Addressing Water in a Very Wet Crawl Space in Portland, OR
Challenge
When water enters a crawl space with no where to go, several issues can arise and cause permanent damage if not addressed correctly and in a timely manner. Prolonged exposure to water can lead to wood rot, structural damage and a moist environment that attracts pests and rodents. These rodents can then cause further damage such as chew the vapor barrier and use the insulation as nesting, introducing health hazards and nasty odors throughout the entire home. These homeowners reached out to us because there was a lot of moisture in their crawl space causing high levels of humidity in the home and they were afraid of the potential damage it could cause so they scheduled their free visit. While thoroughly inspecting the crawl space we found signs of rodents and active water. Afterwards, we met with the homeowner to go over the findings and work with them in creating a game plan that will permanently solve these issues.
Solution
We began by removing all of the debris, old vapor barrier and damaged fiberglass insulation. We found a lot more water after removing the vapor barrier so we had to bring in our heavy duty fans and dry it out. When we came back we dug a trench around the interior perimeter of the crawl space and in it we install a 3 inch perforated pipe into a silt sock to create a secure passage for water to drain to the lowest points. Since there was so much water we install two of our sumps at the low points to collect all of the water that enters. These systems will pump it outside of the home through a discharge line. We then make sure to cover and seal all of the vents to ensure no outside air enters. Next we install our TerraBlock insulation which goes directly onto the dirt floor to create an insulated barrier between the home and the earth while blocking moisture from making its way up. We anchor our 20 mil thick liner, CleanSpace, into the foundation walls, in-between the wooden posts and footings and on top of the TerraBlock system along the crawl space floor. It is all the sealed with our heavy duty CleanSpace tape. To keep the home at a healthy relative humidity, we install our SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier that will eliminate damp and musty odors by drying and filtering the air, helping raise overall indoor air quality. Lastly, we finish this project by spraying our foam insulation onto the foundation walls, filling every crack and void, guaranteeing a fully air tight crawl space with no air leaks. With this full encapsulation done, these homeowners no longer have to worry about humidity, musty smells or water entering their crawl space for years to come.
