John's Waterproofing Before & After Photos

Crawl space in Vancouver, WA that just wasn't running as efficiently as it should be and needed some updating. A SaniDry XP dehumidifier was installed which helps large areas that are plagued by excess humidity along with SaniDry upper and lower duct kit and CleanSpace, ensuring this customer has a dry clean efficiently running system underneath his house.

This homes crawl space emitted a foul odor that was wafting throughout the living spaces above. The owners were noticing that they were getting sick more often and wanted to find a way to make their home healthier. For a full solution for their home, they contacted John's Waterproofing and scheduled a free inspection. They wanted to get a solution that would last, and they were excited about the idea of encapsulation. This allows the space to be controlled and regulated. The relative humidity was kept at a healthy level and the space was sealed against exterior factors, keeping the air that travels from the crawl space up, healthier for the occupants of the home. 

This homeowner was having issues with rodents living in their crawl space, strong odors, and high humidity especially throughout the warmer months. Wanting to find a permanent solution, they reached out to John's Waterproofing. One of our system design specialists went out and performed a free thorough inspection then met with the homeowner to go over the game plan.  After speaking with the homeowner about the best way to resolve these issues, they went ahead with the estimate and scheduled their project. We begin by removing all of the debris including the damage vapor barrier and old fiberglass insulation that was falling from the ceiling of the crawl space. Since there was not a lot of water in this crawlspace we install our SmartDrain system. This alerts the homeowner to a plumbing leak with an audible alarm and drains away the water into a dry well underneath the CleanSpace until it can be addressed. Next, we install our TerraBlock system directly on the dirt floor of the crawl space to provide an insulated barrier separating the home and the earth. On top of that, our CleanSpace is anchored to the foundation walls up to the rim joist and on the footing of each of the wooden posts and sealed with our waterproof tape. We make sure to cover all of the vents so no outside air enters. To provide exterior access into the crawl space,  we then install our EverLast door that will last through all weather conditions. We want to control the environment, so we then install our SaniDry Sedona. This effective dehumidifier will eliminate damp and musty odors while keeping the home at a healthy relative humidity. To finish, we spray our foam insulation along the foundation walls up to the rim joist and this will fill every crack and void. With all of the vents covered and the encapsulation completed, It will be hard for rodents and moisture to enter this protected crawl space.

Water issues are costly and persistent, to truly deal with water, a solution needs to be put into place that is built for the wet environment. This is where a full encapsulation comes in. Simple black vapor barriers only provide a short term band-aid approach, and fiberglass insulation only works until water condensates and is absorbed into it. This homes crawl space would benefit from a real solution, as their fiberglass was in poor condition and the vapor barrier below would shift out of place and needed consistent replacement. To address the space, we installed our encapsulation solution. This uses a full drain system with sump pump to collect and direct the water away from the foundation. We seal the crawl space off from environmental factors and insulate utilizing solutions along the dirt floor and foundation walls. This brings the crawl space into the homes environment so that the home is able to stay more comfortable all year round. We than use a 20 Mil vapor barrier with a woven fiber through it to made it durable, even backing the product with a 25 year warranty against rips and tears. And the final piece to the system is a dehumidifier to ensure the spaces relative humidity is properly addressed so the space remains healthy. Now this crawl space is set up for success and the owners can benefit from a healthier home.