Insulation Case Studies: Condensation Damage - Happy Valley, OR
Challenge
It is important to have your home properly inspected and to know the issues affecting the home. This homeowner had water under their home and it had caused their fiberglass insulation to fall in pieces, and pooling was evident. They had originally opted for the first proposal they received. They had a full interior perimeter drainage system, with a drain pipe taking water out of the home. Over this was a six Mil vapor barrier and they had fiberglass insulation replaced. However, after a couple years, they noticed their insulation was drooping and falling apart again. This time they called us. A design specialist arrived and found the crawlspace had high humidity levels. Even though the groundwater was grading away from the home now, the high humidity was still negatively affecting the home.
Solution
To address the homes issues we needed to encapsulate the space. We removed the old insulation and vapor barrier. Since the drainage system was still in good condition we left that as is and installed a sump pump to help divert the water safely out and away from the home. We then insulated the home with TerraBlock along the dirt floor. We then brought in CleanSpace. This was inserted under each wooden post, anchored along the walls, as well as sealed in place with a special four inch wide waterproof tape. Once sealed up we sealed up the vents, and installed a SaniDry dehumidifier. A few days later our spray foam installer applied spray foam to the foundation walls. This home will now be dry and healthy.
