A Crawl Space Makeover in Whispering Pines, NC

Thursday, March 29th, 2018 by Mary White

Challenge

Karen, of Whispering Pines, NC, had recently been made aware of a problem in her crawl space. Moisture had become such a problem that it needed to be addressed as soon as possible, and a large amount of insulation had also fallen. Karen wasn’t sure what had caused the moisture accumulation, or why so much insulation now covered her crawl space floor, but she knew it needed attention. Reaching out with a phone call to Southeast Foundation and Crawl Space Repair, Karen took action.

Southeast Foundation & Crawl Space Repair inspector Justin Edwards met with Karen to go over the problems she was experiencing in the crawl space of her home. One of the first visibly noticeable issues was the fallen insulation, but as is often the case, there were other problems unbeknownst to the homeowner. Moisture content in the home’s wood joist and beams was quite high, and mold had begun to form in some areas. Justin determined that an encapsulation would provide a solution to these and other issues that could soon arise in this homeowner’s crawl space.

Solution

Our Crew began as usual, assessing the area and the prep work that would be needed to begin. First, they’d need to remove a large amount of fallen insulation and other debris from the area. After this was completed, they could begin on the project itself.

The crew first began by installing a SmartSump, a pump that collects and contains crawl space moisture. The next task was to make sure that the crawl space was actually sealed off from the ground. This is completed by covering the walls and floors of the crawl space, which had previously been part of the source of the wet environment.

The crew began to line the crawl space walls with SilverGlo, another prime performance product of Basement Systems. SilverGlo has a graphite composition within, and on the outside, a surface that serves as a radiant barrier, forcing heat back into the crawl space, saving energy for the homeowner. This also ensures that the transfer of moisture into the crawl space from outer walls would now be eliminated. Then, all crawl space vents were sealed, giving the dehumidifier even more control over the relative humidity inside.

We then began the installation of our polyethylene drainage matting, which directs water down to the SmartSump. Next they installed our 10mil-thick CleanSpace liner, a bright-white durable plastic that serves as a barrier between the crawl space and the earth below. By applying the CleanSpace and sealing off the ground, we ensure that mold and rot will never again invade this homeowner’s crawl space.

Next, we installed a drainage line that would exit the crawl space and run all the way down to the pond, at the lower end of the back yard.

Finally, the crew had to install a system that would automatically control the relative humidity of the crawl space all year long. By installing our high-efficiency Sani-Dry Sedona dehumidifier, we can ensure complete control of the crawl space environment, keeping the area free from problem-causing moisture.

Karen was thankful that she wouldn’t have to worry about further damage to her crawl space. She could rest easy knowing that her home would actually be safer, now that the previously humid environment could be managed properly. Further, she was pleased that she had chosen Southeast Foundation and Crawl Space Repair, and appreciated their diligence in completing the job so efficiently.