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Mold needs warm temperatures, high relative humidity and organic material to grow. In our area, crawl spaces create the perfect environment for this. We did a physical wipe down of the joists with an antimicrobial to kill and remove the mold growing on the wood.
Fiberglass Batts between the joists absorb moisture like a sponge. They hold moisture against the wood joists and fall and sag over time. Their paper backing and the wood floor joists are organic material that often has mold growing on them. We removed the old insulation and installed new, foam board insulation on the crawl space walls.
Previously, this crawl space had a 6-mil lightweight vapor barrier that was torn and even missing in places. We installed the CleanSpace Encapsulation System. The CleanSpace vapor barrier is a heavy-duty 20-mil liner that is perfect for crawl spaces that have service persons working on equipment, plumbing, or electrical, or for storage. It resists rips and tears, and is fastened to the walls and wrapped around piers sealing the earth off from the home.
This homeowner in Montpelier was having moisture issues within the crawl space of their home. As a result of the excessive outside influence, their home was uncomfortable and the energy bills were high. We encapsulated their crawl space using a CleanSpace Light vapor barrier to help seal off the earth's moisture from the crawl space. Then, we sprayed an inch and a half of closed-cell R-10 spray foam over the foundation walls. All penetrations and vents are also sealed, and the spray foam acts as an air barrier and vapor retarder, protecting the crawl space from the outside influence. With their crawl space encapsulated and insulated, the homeowner should enjoy a much more comfortable home with lower energy bills. If you are interested in sealing your crawl space or basement, then give us a call at 1-800-638-7048. We'll help to keep the outside, outside!
We installed about 1.5 inches of closed-cell spray foam over the foundation walls of this crawl space in Glen Allen, VA. At this thickness, the spray foam has an R10 value of insulation and acts as an air barrier and vapor retarder. We blocked out any open vents running along the crawl space wall, as these vents allow outside air and moisture to freely enter to crawl space, affecting the environment and relative humidity. With any insulation we install over the foundation walls, we always leave a 2-inch viewing strip at the top of the wall for termite inspectors. With these solutions in place, the crawl space is better protected from any outside influence penetrating through the foundation walls.