Before & After Photos

After sealing and insulating this crawl space, we need to make sure we control the relative humidity. This is achieved by installing a dehumidifier with a hygrometer. The dehumidifier will be set to cut to on when the humidity reaches about 55% our goal is to prevent it from getting high enough that microbial growth can occur in the crawl space. We don't want the space to be too dry either because that can be damaging to the home's structure as well. A hygrometer is provided to the homeowner that allows them to monitor the temperature and relative humidity in the crawl space from inside their home. 

With concerns about the moisture damage in their crawl space, this Beaverdam, VA client oped to encapsulate their crawl space to help protect it from future damage. 

In this phase of the project, we've treated the microbial growth on the floor joists and a heavy-duty CleanSpace Vapor Barrier has been installed. The liner is overlapped at all seams, wrapped and sealed around all piers, and mechanically attached to the foundation walls. The Foundation vents have also been sealed to prevent outside air carrying moisture from pouring into the space.

All crawl space vents, the sill plate, and any penetrations to the outside through the foundation walls are all sealed. The rim band is insulated and sealed with spray foam insulation to stop air infiltration, which can also help with drafts in the first level of the home. The crawl space is also sealed off from the earth's moisture with a CleanSpace vapor barrier, which is sealed at all seams, wrapped and sealed around all piers, and attached and sealed to the foundation walls. All of these steps are taken to keep as much moisture out of the crawl space as possible so we can control the relative humidity and protect the substructure of the home. 

This homeowner had been experiencing rooms that were too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer, especially their bedroom. The space just wasn't comfortable. After completing an inspection of the home, we found that the homeowner was losing energy and heat through the attic. As part of the solution, the homeowner chose to insulate the main trunk line with spray foam insulation to help reduce the impact the extreme temperatures of the attic has on the ductwork and the conditioned air in it. They also removed all of the old insulation, air sealed and insulated with new, R-60 cellulose insulation. 

This Doswell, VA homeowner reached out to us after noticing issues with their crawl space insulation. Upon inspection we found that the insulation was damaged by moisture and falling away from the floors, there was microbial growth on the floor joists, and signs of moisture infiltration on the liner. 

Simply replacing the insulation would mean that the homeowner would incur the same issue in a few years and need to replace the insulation again. We needed to address what was causing the insulation damage. We removed all of the debris and old material, treated the mold and mildew growth with an antimicrobial, installed a CleanSpace Vapor Barrier, air sealed the crawl space, and applied an R-10 of closed-cell spray foam to the foundation walls.