The Drying Co. Before & After Photos

This homeowner wanted to add insulation to their attic to improve the comfort and energy efficiency of their home. We installed a blanket of blown-in cellulose insulation in the attic. The Cellulose insulation used is 85% recycled material and contains a borate that helps to deter pests. 

This Chester, VA homeowner wanted to improve the insulation in their attic to reduce heat loss in the winter and radiant heat warming the rooms below in the summer. They chose to keep the existing insulation and add to it, so a fresh blanket of R-30 cellulose insulation was blown in increasing the R-value and reducing heat loss and transfer. 

This Chester, VA homeowner wanted to improve their attic insulation to keep rooms cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The homeowner didn't want to remove the old insulation, just add to it so, we installed PVs (proper vents) in between the attic rafters to allow for ventilation and keep insulation out of the soffit vent, then we blew in an R-30 of cellulose insulation. This will help to keep the rooms below more comfortable and reduce energy bills. 

The standard vapor barrier that is installed in the crawl space during construction is a flimsy 6-mil liner that is easily torn apart by any service persons, rodents, and pests who crawl on top of it. This ineffective vapor barrier does not get properly sealed around the piers or foundation walls. Moisture from the earth floor rises into the crawl space through these gaps, adding to the relative humidity if the temperature rises.

CleanSpace is a 20-mil thick vapor barrier that completely seals off the home from the earth’s moisture. It is wrapped around the piers and sealed to the foundation walls using a 4” wide vinyl tape. Moisture rising from the ground is not able to penetrate the CleanSpace liner, adding to the total control of relative humidity in the crawl space.

The open vents allow moisture and outside air into the crawl space. This makes it extremely difficult to control the overall relative humidity underneath a home. The dry winter air entering the vents will cause the floors above to feel cold and drafts, as well as raising the energy costs to keep the house comfortable. And in the summer, the wet, hot air will carry moisture into the crawl space, raising the relative humidity and allowing mold and mildew to thrive.

The foundation walls of this crawl space have been sprayed over, using a closed-cell spray foam that provides not only insulation but blockage from outside air moisture, while the open vents were sealed with foam board and covered in the same closed-cell spray foam. When closed-cell spray is applied at 1.5” thickness, it acts as an air barrier and vapor retarder. Sealing off the outside air and moisture provides the homeowner with more control over the relative humidity in the crawl space.