John's Waterproofing Before & After Photos

Water damage is every homeowners biggest nightmare. It can cause the wooden posts supporting your home to rot, increases exposure to mold growth, and structural damage can cost homeowners thousands. Good thing at John's Waterproofing our encapsulation process helps to keep your crawl spaces dry and healthy so that water can't cause any damage. The most important step in the encapsulation system is removing everything in the crawl space that has been water damaged. Usually that means we are taking out falling fiberglass insulation and the destroyed vapor barrier. Once everything is cleared out, we can install a proper drainage system. We dig a trench along the interior perimeter of the crawl space and lay a perforated pipe. This pipe can collect any water that tries to enter and offers it a safe passageway to a drain. For this encapsulation we installed a SmartDrain to collect the water from the pipe and send it away from the homes foundation. This system helps to keep the crawl space dry and avoid standing water. Afterwards, we install TerraBlock along the entire base of the space. This is a thick insulation foam that seals the earth from the house. It helps insulate and promotes energy efficiency because it regulates the environment. Next, a CleanSpace vapor barrier is installed on the base, up the foundation walls, and between the footing and wooden posts to isolate and protect. This vapor barrier differs from code regulated barriers because instead of only being 6 mil thin, it is 20 mil thick. It helps keep water from seeping over top and getting into the crawl space. A SaniDry dehumidifier is installed that filters the air by pulling out any particles or moisture. Lastly, Spray Foam is applied along the foundation walls to insulate and air seal the space. Once the encapsulation is completed, it has a clean look while also keeping it dry and healthy. 

Spray foam insulation is one of the best decisions a homeowner can make for their home. Not only does it help with keeping a home comfortable and dry, but it will help save money on energy bills. Spray foam is simply the most cost effective way to improve the homes energy efficiency. The install process allows the foam to be sprayed into every crack and void that is usually missed with traditional fiberglass insulation, increasing effectiveness and performance. These homeowners were noticing a rise in their energy bills and reached out to John's in hopes of helping lower costs and upgrading their crawl space. After our system design specialist went out to perform a free inspection, he met with the homeowners to go over options and they moved forward with the proposed repair plan. To start this project, we removed all the debris, old fiberglass insulation, and damaged vapor barrier. Due to the warmer atmosphere of the area, this home did not experience ground water issues, but more humidity issues that occurred during the warm summer, so the home did not need drainage. We install our TerraBlock system, which goes directly on the dirt floor to create an insulated barrier between the home and the earth. On top of the TerraBlock, we install our CleanSpace vapor barrier. This goes all along the foundation walls, up to the rim joist and is sealed with our waterproof tape at the footing of the wooden posts. In this process, we cover all of the vents to make sure no outside air enters. To control the environment, we then install our SaniDry Sedona. This effective dehumidifier will eliminate damp, musty odors by drying and filtering the air. It will also keep the environment at a healthy relative humidity. Lastly, we install our foam insulation. This is sprayed all along the foundation walls, up to the rim joists, ensuring a complete airtight seal. With this crawl space fully sealed and protected with our encapsulation, these homeowners will see their energy costs lower. 

The basement and crawl space of this home are separated by an Internal Footing Pony Wall. The homeowner had noticed water leaking into both the basement and the crawl space for many years. Because of this, she has been unable to use both spaces for storage of anything of actual importance. She called on the Waterproofing Experts here at John's for help, and we quickly got her on our schedule with our Design Specialist. When the specialist arrived at her home, he thoroughly inspected the basement and crawl space. He found evidence of water intrusion, and created a Job Proposal for the homeowner, that offered expert solutions to mediate water intrusion and damage. He approached the homeowner, thoughtfully explained his findings, as well as his customized professional solutions. He offered the homeowner the absolute most effective and permanent waterproofing solution - a Full Encapsulation of the crawl space. This would mean creating a 100% air-tight seal inside of the space, using high-quality waterproofing components. Fully Encapsulating the space was imperative, as many years of water intrusion had started to erode the soil supporting the foundation of the home, which could eventually lead to structural collapse. Additionally, because of the wet conditions of the crawl space, the air quality was poor and unhealthy. This is a serious problem, not only for the crawl space, but also the inside of the home, because 40% of inside air comes from your crawl space. Therefore, a healthy space beneath your feet, does in fact create a healthy air environment inside of your home. The homeowner was pleased to be offered such an effective and permanent solution, so she signed the Job Proposal, and we scheduled her Encapsulation.

