Crawl Space Repair Before & After Photos

Tom's house started smelling musty upstairs, and he wasn't sure how to identify the cause. After researching his options online, he called Ayers to learn about our waterproofing solutions. We sent a team of professionals to his house, and they recommended installing the CleanSpace vapor barrier. Crawl space moisture and mold growth can cause nasty smells upstairs. CleanSpace aims to eliminate moisture, prevent mold growth with antimicrobial-lined material, and withstand wear from walking and crawling upon it. Tom can't believe how fresh his house smells!

This homeowner has a crawl space under the addition but when it rains a lot, water seeps in. During the summer, the heat keeps the area fairly dry but it still has moisture in it. We were called because she wanted it to be sealed off to keep it dry. First, we put down drainage matting so that water in the crawl space could move and be directed to the sump pump. Second we installed the CleanSpace liner which is a thick durable liner similar to a pool liner. It prevents water vapor and humidity from passing through. By keeping your crawl space dry, your structure and insulation is protected from mold and rot. 

Many homeowners are not satisfied with their crawl space area. Typically they’re damp, musty, filled with miscellaneous debris and lack proper ventilation ー all ingredients fueling a recipe for disaster. 

However, at Ayers Basement Systems we take pride in mastering the art of crawl space encapsulation and waterproofing. In the case of Jennifer M.’s damp Potterville crawl space, the solution was simple: Clean Space Vapor Barrier System. 

First, we sealed all of the doors and vents so that outside air and humidity was no longer able to sneak in. Next we installed a crawl space drain and sump pump system. When combined, the drain and sump pump eliminates and removes any flooding water. Lastly, the area is encapsulated with our Vapor Barrier liner, a thick, durable liner that traps all other moisture in the air and ground. Without moisture, your crawl space will become smell-free and fungi-free.

After following all of the steps above we were able to completely transform Jennifer’s debris-filled, moist crawl space into a dry, ideal one. 

When these Westphalia, MI residents started noticing a strange odor in their kitchen, they set about to locating the source. They found the answer in their crawl space and weren’t too happy with the discovery. They had already known that the crawl space was dealing with previous issues. Specifically, no matter what the temperature of the house was, the crawl space remained cold. The bad odor gave them another reason to finally address the issue. On arrival, one of our system design specialists confirmed their suspicions. The crawl space was letting in damp air causing adverse temperatures and that delightful moldy smell that was traveling through their home. Luckily, both of these problems would disappear with a crawl space encapsulation.

Our Ultimate Energy Saver package was the perfect thing to cure this crawl space’s smell and temperature problem. Included in the package, are several different types of insulation: The SilverGlo wall insulation and spray foam are both seen in the after photo, and a Terrablock foam insulation rests on the floor underneath the vapor barrier. With these products working together, the crawlspace temperature should no longer be an issue. All of these items have another role in the project, as well. That is their ability to stop outside air - the main culprit for humidity, mold and bad odors - from coming in.  As a package, the Ultimate Energy Saver will protect these homeowners from moldy smells and overspending on heating costs. 

Sagging floors sometimes leave you wondering how much longer they can support the weight that is placed on them in your home. Floors above your crawl space can sag for many reasons: the existing columns are spaced too far apart, the floor joists have weakened from moisture/wood rot, or existing coumns have settled due to weak soil. No need to worry though, there is a solution to your sagging floors that will give you peace of mind. 

This apartment complex noticed not only sagging floors, but the doors were sticking and walls were beginning to crack, all signs of foundation problems. Our experts looked into this and figured out the best solution to this problem would be to install our crawl space SmartJacks. 

SmartJacks are made of steel so they won't rust from moisture. They are also very strong and can support loads of more than 60,000 pounds. You're probably wondering how they work. Before each jack is placed a 2 inch cube of soil is excavated and the hole is filled with concrete or a type of engineered fill. Then the steel column is cut to your crawl space height and the jack is assembled and tightened into place. The immediately stabilized the floor joists and lifts the floors and walls back to their original position.