Reliable Gold Bar Waterproofing & Home Repair Experts

This homes crawl space had a high humidity problem. Because of this the owners had all of the fiberglass removed since it kept molding and drooping away from the sub-floor anyways. Nonetheless the owners wanted to make their home more energy efficient, so they began looking for other options to insulate their crawl space. This is how they ended up reading about encapsulation on our website and scheduling their free inspection with us. We did a full inspection, sat down to discuss encapsulation benefits, and then scheduled the work. 

To start, our crew removed the old 6 Mil vapor barrier and debris. Once cleared out we installed a full interior perimeter drain system. This will collect groundwater and channels it to the lowest point of the space. From here the water enters a SuperSump Plus and is sent away from the home. We than sealed the vents shut and installed TerraBlock insulation over the floor. This insulation is cut to fit into the crawl space and is sealed along each edge to help it stay in place and seal it up. Next CleanSpace is installed over this. It goes between each wooden post and its footing, and is fully sealed into the space, up to the rim-joist. Since we are sealing the space off from exterior factors, we than installed a SaniDry dehumidifier, this allows us to control the crawl space environment, making it so mold and mildew can't grow here. To complete the job and the insulation we applied spray foam along the foundation walls. This insulates and air seals the space. Now the owners can enjoy a properly insulated crawl space, and don't have to worry about what's happening under the home. 

When a family member has asthma or indoor air allergens, it really makes you start paying attention to what you are breathing in. For this reason, the owner of this home contacted John's Waterproofing. They knew that their crawl space was a mess, and they didn't want to be breathing that in while inside. We sent out a design specialist who did a full inspection and that worked with the homeowner, who moved forward with a full encapsulation. 

To begin on the project we would have to clear the crawl space. The musty and damp fiberglass insulation was pulled out, as well as the old vapor barrier and general debris. Once cleared out we installed a drain system and sump pump. These will work together to ensure any ground water that enters the crawl space will have a safe route out and away from the homes foundation. Next we sealed the vents shut and laid TerraBlock insulation over the floor. Over this we install our CleanSpace vapor barrier. This is a 20 Mil thick woven material. It is installed between each wooden post and its footing, it is also anchored and sealed along the rim joist and sealed along each seam. We want to be able to control the environment to ensure it is healthy, so control over what enters the space becomes paramount. Next we install a SaniDry dehumidifier. This machine will address any excess moisture in the crawl space, making the area much healthier. As a final step we apply spray foam insulation along the foundation walls. This finishes insulating the space and air seals it. The owners love how bright and clean their crawl space is now and they are so happy to know the air drafting into their home from this area is clean. 

This homeowner hadn't checked their crawl space in a long time and was curious what was going on underneath their home. They decided to reach out to John's Waterproofing to get a free inspection just to see if there was anything it needed to help maintain a healthy home. After our inspection, it was discovered that there crawl space had lots of water puddling and was in need of new insulation. We informed them that if the crawl space was left in this condition it could increase exposure to mold, rotting wood, and impact the air quality in their home. They agreed that a full encapsulation would be the best option to maintain a healthy living space. 

Encapsulations are a key part in maintaining the health of the home and its occupants. By encapsulating, it removes any moisture filling the crawl space and improves the air quality. According to the Stack Effect, any air that leaves your home through the attic must be replaced, and that comes from the air in the crawl space. If your crawl space is in bad condition with mold growth and high humidity, then you could be breathing in those harsh toxins. When we begin an encapsulation, we first need to take out the vapor barrier and insulation due to them being water damaged. Then, we install a drainage system using a perforated pipe. This pipe is installed along the interior perimeter of the crawl space to collect water and provide a safe passageway to flow through. The perforated pipe connects to a TripleSafe sump pump which takes all that water and pushes it out away from the homes foundation. After a drainage system is completed, we install the TerraBlock insulation foam. This thick, durable foam is designed to improve energy efficiency in the home by insulating the crawl space floor. We then install a CleanSpace vapor barrier that is a 20 mil thick which seals the crawl space floor and adds moisture protection. Spray foam is applied to the foundation walls that expands to fit every crack or crevice to completely air seal the space. Finally, a SaniDry dehumidifier is installed and pulls moisture out of the air, controlling the environment. Once the encapsulation is completed, the homeowner can enjoy living in a home with high quality air.