Addressing Sagging Floors in Portland, OR
Challenge
When water has no where to go in a crawl space, it causes problems in the entire home-such as high humidity, poor air quality, and wood rot that can weaken the structural integrity of the home which can compromise the stability of the home. Stagnant water in a crawl space creates moisture that can raise the indoor humidity causing discomfort and damage to the living area. This homeowner noticed that a lot of parts of their home's floor were starting to sag and they were worried the longer they wait the worse this problem would become, so they called up John's to set up their free inspection. We sent out one of our system design specialists to thoroughly assess the crawl space and go over the best options to solve these issues permanently.
Solution
After the homeowner signed the estimate, we began the project. First, we remove all of the debris including the old vapor barrier and fiberglass insulation. Next, since the wooden posts were damaged, we removed them and installed our SmartJack system. These are our high capacity adjustable supplemental steel piers designed to stop settling and raise the floor back up to offer stable support. We dig a trench around the interior perimeter of the crawl space where we install a 3 inch perforated pipe into a silt sock to channel the water to the low point. At this point, we install our SuperSump Plus that will collect all of the water and pump it outside and away from the homes foundation through a discharge line. Now that the water receives safe passage- we install our TerraBlock system onto the dirt floor. This creates an insulated barrier between the home and the earth and will block any moisture from making its way up through the floor. We anchor our CleanSpace system into the foundation walls, up to the rim joists, and on top of the TerraBlock. It is sealed at the footing of the wooden posts with our waterproof tape. We make sure all of the vents are covered and sealed to prevent outside air from entering. This will also keep pests and rodents from making their way into the crawl space. To keep the environment controlled, we install our SaniDry Sedona. This dehumidifier will keep the home at a healthy relative humidity and will effectively eliminate damp and musty odors, creating healthier air quality for the entire home. Lastly, we install our foam insulation. This is sprayed onto the foundation walls, and expands, filling every crack and air sealing the space. This encapsulation will not only protect the home against, water, moisture and mold- but will save the homeowners on energy costs since there will be no air leaks.
