Foundation Fix and Crawl Space Encapsulation in Evart, MI
Challenge
Ethan contacted us when the family LLC house his mother occupied started raising some concerns. First, the mixed media crawl space started leaking. Half of the walls in the space were cinderblock, and the other half were fieldstone and mortar, which is where the water was coming in. In addition to water in the space, the owner was concerned with the field stone foundation and wanted to have the home checked for stability.
Solution
After assessing the leaky walls in the crawl space and the foundation, our system design specialist, Doug Hawley, knew that SmartJacks should be installed first to stabilize the foundation. These galvanized steel columns installed along the girder in the crawl space are tightened, which help level the girders and floor joists. SmartJacks also take problem soils into account, and are fixed in a hole that is filled with concrete or compacted tight stone, allowing the columns to support up to 60,000 lbs.
Once the foundation was stabilized, the next step was to encapsulate the crawlspace. Ethan wanted to make the home as energy efficient as possible, so our team installed SilverGlo insulation in the crawl space before installing the liner. This insulation is 2 inches thick and is made of tiny particles that reflect heat back into the crawl space.
After the space was properly insulated, a CleanSpace liner was fitted. Unlike other plastic liners, CleanSpace is 20 mils thick and made of layers of polyester cord reinforcement, making the liner resistant to tears and punctures. Another added benefit of CleanSpace is the antimicrobial additive manufactured into the bright white material. This prevents any mold from growing inside the liner and keeps the air in the crawl space clean and healthy.
By stabilizing the foundation, installing energy efficient insulation, and instating a durable crawl space liner, Ethan can be confident that this crawl space won’t cause any problems for him or his mother.
Project Summary
Primary Foreman: Doug Hawley
