Crawl Space Repair Case Studies: Subtle Signs of Water Intrusion - Kelso, WA

Challenge

On the surface, this crawlspace was much nicer than most that our crews go into, no puddles, no major mud issues, there was ample room to sit in, and it just smelled a bit musty, however it is a great example of how an issue isnt always easily detected.

This homeowner made it a regular summer event to check under their home for standing water, however since they checked only in the summer, it was to dry to have the obvious signs of water intrusion, but upon inspection, the caked on mud is a good indicator that water has been across the floor of the crawlspace and on top of the vapor barrier that had been installed. The perimeter walls also showed lines of calcium and trace minerals where the water has been slowly (or not so slowly) seeping through the perimeter wall. In addition, you can see the insulation is slowly beginning to sag due to moisture rising from the floor and up through the house via the stacking effect.

All of these issues are stains upon the homes foundation which show that water has been here. The calcium and mineral lines show where water has been seeping through the walls of the foundation. As water collects on top of the vapor barrier it can then push the barrier around exposing the dirt floor underneath allowing for mud to be evident where it shouldn't be. Due to the heat levels allowing that standing water to evaporate, the water vapor has then been pulled up into the insulation causing it to be water logged and damaged. 

Solution

To solve this homes issues we began by clearing out the debris and starting with a clean crawlspace. We put SilverGlo insulation on the walls to do two jobs; firstly it would allow water to drain down the walls safely so it didn't enter the crawlspace, and secondly this would help to regulate the temperature so that the homeowners heating and cooling bills were lower. We then added in a SmartSump to pull water out of the dirt floor and push it away from the homes foundations. We then covered and secured out Cleanspace vapor barrier in place. This woven material is strong and is more than three times thicker than the average vapor barrier. This is secured around the beams under the home, taped together with waterproof tape, and secured along the walls so it cant be pushed around. To finish off this space we added in a SaniDry Sedona to remove humidity from the crawlspace to help it stay dry and healthy year round.