Crawl Space Repair Before & After Photos

The original liner installed in this Henrico crawl space was a flimsy 6-mil vapor barrier. There were gaps in the liner, exposing the crawl space to moisture rising from the earth. This moisture can increase the relative humidity, which can lead to mold or mildew growth, condensation, and higher energy bills. We replaced this old liner with our 10-mil CleanSpace Light vapor barrier, which gets wrapped around all piers and mechanically fastened and sealed six to eight inches above outside grade on the foundation walls. CleanSpace will help protect the crawl space from moisture rising from the earth and comes with an antimicrobial, called UltraFresh, built into the material to help mitigate mold growth on the liner, itself.

This Henrico, VA client contacted us because they wanted to address the insulation in their crawl space. Moisture had caused damage to the fiberglass insulation and it was sagging and falling to the ground. The unsealed, vented crawl space was allowing moisture to flood in and cause damage to the insulation as well as mold and mildew growth. 

The homeowner wanted to not only reinsulate the crawl space, but they also didn't want to do it again in a few years. After reviewing their options, they opted to encapsulate the space. The crawl space was cleaned out and treated with an antimicrobial. Then, a new vapor barrier is installed sealing the crawl space off from the earth's moisture. Our team then air seals the space by blocking and sealing all vents and sealing any penetrations through the foundation wall to the outside. 

Next closed-cell spray foam is applied to the foundation walls and rim band. A SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier is installed to control the relative humidity and help prevent future microbial growth. Finally, an interior friction-fit door is installed to air seal and insulate behind the exterior door, and an Everlast exterior crawl space door is installed on the outside. 

This wood crawl space access has been replaced with The Turtl™. The Turtl™ will never rot, corrode, or need paint, unlike the old wood access. It provides a clean entry point into the crawl space for homeowners and service persons.

Open vents have been allowing hot, humid outside air to enter the crawl space. Combined with bulk water infiltration, this homeowner was experiencing some major issues in their crawl space. 

The crawl space has been encapsulated with a drainage system to mitigate bulk water entry and keep out moisture. Leaving the homeowner with a dry, healthy crawl space. 

We met this homeowner at a home show, where they asked us to come to inspect their crawl space because they were interested in encapsulating it due to moisture and mildew-mold concerns. This section of the crawl space is under an addition. The vapor barrier is unsealed, allowing moisture to rise from the ground and contribute to high relative humidity. Microbial growth is beginning on the floor joists and the fiberglass insulation is beginning to sag and fall.

The old materials have been removed, vents sealed, and the sill plate and rim band have been sealed as well. The CleanSpace vapor barrier has been installed with all seams overlapped and sealed. The moisture barrier is also run up the walls 6-8 inches above outside grade. The walls are prepped for spray foam insulation to be applied.