Home Health Photo Album: Fixing a Water Damaged Crawl Space - Beaverton, OR
Wanting to make some home improvements, this homeowner decided their next big project would be tackling their crawl space. It hadn't been checked on in years and was beginning to show early signs of water damage on the foundation walls and wooden posts. They decided to have professionals come out and clean it up, so they reached out to John's Waterproofing. We informed the homeowners that the best long-term solution to keeping the crawl space healthy would be to do a full encapsulation. The first step of this system is to remove everything from the crawl space. This includes the falling fiberglass insulation and damaged vapor barrier. Once it is cleared out, we can then install a proper drainage system. This is done by digging a trench along the interior perimeter of the space where a perforated pipe will go. The pipe offers a safe passageway for water to follow through and be safely guided to a SuperSump Plus sump pump. The SuperSump Plus takes all the collected water and pushes it out of the space and away from the homes foundation. With these two working together to keep the crawl space dry of water intrusion, then the TerraBlock insulation foam can be installed. This thick and durable foam goes along the base of the space and seals it off from the earth. It is made of materials that prevent it from rotting or growing mold to ensure the environment in the crawl space can be regulated long-term. On top of the TerraBlock, a CleanSpace vapor barrier gets installed. This goes along the base, up the foundation walls, and between the footing and wooden posts to isolate and protect against water damage. Once everything is sealed off, then we can start controlling the environment with a SaniDry dehumidifier. This machine pulls moisture out of the air to promote healthier air quality and prevent an atmosphere for mold to grow. Finally, Spray Foam will be applied to the foundation walls as a final air sealant and insulator. Now, the newly encapsulated crawl space is ready to keep the home dry and healthy for many years to come.
Indicators of Water Damage.
The foundation walls show signs of water intrusion because of the discoloration and debris. When water seeps through it can cause the walls to become discolored or stained, and as it evaporates into the air it leaves the dirt and debris it brought in behind.
Wooden Posts Absorbing Water.
The discoloration and torn vapor barrier surrounding the wooden posts show that their has been significant water intrusion which can impact the structural integrity of the home.
Protecting the Wooden Posts.
We isolate and protect the wooden posts supporting the home by installing the CleanSpace vapor barrier between the concrete footing and wooden post.
Fully Sealed CleanSpace Vapor Barrier.
The CleanSpace vapor barrier is a thick liner that keeps water out and is sealed in place with 4 inch thick waterproof tape.
SuperSump and SaniDry.
This final installation steps of the encapsulation include the SuperSump Plus sump pump and the SaniDry dehumidifier. These two keep the space dry and healthy.
