Crawl Space Repair Photo Album: Empire, MI Crawl Space Fixed

Our customer called with a crawl space that was actually, strangely, fine. They already had a sump in the adjoining basement and there weren't noticeable water issues, but they were starting to notice small things - debris in the fiberglass insulation and residue on the plastic sheeting that covered the dirt - that pointed to the beginning of ambient moisture related problems. They also wanted to make their already fine crawl space even better by swapping out the fiberglass insulation for something more suitable for crawl spaces. In addition to encapsulating with CleanSpace, we installed SilverGlo insulation panels, which are waterproof and inorganic to discourage mold growth. We also used vent covers on the crawl space vents to eliminate a point of entry for moisture and debris, and installed a SaniDry CX dehumidifier to control ambient moisture.

Not-So-Bad Crawl Space Can Be Better

At first glance, this crawl space isn't so bad. And really, it wasn't - but the owners knew it could be better and they could prevent it from getting bad in the first place.

Plastic Sheeting Covers Fallen Insulation

Two important things to note here: One, that DIY plastic sheeting you can buy at Home Depot is not a true vapor barrier, especially since you don't actually affix it to anything to create a seal. And two, fiberglass insulation is unsuitable for a crawl space or any other naturally damp environment, because it will simply absorb ambient moisture and then fall to the ground. The paper backing also makes a great snack for mold.

DIY Plastic Sheeting is an Ineffective Barrier

If you needed more proof that plastic sheeting and vapor barrier aren't interchangeable...look. It doesn't even reach the edges of the crawl space, leaving the whole space vulnerable to moisture coming in through the ground.

Early Signs of Water Damage on Support Beams

The slight discoloration and breakage visible on the support beams point to the early effects of ambient moisture.

Vent Covers Eliminate Water Entry Point

Covering vents is basically like closing a window. The only way to protect the crawl space from the elements is to completely encapsulate it, including covering the vents.

Placing the SaniDry

We used an extension cord to move the SaniDry dehumidifier throughout the crawl space so the customer could decide where he wanted the dedicated outlet installed.

New Insulation Protects Crawl Space

A combination of SilverGlo insulation panels and FrothPak spray foam insulation provide complete protection to the crawl space. Both are inorganic and waterproof, which means they don't harbor mold and won't be broken down by ambient moisture.