Preferred Basement & Crawl Space Waterproofing Experts Serving Middlesex County

This homeowner reached out to us because they had concerns about water coming into their basement. The basement has brick walls, and in many places, the mortar between the bricks is missing. We see cases like this often, especially with some of the older homes in our historic area. While the homeowner has not yet decided to move forward with the project, we proposed the WaterGuard Drainage System with SmartSump System to keep the basement dry and remove water away from the home.

WaterGuard is a minimally invasive perimeter drainage system. Unlike exterior solutions, WaterGuard allows us to only dig out the perimeter of the basement instead of digging up the customer’s yard or tearing up the entire basement floor. To install the system, we first trench the perimeter of the basement, then lay in stone to create a drainage plane. The WaterGuard track is then laid on top of the stone and recovered with cement. We fasten CleanSpace Vapor Barrier to the basement walls directing any moisture that finds its way through the walls down into the drainage system.

The WaterGuard system leads to a SmartSump System, in this case, we recommended 2 pumps be installed. For homes that have a lot of water intrusion, or when homeowners want the peace of mind that if the power fails during a storm, their basement won’t flood, we recommend the UltraSump Battery Backup. This system will keep the basement dry all the time and if the homeowner chooses, they can even finish the basement by framing and sheet rocking over the CleanSpace.

This Deltaville crawl space had insulation falling and puddling on the vapor barrier. The high relative humidity was resulting in mildew and mold growth on the floor joists as well. The homeowner had already blocked the crawl space vents, however, just blocking the vents doesn’t mitigate the moisture and relative humidity concerns that damage insulation and aid microbial growth.

Because humidity continued to collect in the crawl space and it was subject to the warm temperatures, we see most of the year, microbial growth occurred on the joists and paper backing of the insulation. The Fiberglass insulation absorbed the moisture like a sponge holding it against the floor joists. The material became heavier and began to sag and fall. We often see what looks like fiberglass insulation dripping from the joists. This is due to a process called delamination where the fibers and layers of the material begin to separate as it is subjected to moisture and gravity.

The existing 6 mil vapor barrier in the crawl space had evidence of puddling, indicating that water is getting on top of the liner either from infiltration at the foundation walls or condensation. A 6-mil barrier is a flimsy material similar to a trash bag and is easily ripped and displaced and typically has an oily coating on it. This means that it is rarely sealed at the seams because tape often doesn’t stick to it and attaching it and sealing it to the walls is extremely difficult and if successful, it is easily pulled off as you navigate through the space. A 6 mil is typically laid on the floor and held in place with metal stakes. This is ineffective for a vapor barrier because it creates additional openings in the barrier for vapor and moisture to enter the crawl space from the earth, which is already occurring because the liner is unsealed.

For this home, we recommended removing any old, damaged insulation, vapor barrier, and debris. Then we suggested a foundation drainage system to address the bulk water in the crawl space that was contributing to the moisture issue. We would then want to treat the wood with an antimicrobial, called Shockwave. This product is a hospital-grade antimicrobial designed to kill mold. Next, we recommend installing either Closed Cell Spray Foam or Foamax Foam Board insulation on the crawl space walls. Both materials offer a continuous R-10 of insulation on the walls, and a friction fit door is installed behind the exterior door for insulation and air sealing.  We will also seal and insulate the sill plate and rim and band to reduce any gaps in the home allowing in outside air and moisture. Finally, we suggest installing a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidification System. The SaniDry is specifically designed to control the relative humidity in the crawl space, removing moisture from the air and circulating dry air.

If the homeowner chooses to apply this solution to their crawl space, they will be able to not only control the moisture impacting their crawl space but make their home more energy-efficient and comfortable. The homeowner also won’t need to worry about treating mold, replacing insulation or the vapor barrier in their crawl space again.

This homeowner contacted us about adding insulation under their home. At the inspection, we found that this was not a traditional crawl space with block foundation walls. Instead, the home was piers and the crawl space was open to the outside. Insulating the foundation walls won’t work here because there aren’t any walls. Installing fiberglass batts between the joists isn’t a long term solution because it will be exposed to the elements and humidity allowing it to absorb moisture and damage and get heavy, falling away from the floor and leaving the homeowner with the same problem, if not a worse one.

In this case, we recommend removing the existing plywood and applying 3 inches of closed-cell spray foam to the underside of the floor. At this thickness, the closed-cell foam would offer the benefit of air sealing and is a vapor retarder. If the homeowner chooses this solution, it will result in warmer floors in the winter, reduce drafts in the home, and reduce their energy bills.

