John's Waterproofing Before & After Photos

The wooden posts in the crawl space are designed to provide support to the floors of the home. Without the wooden posts in the best condition, this can cause homes to settle and the floors to sag. Once the structural damage occurs, this is when homeowners tend to notice that the doors won't shut properly and the foundation can collapse. For this homeowner, they started noticing those structural issues in their home with slants along their floors and wanted John's Waterproofing to come and level out the posts. Upon inspection, we found that they had experienced a lot of water damage, which was causing them to rot and mold. The discoloration and pattern distortion are indicators on the posts where water absorbed into. The white marks at the base of the post is also known as efflorescence. This is a salt mineral deposit that gets left behind on posts or walls after water seeps through. In order to fix this issue, we informed the homeowner about SmartJacks. These are steel adjustable piers that help to stabilize the homes foundation where it is needed. They can re-level the floors and offer proper support to prevent settling. With the new SmartJacks installed, this homeowner feels safer knowing their home is protected.

This crawl space was causing a multitude of issues for this homeowner, such as uneven cold floors, water intrusion, and rodent activity. They wanted a permanent solution to these problems so they called John's Waterproofing. We had one of our system design specialists go out to give a free inspection and estimate. Once the design specialist was done, he met with the homeowner and they discussed the findings of the inspection and found that an encapsulation would be the best solution. An encapsulation is the process of sealing the home from the earth.  To start this project, our team goes in and removes all the debris. Our team then does a dig out to even the crawl space floor. After, our SmartJacks are installed, they are our high-capacity adjustable supplemental steel piers designed to stop settling and evenly raise the floor back up to where it was. The next step is to dig a trench around the interior perimeter of the crawl space to then lay down a 3 inch perforated pipe into a silt sock and this secures a safe passage to drain water to our TripleSafe sump pump at the lowest point. Our TerraBlock is then installed directly on the crawl space floor which creates an insulated barrier between the earth and the home. Then, our CleanSpace system is installed on top of the TerraBlock and up the foundation walls. All the vents in the crawlspace are sealed shut to prevent outside air from getting in. Our EverLast Door is also installed, which is an above grade door that will allow exterior access to the crawl space, and is reliable in all weather conditions. Next our EverLast Access Well is installed, it is big enough for someone to crouch down and enter the crawl space, and it is durable enough to hold back soil and will last for many years without rusting, rotting, or needing paint. Controlling the environment is next, our SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier is installed and this will help to pull out moisture and will filter and dry the air. The last step is to spray foam insulation in multiple layers, along the foundation walls, up to the rim joists and this will ensure an air tight seal to finish this encapsulation. 

An improper sump pump sat in a bucket connected to a hose, attempting to siphon water out of the crawl space of a home in Yachats. Little did the homeowners know, the pump's inefficient operation was causing standing water to slowly fill the space. Not only that, but multiple crawl space exterior vents were below-grade, allowing water to pour in and let outside air contaminate the crawl space with inconsistent air temperatures. The concrete walls were stained and beginning to crack, and the existing vapor barrier wasn't fully attached, completely defeating its purpose of trapping moisture in the soil rather than letting it rise into the crawl space. Mold, rot, and condensation threatened. After noticing their heating and cooling bills were much higher than normal, the homeowners inspected their crawl space and urgently called John's Waterproofing to the rescue. During a free inspection, our team worked closely with the homeowners to create a plan and schedule the project. When the day came to restore the crawl space, our Waterproofing Experts quickly got to work, knowing they were about to change this family's home for the better. 

To prep the space, all of the old insulation, debris, damaged vapor barrier, and standing water were removed from the crawl space. Now the area was ready to go. The team first replaced the makeshift sump pump with a TripleSafe, the best sump system on the market. The TripleSafe features three pumps that provide maximum water discharge and reliable back-up for crawl spaces and basements exposed to higher amounts of water. Next, a Perf Pipe was installed in a trench dug along the interior perimeter, which collects any water from the soil and diverts it to the sump pump. Along the foundation walls, SilverGlo, a durable foam insulation, was installed. SilverGlo is an ideal choice for insulating crawl spaces because it is long-lasting, improves energy efficiency in the home, and won't absorb water. Then came our ultimate encapsulation duo: TerraBlock and CleanSpace. TerraBlock is a thick insulation sheet that is installed across the dirt floor to help the home maintain a more comfortable temperature. But the job isn't complete without topping it off with its sidekick, CleanSpace, a heavy-duty 20-mil vapor barrier that seals off the crawl space and helps prevent mold, moisture, rot, pests, and rodents. Next, a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier was installed. This system automatically maintains a level of 55% humidity in the crawl space to keep the air in the home dry and healthy. To completely seal off the crawl space, vent covers were installed to block out outside air for good. What once was a weak little bucket and hose struggling to keep up was now a top-of-the-line sump pump, beautifully encapsulated and built to keep the home dry for years to come. The homeowners finally have peace of mind knowing their safety, and lower heating and cooling bills, is guaranteed.

This homes crawl space had the old fiberglass falling, and it smelled very musty. The owners of the home were concerned about the health risks that could be occurring by living with this kind of mess under their feet. To get assistance, they called up John's Waterproofing so they could learn about what they could do. This is how they learned about encapsulation. The owners were sold on this solution; energy savings, indoor air benefits, and overall health benefits for the homes longevity. We pulled out the old vapor barrier, fiberglass, and general debris. We then installed drainage, a sump pump, and insulated with TerraBlock and Spray Foam. We use a CleanSpace vapor barrier, and installed a SaniDry dehumidifier. Now this space is dry and healthy.

With every step the homeowners took, the floors seemed to sink just a little more. They knew something was definitely wrong, but just couldn't make sense of it. That is when they called John's Waterproofing. We sent one of our very own Design Specialists out to the home, and they inspected the crawl space and quickly found the problem. Several of the wooden support posts had rotted away. After talking with the homeowners, it was determined that an old plumbing leak from years ago was likely the cause. The homeowners decided it was time for a permanent solution to stabilize their home for once and for all. 

As soon as our structural experts arrived, the project started right away. Every rotted post was removed and replaced with SmartJacks. These heavy-duty steel piers are fully adjustable, allowing them to fit the exact height needed while providing long-lasting support for the home above. Since the existing concrete footings weren't damaged, the SmartJacks were installed right on top without the need for additional steel footings. The new support system was finally in place, and the homeowners can walk through their home without a worry in the world that the floors will sag once more.