Crawl Space Repair Photo Album: Damp Crawl Space Insulated and Encapsulated In Petoskey, MI

Richard's crawl space was humid and damp and suffering from a variety of issues. Among them were some mold, rot, and structural integrity issues. Support beams were cracked and failing. The fix for this crawl space was multi-faceted. First, steel support beams supported by a series of SmartJacks were added to support the structure. These SmartJacks are installed by digging out a cube of earth, filling it in with crushed stone and putting a steel footer plate on top. Then the steel column is placed on top connecting to the new steel girder. This system takes the weight of the home above and evenly disperses it deep into the soil. Next, we added insulation on the walls and ground using SilverGlo insulation and TerraBlock insulation. This adds energy efficiency when trying to heat or cool the home and makes floors toastier in the cold months. Above that, we installed our durable CleanSpace material which acts as a vapor barrier, keeping moisture away from building materials. We also added a smart sump system which collects any moisture in the crawl space and safely removes it. Finally, a SaniDry XP dehumidifier was installed to remove any harmful water vapors from the crawl space so as to keep the building materials as dry as possible and eliminate mold growth. The vapors were minimized not only with the CleanSpace material but also with a froth pak treatment in the rim joists to eliminate entry points. Now this crawl space is much more pleasant, bright, and safe. The structural integrity of the home is restored and the building materials are now dry.

Dampness and Efflorescence

Even some of the blocks still looked damp upon inspection and the white chalky powder on the blocks is called efflorescence, which builds up when water passes through the blocks and brings with it remnants of the mortar and sediment and deposits it on the walls.

Moisture Showing Its Affects On Building Materials

Some mold and rot were starting to take affect in this crawl space. Its a sign of high humidity and damp materials over time. The homeowner, having asthma, needs this to be cleaned up. As air travels into the crawl space, its carried up into the home. This is the air that the homeowners breath. It needs to be cleaned up.

Plumbing Leaks Create Greater Moisture Problems

Sometimes plumbing leaks can be a major source of moisture in the crawl space. A condensate line was dripping above this vent line. The rust was a subtle indicator that tipped us off to the leak.

Support Beam No Longer Reliable

This wood support beam was in rough shape. Over time it had weakened and deteriorated and had begun to crack and rot. New supports will be needed to keep the home protected.

Support Beam Nearly Split In Half

This support beam has weakened to the point that it has split nearly in half. New steel girders and a series of SmartJacks will be installed on either side of the beam to ensure that the home continues to be properly supported.

Oxidation Signals High Humidity

The extreme oxidation on many of the pipes throughout the crawl space are an indication of high humidity in the crawl space. Controlling the humidity will be key.

Dimple Matting Aids In Drainage

The dimpled matting is installed to help water flow to the low places and into the crawl space drains.

TerraBlock Added To The Floor

TerraBlock is only 3/4" thick and acts as a flexible foam insulation with a vapor barrier on both sides. It adds R-value and energy efficiency to any crawl space.

Crawl Space Jacks Support The Structure

These steel columns have incredible strength, superior to conventional floor jacks. A cube of earth is removed below the jacks and filled with crushed stone. The sole plate and jack are set on top of that deferring the weight of the home deep into the ground. A new girder is a zinc-plated steel that provides incredible strength and won't rust.

CleanSpace Material Installed

The durable CleanSpace material provides a reliable vapor barrier that continues up the walls and columns. This material is a strong, hard to rip, matting unlike other plastic vapor barriers that are often highly unreliable. It also does a lot to brighten the space up.