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

Our customer's home was near a lake and had all of the problems that come with living near a lake - namely, water in the large dirt crawl space. They were also battling an iron ochre problem and not only wanted to get the moisture taken care of, but learn what they could do in the future to mitigate iron problems. We installed the CleanSpace crawl space encapsulation system in the entire crawl space and put in multiple sump pumps to ensure the large area was completely protected. We also installed drain tile between the pumps and laid down a layer of drainage matting to keep water flowing properly. Now they'll get the beauty of waterfront living without all the headaches.

Overworked, Ineffective Sump Pump

The existing sump pump just couldn't keep up with the amount of water in this crawl space. In addition to the volume of water, iron ochre creates sludge that can clog up a pump, and the pump didn't have a cover to protect it from debris.

Water Damage in Flooded Crawl Space

In addition to the staining on the block walls, you can see that the water is starting to rot the wood on the right side of the photo. Over time this will harbor mold that will create even more problems.

Flooded Crawl Space in Kalamazoo

Living on the waterfront is nice, but it also means a high water table and a propensity for flooding.

Iron Ochre Wreaks Havoc

This red sludge is a result of iron ochre bacteria in the water.

Drainage Matting Helps Water Flow

Drainage matting - the black, dimpled membrane shown here - is laid down between the ground and the CleanSpace vapor barrier. This creates just enough room for water to move to the sump pump without getting "stuck" between the ground and the CleanSpace.

Multiple Sump Pumps Tackle Water Problem

We installed three sump pumps in this crawl space to keep up with the amount of incoming water.

CleanSpace Encapsulation Protects Crawl Space

This wet, sludgy crawl space is clean and dry after some help from our CleanSpace vapor barrier system.

Lawnscape Outlet Reduces Discharge Hassle

The Lawnscape outlet is attached to the end of the discharge line. This allows us to bury the line - which reduces trip hazards and landscaping inconvenience - while still giving the water an efficient outlet.