil liner, similar to a pool liner. When it is installed, we overlap and seal all edges, bring it up the foundation walls 6-8 inches above outside grade, and wrap all piers. The liner is sealed to the walls and the piers, isolating the crawl space from the earth's moisture.
SuperSump & Drainage System
This crawl space had a lot of water infiltration. We installed an interior foundation drainage system with the SuperSump. The drainage will collect ground water and pump it out of the crawl space and to a designated spot on the homeowner's property.
