Crawl Space Repair Photo Album: Moldy Crawl Space With Rotting Floor Joists Waterproofed in Allegan, MI

The crawl space below this old schoolhouse turned rental property was in really poor shape. There was standing water in low spots of the crawl space. Moisture was creating a moldy situation. It was imperitive that the mold be remediated to avoid spores entering the home and affecting the air quality and health of those living there. In addition, floor joists were rotting and becoming weak and jacks below the home that offered support to the structure were beginning to rust and deteriorate. In an effort to turn back the clock on the mold and avoid any further damage, we installed a CleanSpace encapsulation system to help keep moisture from entering. Two SmartSump sytems were installed in low spots of the crawl space to help remove any water that made it below the home. Finally, a SaniDry CX dehumidifier was placed below the home to help prevent harmful water vapors from building up.

Walls Of This Crawl Space Show Signs Of Consistent Water

The white chalky substance on the wall is called efflorescence. Its relatively harmless and easily cleaned off of walls but it's a sign that water has consistently been seeping in. When water enters through the walls, it brings minerals from the soil and concrete with it which settles on the walls.

Regular Plastic Liners Offer No Support In Crawl Space

Often times crawl spaces will be have thin plastic liners on the ground to prevent water from seeping in and to prevent a barrier between the home and the earth. These liners are usually ripped easily and over time, they offer less protection as they deteriorate. They also do little to protect from water seeping through the walls.

Crawl Space Riddled With Mold Covered Surfaces

As humidity remains consistently high in this crawl space, mold has a field day on organic substances like wood and or paper. Mold like this was all over under the home.

Severe Rot In Joists Tells Of Years Of Dampness In Crawl Space

The homeowner called us after noticing the floor joists becoming weak. From below the home, the damage is clear. Damp conditions has caused a lot of rot under this home. To prevent further damage, it is imperative that we keep water vapors under control.

Water Vapors Rust Floor Jacks In Crawl Space

Consistent damp air caused this and several other jacks to rust, compromising their strength and structural integrity.

CleanSpace Encapsulation Starts With Columns

Our CleanSpace encapsulation system varies from many ordinary solutions in that we also wrap columns and bring the wrap up the outside walls to further stop harmful water vapors from entering the space and to allow for drainage of water to the sump. Many other plastic wraps are thin and weak and don't fasten to walls easily.

Dimpled Liners Help Guide Water Out of Crawl Space

Before we lay our thick CleanSpace encapsulation material on the floor of the crawl space, we place a dimpled liner on the ground. This creates a space to allow water to travel to the sump pump and out from under the home.

Finished Crawl Space Dryer Than Its Ever Been

The finished basement with our CleanSpace encapsulation system is fully sealed off to the outside, is dry, and is humidity controlled.

SmartSump System In Crawl Space Removes Water Quickly

Our SmartSump system has a strong 1/3 hp pump, airtight lid, and an alarm to alert the homeowner in the event that the pump has failed or is not keeping up. This homeowner installed 2 pumps in various low points of the crawl space.

A Dehumidifier Controls Water Vapors In Crawl Space

To ensure that the air under this home stays dry to prevent rot or mold from forming or progressing, we've installed a SaniDry CX dehumidifier. Its a great compact solution for crawl spaces. The water that it removes from the air is directed to the sump pump and removed from the crawl space.