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This Dewitt, VA crawl space is encapsulated with a 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier, closed-cell spray foam, a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier, R-11 along the perimeter of the crawl space, and an Everlast Crawl Space door.
We installed about 1.5 inches of closed-cell spray foam over the foundation walls of this crawl space in Glen Allen, VA. At this thickness, the spray foam has an R10 value of insulation and acts as an air barrier and vapor retarder. We blocked out any open vents running along the crawl space wall, as these vents allow outside air and moisture to freely enter to crawl space, affecting the environment and relative humidity. With any insulation we install over the foundation walls, we always leave a 2-inch viewing strip at the top of the wall for termite inspectors. With these solutions in place, the crawl space is better protected from any outside influence penetrating through the foundation walls.
This homeowner was experiencing moisture issues within their crawl space. With open vents lining the porous foundation walls and many areas of the floor remaining exposed, this crawl space was being affected by the outside air and moisture, as well as the moisture rising from earth. This influence can affect the environment and the relative humidity of the crawl space. An elevated relative humidity can lead to condensation, puddling, and mold and mildew growth. Our installers placed a heavy-duty 20mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace, over the dirt floor of the crawl space. It is wrapped around all piers, sealed with vinyl tape, and mechanically fastened to the foundation walls six to eight inches above outside grade. This liner will assist in sealing off any moisture rising out of the earth. It is one of many solutions when fully sealing and encapsulating the outside off from your crawl space.
This Doswell, VA homeowner reached out to us after noticing issues with their crawl space insulation. Upon inspection we found that the insulation was damaged by moisture and falling away from the floors, there was microbial growth on the floor joists, and signs of moisture infiltration on the liner.
Simply replacing the insulation would mean that the homeowner would incur the same issue in a few years and need to replace the insulation again. We needed to address what was causing the insulation damage. We removed all of the debris and old material, treated the mold and mildew growth with an antimicrobial, installed a CleanSpace Vapor Barrier, air sealed the crawl space, and applied an R-10 of closed-cell spray foam to the foundation walls.
This homeowner in Sutherland, Virginia, was concerned about a variety of issues within their crawl space. Their insulation batts were damp with moisture and hanging down from the floor joists, while the porous foundation walls and open vents lining them were allowing the outside air and moisture to infiltrate the crawl space and affect the environment. We removed the fiberglass batts and installed a 20-mil vapor barrier over the dirt floor of the crawl space. We also blocked the open vents and used closed-cell spray foam to cover the foundation walls. This will help to seal off the crawl space from any outside influence.