Photo Album: Encapsulating a Wet Crawl Space in Kalamazoo, MI

Our customer called with a crawl space that was flooding in one corner. The block foundation had shifted in that same corner, which was part of the problem, and the dirt floor was wet and gross. There were also longstanding signs of water issues, namely rust on the support beams and signs of mold. They were beginning a series of home projects to get the house in shape and wanted to start with a clean, dry crawl space. We installed drainage matting and CleanSpace vapor barrier in the entire crawl space to protect it from ambient moisture. We also put vent covers over the open vents, and added a Smart Sump pump and a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier to take care of any water in the crawl space. Outside the home, we straightened out the shifting corner of the foundation to eliminate another water entry point.

Flooding Crawl Space in Kalamazoo

Water coming in through the foundation was causing this crawl space to flood - the different stages of wet sand show the water's far reach.

Water Causes Staining in Gross Crawl Space

In addition to keeping the floor of the crawl space wet and mucky, you can see staining on the walls where the water comes through.

Water Damages Metal Supports

The metal support beams are corroded from ambient moisture in the crawl space.

Vents Allow Moisture Into Crawl Space

At the top of this photo you can see an open crawl space vent, which is no better than an open window letting rain, air, and debris into the crawl space.

Plastic Sheeting is Not an Effective Vapor Barrier

Simply putting down plastic sheeting does nothing to protect the crawl space from water. It isn't installed to create a water-tight barrier, so it's the equivalent of throwing a tarp onto a pool and calling it a pool cover - it's not protecting anything.

Shifting Foundation Blocks Allow Water Inside

While this didn't post a structural threat to the home, the out of place blocks were inconvenient and offered another avenue for water entry.

Drainage Matting Installation

Drainage matting is installed between the ground and the CleanSpace to create just enough room for water to move to the sump pump without getting stuck under the CleanSpace.

Wrapping Piers for Total Protection

After the drainage matting is in place, we wrap the support piers in CleanSpace and then start installing the system to the walls and floor.

CleanSpace Protects Crawl Space From Moisture

The CleanSpace vapor barrier system will protect the crawl space - and the house above it - from the effects of ambient moisture. CleanSpace is affixed to the walls of the crawl space to create a water-tight seal that protects not only from standing water, but also basic humidity.

Vent Covers Protect Against the Elements

Old ways of thinking said that crawl spaces needed to be vented in order to promote air circulation. But we know better - it's not just air that's circulating, but also water and any number of other things. The only way to eliminate the negative effects of a crawl space is to seal it off from the outside and condition the space with a dehumidifier.