Nasty Crawl Space Repair in Wilmington, NC
Challenge
We were contacted by this Wilmington, NC homeowner after seeing a TV advertisement for Southeast Foundation and Crawl Space Repair. From their crawl space, musty odors were seeping into the upper levels of their home. A free inspection was scheduled with System Design Specialist, Travis Simpson so we could assess their crawl space and provide a permanent solution. In the crawl space, Travis found that the crawl space had a dirt floor, open vents, high moisture levels, falling insulation, damp walls, musty odors, and mold growth. A thorough inspection revealed that moisture intrusion was the main culprit behind the musty odors the homeowners noticed.
Solution
Our permanent solution to this problem was to seal, insulate and encapsulate the crawl space. All wet and soggy debris, as well as rotting materials caused by moisture, had to be removed first. Once removed, the crew covered the open crawl space vents with vent covers. They also sealed around the rim joists with rigid foam board insulation. They used foam sealant to seal any visible openings or cracks that moisture could seep in through. Next, SilverGlo Crawl Space Wall insulation was fastened to the crawl space walls. SilverGlo is a 2" waterproof foam panel that acts as both a heat reflector and a vapor barrier by preventing moisture from seeping through the walls and evaporating into the crawl space.
In dirt crawl spaces, moisture from the dirt beneath the home is a major problem. Water vapor from the ground evaporates and moves upward into your home, even if you have addressed groundwater leaks. Rotted floor joists, mold growth, and poor indoor air quality can result from this. Our CleanSpace Vapor Barrier System ensured this customer would not have to worry about these problems. CleanSpace liner was installed over the dirt floor and around the piers to isolate the earth from the home. The CleanSpace vapor barrier is puncture and tear resistant, preventing moisture from passing through and causing condensation, mold growth, and structural issues. It contains an anti-microbial agent integrated into the liner itself to kill mold and bacteria. This helps to create a healthier environment for the customer and their home. A SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier was installed to lower humidity, remove musty odors, and prevent mold growth. Featuring a capacity to remove over 100 pints of moisture per day, the SaniDry Sedona can dry over 300 cubic feet of crawl spaces and basements every minute. By drying the below-grade area of this home, the SaniDry Sedona will help make this customer's whole house drier and healthier.
This crawl space repair was completed by installing a custom EverLast Crawl Space Door on the exterior of the home in order to create an airtight seal against outside moisture and pests.
Project Summary
System Design Specialist: Travis Simpson
Products Installed: CleanSpace Vapor Barrier
Products Installed: SilverGlo Crawl Space Wall Insulation
Products Installed: SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier
Products Installed: EverLast Crawl Space Door