Lake Underneath Home - Veneta, OR

The only thing missing was a paddle board; the crawl space of this Veneta home had turned into a lake of its own. Shortly after moving into their brand-new house, the homeowners were met with disastrous news. An electrician, who came in to do some work, discovered a catastrophe lurking beneath the home. Three inches of standing water covered almost the entirety of the crawl space. Knowing very little about crawl spaces, the homeowners reached out to John's Waterproofing for a helping hand. Our team arrived to investigate the scene and quickly found the source of the problem. The absence of a sump pump had caused a detrimental crisis for the new homeowners. With no way to escape, groundwater continued to collect as time went on, mold began to spread throughout, and the open exterior vents allowed unwanted moisture and air to enter the crawl space. The homeowners once felt excited for their fresh start, now feared for their safety. Without a doubt, John's Waterproofing was determined to give the homeowners a dry, healthy, and safe place to live. 

To start the project off, our Waterproofing team removed every last inch of debris, insulation, water, and outdated vapor barrier. We then performed soda-blasting, a method in which baking soda is sprayed onto any existing or potential mold growth using high-pressure compressed air. Once the mold was neutralized and eliminated, a trench was dug along the perimeter of the crawl space, and a Perf Pipe was placed. The Perf Pipe, wrapped in a silt sock to prevent dirt from entering, led to the installation of a TripleSafe sump pump in the lowest spot of the crawl space. The homeowners went with a TripleSafe sump pump as it delivers the most efficient and reliable defense against water intrusion. The TripleSafe features 3 pumps, whereas regular sump pumps only have one. This ensures a strong backup if water were ever to exceed the pump's limit. The sump pump system was attached to the home's previous drainage line and redirected water back outside of the home's foundation. Next, it was time to fully encapsulate the crawl space. With the installation of TerraBlock across the dirt floor, a thick and durable vapor barrier, we were able to make sure moisture stays out. On top, our CleanSpace vapor barrier sealed the deal with extra protection and created a clean, finished look to the crawl space. Now that any liquid water would be removed efficiently, we had to take care of any potential odors, humidity, and moisture. A SaniDry Sedona was set in place, a small but mighty dehumidifier system perfect for any crawl space. The SaniDry Sedona is set to keep your home below 55% humidity. If that percentage were to increase, it would automatically activate to make sure the home stays dry and safe. We didn't forget about those pesky exterior vents; the team installed plastic vent covers to prevent uncontrolled air from slipping in. Last but not least, SprayFoam insulation was the final step of the full encapsulation. Unwanted moisture and air are kept away with SprayFoam, as it fills every single crack in the crawl space walls. It creates a barrier to protect against moisture and outside air, improving energy efficiency and helping maintain a desired temperature in the home year-round. With the crawl space finally dry, the homeowners can now fully take in the beauty and safety of their new home, and save lake days for the ones in the great outdoors!