Crawl Space Repair Photo Album: Crawl Space to CleanSpace - An Encapsulation in Depoe Bay, OR

A lingering, putrid smell wafted fiercely throughout a beautiful home overlooking the Pacific Ocean. No matter how much they cleaned, lit candles, and ventilated the area, the homeowners just couldn't figure out where it was coming from. After thoroughly researching potential causes of this dilemma, they called out to John's Waterproofing seeking guidance. We offered the homeowners a free inspection, and when our Design specialists went down under, what they saw was quite alarming. Insulation hung low from the crawl space subfloor, saturated with moisture. Below, compacted insulation coated the ground, covered in mold and mud. Numerous puddles flooded the crawl space, forming the damp, foul-smelling environment that took over the rest of their home. Three support posts beneath the house had rotted and fallen from prolonged water exposure, and to make matters worse, exterior vents allowed humid air to travel inside, feeding the moisture problem. What lay below this coastal home was an environmental crime scene that needed to be solved for good. First things first, the insulation and all debris were removed by our Waterproofing experts. No longer would the crawl space be a welcoming home for mold and rodents. The next step was to get rid of the mold by soda-blasting the affected areas. Soda-blasting shoots pressurized baking soda, neutralizing any potential growth, and removing the existing growth. Once that was complete, it was time to set the sump pump and perforated pipe in place. A TripleSafe, our strongest 3-pump protection system against water intrusion, was installed. Following this, a trench was dug around the perimeter of the crawl space to allow a perforated pipe to catch all water and send it straight to the TripleSafe. A fresh RainDrain system was added outside of their home, bringing the water from the crawl space back outside. An extra method of precaution against humid air was done when our team sealed the exterior vents with a plastic, airtight cover. The fallen, rotted posts were replaced with SmartJacks, a steel pier, which raised the subfloor right back to where it belongs. The crew then went on to install TerraBlock on top of the dirt floor. TerraBlock is a thick material that allows for a dual-layer barrier against moisture and abrasion when paired with CleanSpace. By using CleanSpace, a 20-mil heavy-duty plastic liner, homeowners can be relieved of any worry of rodents eating through the lining and letting moisture in. CleanSpace was installed on top of the TerraBlock, along the walls, and even underneath the SmartJacks and unaffected wood posts, which keeps soil moisture fully contained. Now that we had established a solution to channel water out of the crawl space, we had to make sure the incoming air remained at a consistently low level of humidity. A SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier system was set in the crawl space and preset to maintain a humidity level of 55%. If the moisture in the air were to increase, the SaniDry Sedona would automatically start up and bring it back down to the preferred level. The last step to restoring the home was the application of SprayFoam across the walls. This top-of-the-line insulation method is one of the most effective ways to lower energy bills by creating a thermal, moisture, and air barrier that seals every crack and cranny of the crawl space. With the moisture under control, cleaner air throughout the home, and improved energy efficiency, the homeowners could finally enjoy their home on the sand healthily and comfortably. They wanted the very best, and John's Waterproofing delivered just that.