John's Waterproofing Case Studies: Moldy Fiber Glass Insulation in Cloverdale, OR
Challenge
We often talk about how poorly fiberglass insulation acts in a crawlspace, it just isn't made to be open to the elements like that. At a recent job we found that one contractor tried to solve this issue by encasing the fiberglass with a vapor barrier stapled on the underside of the insulation. However, this doesn't provide an airtight seal. The condensation and humidity levels in the crawlspace still found a way up into this space, causing it to mild right behind the barrier. The barrier just ended up holding the mold and moisture in.
Solution
To solve this issue we removed all of the old insulation and the vapor barrier from the dirt floor as well. We then did a crawlspace encapsulation to both waterproof and insulate the space. We installed a TripleSafe sump pump to collect the groundwater and push it out and away from the home. We also installed a layer of TerraBlock insulation along the dirt floor, spray foam along the walls, and encased the space in our CleanSpace vapor barrier. We also installed a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier. This home will now be properly insulated and the mold will be kept out!