Our crew arrived, ready to waterproof her crawl space. First, they dug a shallow trench directly up against the exterior of the back side of the concrete foundation wall outside of the crawl space. Inside of the trench, they laid down 3" Perforated Piping, to collect all water before it could enter the crawl space. Next, they covered the Piping tightly with TremDrain Matting, to relieve hydrostatic pressure against the foundation wall, and to ensure that all water flowed down the Piping, and into the discharge line to be expelled safely away from the home. This exterior step is usually not necessary, but because this crawl space was at the bottom of a steep downward slope, our Design Specialist decided that preventing water intrusion into the space entirely was the best way to protect the home. With the exterior drainage installed, they began work inside of the crawl space. First, they laid TerraBlock Foam Insulation down on the ground inside the space. TerraBlock is durable and thick, and provides excellent crawl space insulation. Directly on top of the TerraBlock, and up onto the walls, they placed our 20 Mil CleanSpace Vapor Barrier Liner, which is interlaced with carbon fibers to prevent rodent damage, and is warrantied for 25 years against rips and tears. CleanSpace is bright and white, and an extremely effective barrier against moisture and vapor penetration. It combines 7-layers of high and low density polyethylene, making it suitable for walking on, and useful as storage space. Next, our crew cut a perfect hole into the TerraBlock and CleanSpace, to install a SmartDrain Canister and Alarm, at the lowest point inside of the crawl space. If water ever enters the space, or if a plumbing leak occurs, it will reach the SmartDrain, which will immediately set off a loud alarm - alerting the homeowner to water in the space before substantial damage could occur. The SmartDrain is battery operated, so that even in the event of a power outage, it will not lose its ability to function. Incase of any additional water intrusion, our crew installed a Full WaterGuard System along the basement side of the Pony Wall that separates the crawl space and basement. Once water is collected in this, it will be routed to a TripleSafe Sump Pump, to be immediately expelled away from the home via a discharge line. Our TripleSafe Sump Pump is a 3-pump-in-1 system, where each pump is activated if the one before it fails, or cannot handle the volume of incoming water. Additionally, to control the relative humidity in the space, we installed a SaniDry Dehumidifier, to maintain the air quality at a safe level. To provide electricity to both the TripleSafe and the SaniDry, our Electrical Division installed a dedicated circuit for the 24/7 operation of each machine. Within the crawl space, we than sealed the vents shut with custom-cut rigid plastic, to prevent all rodents, debris, and air from entering the space. The final step in the Encapsulation was installing the Spray Foam Insulation onto the foundation walls. The crawl space of this home is now Fully Encapsulated, and is protected from the devastating affects of water intrusion and damage. 

This homeowner found some concerns with the support in their home and decided to inspect their crawl space. In certain areas, doors weren't closing properly and the floor felt like it was sagging. This was occurring due to the the wooden posts in the crawl space being water damaged and deteriorating. Once the wooden posts absorb moisture, they begin to rot and mold. This makes them unstable and unable to properly support the home. At John's Waterproofing, we are able to fix this issue with SmartJacks. These are steel adjustable piers designed to stabilize the home in areas where the wooden posts no longer can. They are made of materials that won't rot or grow mold, which helps make them durable during any situation. Each year they can also be adjusted to ensure the home is staying steady and supported. Now, this homeowner feels much safer in their home knowing that the foundation is supported and secure. 

Due to persistent water intrusion into this crawl space, causing shifting of footings and piers, the wooden subfloor support beam was rotting, and drooping due to inadequate support for many years. This had caused the subfloor of the home to be uneven in many areas, creating sloped floors inside of the home. To prevent further water damage to the structural components inside of this crawl space, our crew of Waterproofing Experts encapsulated the space, permanently sealing the space to prevent water damage from occurring. To reinforce and level out the subfloor, our crew of Structural Experts arrived and removed and replaced the drooping wooden support beam with a steel support beam. To lift the remaining sagging portions of the subfloor, our crew removed and replaced all of the shifted and failing wooden piers, with Steel SmartJack Piers. SmartJacks are "jacked-up", until the overhead floor is returned to level. They remain permanently in place to support the subfloor, and are highly adjustable in the future if need be. The crawl space of this home is now encapsulated, and permanently protected from the catastrophic damage that water can cause. Additionally, the subfloor is once again level and properly supported, restoring the integrity of the strength and longevity of the entire structure of this home! John's crew of Waterproofing and Structural Experts is eager to help all families enjoy a stable, dry, and healthy home!