Crawl Space Repair Before & After Photos

This homeowner was having issues with rodents living in their crawl space, strong odors, and high humidity especially throughout the warmer months. Wanting to find a permanent solution, they reached out to John's Waterproofing. One of our system design specialists went out and performed a free thorough inspection then met with the homeowner to go over the game plan.  After speaking with the homeowner about the best way to resolve these issues, they went ahead with the estimate and scheduled their project. We begin by removing all of the debris including the damage vapor barrier and old fiberglass insulation that was falling from the ceiling of the crawl space. Since there was not a lot of water in this crawlspace we install our SmartDrain system. This alerts the homeowner to a plumbing leak with an audible alarm and drains away the water into a dry well underneath the CleanSpace until it can be addressed. Next, we install our TerraBlock system directly on the dirt floor of the crawl space to provide an insulated barrier separating the home and the earth. On top of that, our CleanSpace is anchored to the foundation walls up to the rim joist and on the footing of each of the wooden posts and sealed with our waterproof tape. We make sure to cover all of the vents so no outside air enters. To provide exterior access into the crawl space,  we then install our EverLast door that will last through all weather conditions. We want to control the environment, so we then install our SaniDry Sedona. This effective dehumidifier will eliminate damp and musty odors while keeping the home at a healthy relative humidity. To finish, we spray our foam insulation along the foundation walls up to the rim joist and this will fill every crack and void. With all of the vents covered and the encapsulation completed, It will be hard for rodents and moisture to enter this protected crawl space.

These homeowners had been unaware of their existing crawl space piers beginning to float underneath their home causing the floors to sink into the earth, until the floors began to bounce. They wanted to be safe and have their crawl space checked with an inspection from John's and the Design Specialist broke the shocking news to them. As the owners began to worry about the state of their house, we validated their feelings with a top notch plan to save their home. 

As our team arrived to their house, they noticed the interior problem and started to fix the issues that the Design Specialist promised to be restored. The original wood piers had spanned too far from the floor framing and created a gap over time. To navigate our way through this issue, we install our high-capacity, adjustable, supplemental steel piers, called the SmartJack. SmartJacks are designed to stop settling and raise the ground back to its original state. Having uneven floors can be extremely dangerous, so we made sure to repair the problem. For the posts floating over their footings we replaced the wood posts with a SmartJack. Following this we provide proper support we placed additional SmartJacks. To d this, a hole is dug for the SmartJack and a structural stone footing is compacted and set in place. The steel SmartJack is then cut to size of the specific crawl space to ensure the perfect fit. It is now installed and has an adjustable screw to jack up the floor and can be easily adjusted in the future. The home is now safe and sturdy and the homeowners no longer have to stress about the state of their house!

Is your crawl space neglected and messy? Are you worried moisture could be damaging the structural components beneath your home? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then give the waterproofing experts at John's a call today to schedule your free inspection! Our Design Specialists are trained to uncover the truth of what is going on inside of your crawl space, and to propose effective, high quality solutions to homeowners. In the case of this home, a water intrusion had caused a large amount of damage to the subfloor. Persistent moisture had caused one of the main subfloor support beams to fail, as well as some of of the subfloor posts. The failure of the beam and posts had caused the entirety of the subfloor to sag, creating sloped floors inside of the home, as well as greatly threatening the integrity of the structure of the home. Waterproofing this crawl space was absolutely necessary to protect this homes stability. Our Design Specialist offered this homeowner the most effective waterproofing solution available - a full encapsulation of their crawl space with foundation work. 

To return stability to this home, our crew of experts removed and replaced the rotten beam with a fresh beam - immediately restoring strength to the subfloor. As for the rotting posts, our crew removed and replaced them with Steel SmartJack Piers. SmartJacks are "jacked up", until the overhead floor is once again level. They will remain in place to support the weight of the home, and are highly adjustable in the future if need be. We than moved onto the waterproofing components, beginning with a full interior drain system with a sump pump. Next, we place two layers of ground coverings over the dirt floor inside of the space. The first layer, TerraBlock, insulates the space. Directly on top of the TerraBlock, and up onto the walls, our 20 Mil CleanSpace vapor barrier is laid down. CleanSpace is interlaced with carbon fibers to provide incredible durability, and enables it to come with a 25 year warranty against rips and tears. It is bright and white, and transforms crawl spaces into clean, welcoming areas that can be used for dry storage. An encapsulated crawl space allows homeowners to utilize the vast square footage beneath their homes, without worry of water or rodents inflicting discomfort or damage to themselves or their belongings. To seal the entire outside of the space, our crew covers all original vents, and replaces the original access door with a custom-cut EverLast Access Door. Our EverLast Doors are made of rigid plastic that will never rot or discolor, and they leave no gaps around the edges when shut - preventing rodent intrusion. To create a 100% air-tight seal inside of our encapsulated crawl spaces, Spray Foam insulation is installed directly onto the foundation walls, until every crevice and void is filled. With the crawl space of this home encapsulated, and the subfloor once again stable, this homeowner can enjoy a dry, stable, and healthy home. 

With indoor allergens, this homeowner was concerned about their indoor air quality. They ended up hearing how the crawl space could negatively impact the living spaces air quality, so they figured it wouldn't hurt to have a free inspection for their crawl space so they could see what was going on down there. To improve their homes breathable air, they moved forward with a full encapsulation to keep their home healthier! 

When water enters a crawl space and has no where to go, it becomes stagnant and creates a lot of issues for a homeowner. One of the main problems with water intrusion in a crawl space is that moisture can raise indoor humidity causing discomfort and potential damage to the home above; flooring, walls and furniture. Moist environments also attract unwanted pests that can cause further structural damage and introduce health hazards. These homeowners wanted to find an option that addresses the water in their crawl space so they reached out to John's Waterproofing to schedule their free visit. We went out and thoroughly inspected this crawl space and then met with the homeowners to work on a game plan that best fits their budget. After going over different options with the homeowner they signed the estimate and we began. First, we removed all of the debris and old vapor barrier. Next, we dug a trench around the interior perimeter of the crawl space in which we placed a 3 inch perforated pipe into a silt sock to create a secure passage for water to collect at the lowest point. Then, at this low point we install our SuperSump Plus. This system pumps all of water that was gathered outside and sends it away from the homes foundation via discharge line. Our LawnScape Outlet is then connected to the line. It is a grated drain that allows water to pass through but will keep debris out. Lastly, to finish this system, we install our 6 mil plastic on top of the dirt floor of the crawl space, which will help block moisture. Down the line when the homeowners are ready for a full encapsulation the transition will be smooth.