Crawl Space Repair Photo Album: Encapsulating a Cabin Crawl Space in Empire, MI

Our customer contacted us through our website with a simple question: "Our rental cabin is almost always very damp. Can you fix it?" Good news - we can! The crawl space under this cabin was chaotic, to say the least. Standing water, falling fiberglass insulation, and riddled with mold, it was constantly hovering around 80% humidity. This state can cause everything from health problems to structural problems. After cleaning out the plastic sheeting and fiberglass insulation that were more of a problem than a solution, we used CleanSpace vapor barrier to encapsulate the crawl space. We also installed vent covers to eliminate a point of entry for water and debris, and put in a Smart Sump pump to take care of the incoming water problems.

Chaotic Crawl Space

Mold-riddled beams, wet and falling fiberglass insulation, and water stained walls all point to a crawl space with a myriad of water-based problems.

Moldy Crawl Space Beams

In addition to causing health problems (such as respiratory issues or exacerbating allergies), mold can weaken the structural integrity of the wooden beams, putting the safety of your home at risk.

Closeup of Moldy Support Beams

You can already see mold breaking down the support beam shown. As mold continues to use the moisture of the crawl space and the food source provided by the wooden beams to expand, it will continue destroying the wooden beams and further compromise the crawl space.

Crawl Space Vents Exacerbate Moisture Problems

Vents in a crawl space are the equivalent of having an open window in your house and wondering how water got in during a storm. Outdated building code led to their pervasiveness but the only way to keep a crawl space dry is to cover them.

Not all Vapor Barriers are Created Equal

Many people buy this DIY plastic sheeting, thinking it's the same thing as a true vapor barrier. Nothing could be more wrong. It's simply a plastic sheet laying on the ground, collecting standing water and moldy debris.

Falling Fiberglass Insulation

Fiberglass insulation is common but a horrible choice for crawl spaces. It simply absorbs moisture from the air until it gets too heavy to stay up, and then it falls. The paper backing is also an excellent food source for mold.

Small Crawl Space Entrance

It's easy to understand why people rarely go into their crawl space and don't discover problems until they're very advanced. This tiny opening is the only access point, and nothing but murky darkness waits below.

Super Sump Pump Discharges Water from Crawl Space

While the CleanSpace protects the crawl space from water coming up through the floor and walls, the Super Sump pump will discharge the water outside.

CleanSpace Keeps Crawl Space Clean and Dry

The CleanSpace vapor barrier system affixes to the walls of the crawl space, allowing us to create a seal unachievable with DIY plastic sheeting. This provides protection against incoming water and debris.