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Home»Crawl Space Repair»Photo Gallery»Protecting a Williamsburg, VA Crawl Space from Moisture Infiltration

Crawl Space Repair Photo Album: Protecting a Williamsburg, VA Crawl Space from Moisture Infiltration

A homeowner in Williamsburg was interested in sealing and encapsulating their crawl space, so we sent one of our Home Performance Advisors out to evaluate their situation. Upon inspection, we found that there was an abundance of mold and mildew growth along many of the floor joists in the crawl space. Many of the fiberglass batts that were sitting in these moldy floor joists were damp, and chunks of the fiberglass were falling to the floor. The original liner, a 6-mil vapor barrier, was not properly sealed along the piers and foundation walls, leaving gaps where moisture can rise up from the earth. This can increase the relative humidity of the crawl space, which leads to mold growth and moisture damage to materials. We noticed that there was nothing covering the porous foundation walls, which can allow moisture to seep through them during heavy rainstorms. Also, open vents lined these walls, which outside air and moisture can freely enter into and affect the relative humidity and environment even further. We drew up proposals for a variety of solutions and services to help seal off the outside influence from the crawl space.

Mold and Mildew Growth

Many of the floor joists in this crawl space are covered with mold or mildew growth. This growth can form on any organic materials in the crawl space when the relative humidity reaches over 60% during warmer temperatures. Musty odors and mold spores can find their way up into the floors above and irritate those with allergies and asthma.

Exposed Gaps in 6-mil Liner

A 6-mil vapor barrier was originally installed in this crawl space, but it was not properly sealed around the piers and foundation walls. Gaps between the liner and walls leave areas of the dirt floor exposed. Moisture rises from the earth and through these gaps to elevate the relative humidity and further affect the environment.

Porous Foundation Walls and Open Vents

The foundation walls of the crawl space were made out of porous cinderblock walls, which allowed moisture to seep through them. Efflorescence was visible along the walls, which indicates that moisture had infiltrated through, bringing along with it the inner salts and sediments to the surface, creating a chalky, powdery substance. Open vents lining these walls were also allowing outside air and moisture to freely enter the crawl space and affect the relative humidity and environment.

Mold Remediation

The crawl space was cleared of any old materials, fiberglass insulation, and the old 6-mil liner before we applied an antimicrobial to any affected structures. This antimicrobial, called Shockwave, eliminates mold and mildew but does not remove any staining left behind from growth. It is important to note that mold growth can return if the relative humidity and environment are not controlled and regulated.

CleanSpace Vapor Barrier

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

Foamax Insulation

We installed a custom foam board insulation, called Foamax, over the foundation walls of the crawl space. This insulation, which is an inch and a half thick, acts as an air barrier and vapor retarder, as well. All of the open vents lining the walls are internally blocked and sealed, and the Foamax is sealed and mechanically fastened to the foundation walls.