Matt Killam

A 20 mil vapor barrier is laid, seams are taped, and it is adhered to the crawl space walls, replacing the old and torn 6 mil vapor barrier. Spray foam insulation is installed on the crawl space walls and the sill plate, rim and band, and vents are sealed. 

An interior, insulated, friction fit door is installed behind the existing crawl space door. 

Spray Foam insulation is installed on the crawl space walls and the vents, rim & band, and sill plate are sealed and insulated. 

Moisture infiltration in this Midlothian, VA crawl space has resulted in damaged and fallen insulation and microbial growth. In the living space, the homeowner is experiencing cold floors and drafts in the winter and humidity in the warmer months. 

All of the debris and old, damaged material is cleaned out of the space. The vents, and any penetrations through the foundation wall to the outside are sealed. Then a CleanSpace vapor barrier is installed. The vapor barrier is overlapped and sealed at all seams, attached to the foundation wall, and wrapped and sealed around all piers. Next, our spray foam technicians will apply closed-cell spray foam insulation to the foundation walls, insulate the rim band, and install a dehumidifier to control the relative humidity. 

We replaced the 6-mil vapor barrier in this crawl space with a 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier. CleanSpace is overlapped and sealed at all seams, wrapped and sealed around all piers, and attached to the foundation walls about 6 inches above outside grade. 

Sealing the crawl space off from the earth's moisture helps to prevent water vapor from the earth from rising into the space and increasing the relative humidity. 

This crawl space had moisture issues and the homeowner complained about the floor creaking. We found that the crawl space had moisture entering through open crawl space vents, the exposed earth, and through porous block walls. 

The homeowner opted to seal the crawl space, remove the old vapor barrier and insulation, install a new vapor barrier and seal it at the seams and along foundation walls, sealing all vents, and insulating the foundation walls with closed-cell spray foam. And finally, a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier was installed. This system helps to seal the crawl space from outside influence including moisture, which had caused much of the damage in the crawl space. The dehumidifier controls the relative humidity, helping to prevent future mold growth. 

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 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. 

Before: The foundation walls of this crawl space are created with porous cinderblocks, meaning they let water vapor seep through. Without proper encapsulation, the relative humidity is out of the homeowner’s control. During the wetter seasons, the ground outside the home is soaked with water each time it rains and eventually the moisture will find its way through these porous foundation walls, causing the relative humidity in the crawl space to rise with the temperature. 

After: The foundation walls of the crawl space in this picture have been covered and sealed with closed-cell spray foam. The moisture is no longer able to access the crawl space through the walls due to the foam sealing over the vapor barrier. The closed-cell foam becomes an air barrier and vapor retarder if sprayed to 1.5” or more. This solution will assist in keeping the relative humidity under control by blocking water vapor from the ground outside to enter, stopping mold or mildew from growing on any organic materials by cutting out the moisture they need to thrive. 

The original crawl space door on this home was a piece of ply-wood that had been damaged by weather over time. It was waterlogged and rotting, and because it didn't have a seal it didn't prevent pests or outside air and moisture from entering the crawl space. 

We installed a new crawl space door that will not warp, rust, or rot and is HOA friendly. Behind this door, is a friction-fit door that insulates and air seals behind the exterior door. 

Successfully sealing a crawl space vent to control moisture and temperature

An encapsulated crawl space supportive pier

This before and after illustrates how dry and clean the end product looks by placing insulation within a crawl space. The Drying Co. has made this crawl space more of a healthier environment making the overall home more comfortable!

This Williamsburg, VA homeowner opted to have their attic insulated from the rafters with closed cell spray foam insulation. This solution is ideal for attics that house HVAC equipment, are used for storage, or that the homeowner would like to convert to a finished space. Insulating from the rafters extends the thermal barrier of the home and helps control attic temperatures. 

This Williamsburg, VA homeowner was looking for a solution to keeping leaves and debris out of their gutters and having to clean their gutters. We replaced their old open gutters with the Gutter Shutter system which includes a hood that allows water in but keeps leaves and debris out, keeping our client off of the roof and off of ladders cleaning their gutters. 

This crawl space had falling insulation, mold/mildew, efflorescence from moisture and condensation, and a failing vapor barrier. We installed the CleanSpace Encapsulation System with closed cell spray foam insulation on the crawl space walls, sealed the rim and band and sill plate, and installed a SantaFe Dehumidifier, sealing the home off from the earth and controlling the relative humidity to help make this Williamsburg home more comfortable and energy-efficient.

This Chesapeake, VA client has been experiencing high energy bills and sweating ductwork in their attic. They chose to insulate the attic from the rafters with Closed Cell Spray Foam Insulation. This brings the HVAC into the conditioned living space and helps to protect the ductwork from the extreme temperatures of the attic allowing it to perform better. Not only does air sealing and insulating the attic reduce conditioned air loss, but it also reduces energy bills and helps to make the home more comfortable.