Photo Album: Stopping Growth of Pin Mold Inside of Crawl Space - Newport, OR

Many crawl spaces throughout the PNW are not professionally sealed and waterproofed, leaving them highly vulnerable to rodent infestation, as well as the growth and breeding of toxic mold, fungus, and bacteria. There are many types of mold and fungi that thrive in cold, wet, damp environments such as crawl spaces, and even more that flourish with the presence of decaying animal matter and rodent droppings. In this crawl space, our crews discovered Pin Mold Fungus, scientifically named Phycomyces. This specific mold genus sprouts spore-bearing fine black strands that resemble hair, spreading the mold and releasing toxic spores into the air. Pin Mold Fungus is not only unsightly, but it is also indicative that a large rodent infestation is present beneath the home. Such high levels of toxicity beneath a home are incredibly detrimental to the health of families as 40% of interior air comes directly from the crawlspace. When toxic air particles and mold spores enter human lungs, the effects can be catastrophic to long-term health of the occupants above. This is why ensuring that your crawl space is professionally sealed and waterproofed is important to protect the health of your family. Our crews wasted no time, and got straight to work cleaning out this crawl space, being careful to remove all mold, debris, and dead rodents. Once the space was completely clean and dry, we began encapsulating - to seal, waterproof, and insulate the space entirely, preventing rodents, water, and debris from being able to access the space. This involved first installing buried drainage lines along the full interior perimeter of the space, to catch all future water intrusion, followed by the installation of a sump pump to direct the collected water away from the home. We then insulate and waterproof the ground with TerraBlock and 20 Mil CleanSpace. To maintain a safe relative humidity at all times, a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier is installed, to continuously clean and filter the air, removing all allergens, toxins, and moisture, and preventing mold growth. Finally, all crawl space vents were sealed, and the snug fit of the access door was checked to ensure that no rodents or debris would be able to enter the space. Lastly, SilverGlo Insulation Panels were installed directly onto the foundation walls. SilverGlo Panels are double-sided and waterproof, to prevent water from seeping in, while also reflecting heat back into homes - saving homeowners money on energy costs. With this crawl space now professionally sealed, waterproofed, and insulated using the highest quality encapsulation components available, this family can now thrive inside of a healthy home, knowing that the air they are breathing is free of toxins. Additionally, rodents will no longer be able to enter their crawl space, which will result in an overall increased quality of life, and elevated comfort level for this family now living above a dry, clean, and stable crawl space.