This Urbanna, VA homeowner contacted us because even through they had a sump pump and floor drainage system already installed in their basement, they still had concerns with moisture coming through the walls. The homeowner used their basement for storage and was working on making part of it a finished space. However, even with a drainage system and sump, they still had moisture working its way into the basement and impacting their belongings. This was occurring because moisture and water vapor seeped through the porous block wall and into the basement, pulling mineral in the block wall with it. The buildup of efflorescence on the block wall tells us moisture is actively working its way through the foundation walls and into the basement. As moisture enters the environment, as long as conditions are right, it can damage the belongings in the space and even result in microbial growth. At this time, we did not find any microbial growth.

For this project, we proposed installing CleanSpace Vapor Barrier on the basement walls and tying it into the existing drainage system. Adding the vapor barrier would direct any moisture coming in through the walls down into the drainage system instead of impacting the basement environment. If the homeowner chooses to go this route, it will also allow them to finish the basement walls over the system.

A Water View, VA homeowner reached out to us because they had noticed moisture issues in their crawl space. The insulation was saturated, and they were concerned that the joists were compromised. They wanted to repair the damage and protect their home from future problems.

At the inspection, we discovered that moisture and bulk water were a chief concern. Water had eroded a trench around the perimeter of the foundation walls. This water evaporates into the crawl space raising relative humidity (RH). In addition, moisture was dumping into the crawl space through open vents and water vapor was rising from the earth. As the RH increases over 60%, mold and mildew growth can begin. Moisture is absorbed by porous materials such as the wood substructure of the home and fiberglass insulation.

The fiberglass insulation is damaged by the moisture, which degrades the fibers causing them to pull apart and fall. The added weight of the moisture also causes the batts to fall away from the floors. The wood also absorbs water, increasing its wood moisture content. When the wood moisture content reaches about 19% or higher, wood rot can begin. If left untreated, this can lead to significant damage to the foundation.

To address the moisture concerns and protect the foundation and home from further damage we proposed an interior foundation drainage system and crawl space encapsulation. First, we want to install a drainage system that will collect the bulk water flowing into the crawl space and direct it to a sump pump. A drainage system is necessary even when encapsulating because bulk water can penetrate the vapor barrier, which is only designed to be a vapor suppression system, not deter excess water.

We then want to treat any mold and mildew with an antimicrobial, to kill the mold. Then, we would seal the crawl space from the earth’s moisture using the CleanSpace Vapor Barrier. CleanSpace is a heavy-duty crawl space liner designed to withstand being crawled on by service persons. When installed, CleanSpace is sealed at all seams, wrapped around all piers and sealed, and mechanically attached and sealed to foundation walls 6-8 inches above outside grade.

Then we would seal the rim and band, sill plate, vents, and any utility penetrations to the outside with foam. Air sealing the crawl space addresses all the natural holes that occur during a home’s construction and prevents air and moisture from flowing into the space. Then we want to insulate the crawl space walls with either closed-cell spray foam or foam board insulation. Insulating from the crawl space walls allows us to extend the thermal barrier of the home to the crawl space floor. It also reduces heat transfer through the foundation walls. A friction fit door, which offers both air sealing and insulation behind the exterior crawl space door would also be installed.

The final piece is installing a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier. Though we have prevented as much outside air from finding its way into the crawl space as possible, we still need to control the relative humidity. The SaniDry Sedona is specifically designed for crawl spaces and basements. The unit is set to kick on when relative humidity reaches about 55%. It pulls excess moisture from the air and filters it, then circulates dry air throughout the crawl space. With every dehumidifier, we install a hygrometer which allows the homeowners to monitor the relative humidity and temperature of their crawl space from insider their home. The display unit also reads the temperature and RH inside the home.

Taking this route to control relative humidity will protect their foundation from moisture and wood rot. As an added benefit, they will have better indoor air quality, lower energy bills, and be more comfortable in their home.

A community center in Locust Hill, VA contacted us when they had some moisture issues in the crawl space. They had an excess of water coming into the crawl space. Moisture stains were present on the walls and the ground was damp and muddy.

Moisture absorbed into the fiberglass insulation, making it heavier and causing the batts to fall. As moisture collected in the insulation, it damaged the fibers, causing the material to pull apart from itself. The high relative humidity and warm temperatures in the space had allowed mold to grow on the floor joists and paper backing of the insulation.

The building’s managers wanted to address the water and mold concerns under the structure and protect it from future problems.

