Creating Usable Storage in a Charlevoix, Michigan Crawl Space
Challenge
When Kelly purchased her lakefront home in Charlevoix, she hoped to use the crawl space for some extra storage. The crawl space had other ideas, however, as it had moisture issues and uneven dirt floors that took away most of the viable space.
The previous owners had laid plastic sheeting over the dirt and installed fiberglass insulation, which may have briefly helped keep the crawl space warmer and drier.
But Kelly didn’t want warmer - she wanted warm. She didn’t want drier; she wanted dry.
Solution
A home near a body of water is more likely to have water issues than one that isn’t due to a higher water table (basically, soil can hold a certain amount of water, and soil near a body of water is always closer to hitting its limit - this means the excess water has to go somewhere else). But the use of fiberglass insulation actually created more problems than it solved, since its known for absorbing moisture and harboring mold. This can cause wood rot in the support beams and even cause health issues as the mold spores travel up into the home via the HVAC system.
To accomplish “warm” and “dry,” we used two products that work beautifully together in a damp crawl space, and then supplemented them with accessories that guarantee a comfortable space.
We used CleanSpace vapor barrier throughout the crawl space to prevent moisture from entering the space and eventually the home. Unlike the plastic sheets you can buy at the hardware store and say “good enough,” CleanSpace is a thick antimicrobial liner that gets attached to the walls and floor of the crawl space and completely seals it off. This reduces cold air and eliminates water intrusion, both of which increase the comfort and usability of the space.
We then applied FrothPak spray foam insulation to the rim joist around the entire perimeter of the crawl space. FrothPak is water resistant and inorganic, which means it can’t grow or feed mold the way the paper backing on fiberglass insulation does. The spray foam application allows it to get into every crevice, ensuring complete insulation.
After installing the CleanSpace and FrothPak insulation, we added two SaniDry dehumidifiers. While one is usually sufficient, the layout of the crawl space made it difficult to ensure the air was moving around properly, so a second system added a layer of protection. The dehumidifiers will take care of any excess ambient moisture and keep everything dry.
With the installation of CleanSpace, new waterproof insulation, and a dehumidification system, Kelly got her clean, dry, and usable crawl space, and we got another happy customer.
