Photo Album: Creating a Dry, Stable and Healthy Crawl Space in Salem, OR

This crawl space was being used as extra storage space for these homeowners but there were high levels of humidity that were causing musty odors that went up into the living area. The homeowner reached out to John's in hopes of finding a solution that would transform this wet, musty and dirty crawl space into a dry, stable and healthy one. After thoroughly inspecting and assessing the crawl space we met with the homeowner to go over the best options. We ultimately decided an encapsulation was the true solution. To begin, the crew removed 2 rotting wooden posts and replaced them with our adjustable steel piers; SmartJacks, to provide stable support. Next, we remove all of the debris, fiberglass insulation, and old damaged vapor barrier. Then, we dig a trench around the interior perimeter of the crawl space to install a 3 inch perforated pipe into a silt sock to create a direct path for the water to drain to the lowest point, where we install our SuperSump Plus. This will collect the water and pump it outside of the home away from the foundation through a discharge line. Since this system seals the space against the outside, we make sure each vent is covered and sealed to prevent outside air from entering. Our TerraBlock system is next. This material is designed to be placed on dirt floors and will act as an insulated barrier. On top of the TerraBlock we install our 20 mil thick CleanSpace, which also is placed between each footing and post as well as anchored into the foundation walls up to the rim joists. This is taped with our heavy duty CleanSpace tape. To keep the environment at a healthy relative humidity, we install our SaniDry XP that will also eliminate the damp and musty odors by drying and filtering the air. For insulation, we install our foam. This is sprayed onto the foundation walls, up to the rim joists and it expands, filling every void to prevent air leaks. To finish this project, we install our Aspen system up in the living area to help filter the air. This homeowner can now have peace of mind while storing their personal belongings in their new clean and dry crawl space.