First, we began by cleaning out the crawl space, removing all debris, insulation, and 6-mil vapor barrier. We then treated the mold with Shockwave, a hospital-grade antimicrobial designed to kill the mold. The next step was to install a drainage system to mitigate the bulk water seeping into the crawl space. We dug a trench around the perimeter of the crawl space and installed stone and drain line. The drain line fed to a SuperSump Pump which evacuates the water and discharges it to a spot on the property designated by the owner.

Next, we seal the crawl space from the earth with a heavy-duty CleanSpace vapor barrier. The liner is sealed at all seams, wrapped and sealed around all piers, and attached and sealed to the foundation walls about 6 inches above outside grade. This will prevent moisture that seeps through the walls from entering the crawl space, and instead direct it under the liner. It will also stop water vapor from the earth from rising into the crawl space.

Then, we seal off all vents, the sill plate, rim and band, and any penetrations through the crawl space walls to outside. This stops as much outside air from entering the crawl space as possible. Next, we insulated the crawl space walls with rigid foam board insulation. The sheets of insulation are mechanically attached to the walls and sealed at all seams.

Finally, we installed a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier. This is the last step to controlling the relative humidity and preventing future microbial growth. The Sedona pulls excess moisture out of the air, filters the air, and circulates dry air throughout the crawl space.

This solution will mitigate the excess water, discharging it away from the foundation. With the crawl space sealed and relative humidity controlled, the substructure is protected from future moisture damage and mold and mildew growth.

If your business has a wet crawl space, call the pros at The Drying Co. our Advisors will do a thorough inspection, take photos, and discuss your options with you. Call 1-757-566-8622 to schedule a free inspection and estimate.

This client reached out to us about insulating a metal garage on their property. We recommending applying closed-cell spray foam insulation to the walls and roof. At 1.5 inches, the spray foam provides the benefit of being an air barrier and vapor retarder. With this solution, the client can help to reduce the heat in the space, and if they choose to do so, could later condition the space. 

This homeowner in Jamaica, VA was planning on rehabilitating a home and called us out to inspect for any major issues found within the crawl space. We sent out one of our Home Performance Advisors to evaluate the situation and draw up a proposal full of services and solutions that would help to seal and protect this crawl space.

Upon the inspection, we found that many of the wooden floor joists were covered with mold and mildew growth. This can occur on any organic materials in the crawl space when the relative humidity reaches over 60% during warmer temperatures. Musty odors and mold spores rising into the home above can cause problems for those with allergies and asthma. An antimicrobial would be necessary to eliminate the mold, and then the environment would need to be controlled to prevent further growth.

We also noticed that the dirt flooring of the crawl space was uncovered by any type of liner or vapor barrier. The exposed flooring means that the earth's moisture can rise into the crawl space and affect the relative humidity and environment. Excessive moisture can lead to mold growth, condensation, and moisture damage to materials. A proper vapor barrier will need to be installed over the dirt floors and sealed around all piers and foundation walls to help prevent the earth's moisture from affecting the crawl space.

Turning our attention to the foundation walls, we found that there was evidence of efflorescence upon them. This tells us that outside moisture has seeped through the porous cinderblock walls, bringing along with it the inner salts and sediments to the surface and creating a chalky, powdery substance along the walls. We would suggest closed-cell spray foam or custom Foamax foam board to insulate and seal the foundation walls.

Open vents also line these crawl space walls, and while many of them were already blocked off, there were a few unblocked vents that were allowing outside air and moisture to freely enter the crawl space. This outside influence can lead to elevated relative humidity, high energy bills, drafts, and cold floors during the winter. Before applying any spray foam or foam board to the walls, we would want to block and seal these vents to help protect the crawl space from air and moisture infiltration.

Once we have sealed and insulated the crawl space, we would want to add an energy-efficient dehumidifier to help regulate and control the relative humidity, temperature, and environment of the crawl space. Our SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier does just this. It would circulate dry air around the crawl space, and pull moisture from the area. We would set it at a specific relative humidity percentage, and present the homeowner with a hygrometer, which would allow them to monitor the temperature and humidity of their crawl space at all times.

Our Home Performance Advisor drew up a proposal giving suggestions to a number of these solutions and products to help mitigate moisture influence on the crawl space. If the homeowner decides to move forward on sealing and encapsulating their crawl space, they would get to enjoy lower energy bills, a more comfortable home, and the storage use of their clean and dry crawl space. If you are interested in a crawl space inspection of your own, then please give us a call at 1-757-566-8622. We'll do everything we can to help you keep the outside, outside!