Basement Waterproofing & Home Insulation Company in Greater Richmond, Virginia Beach, Richmond, Henrico, VA

How Do I Fix Water Problems in My Crawl Space?

2026-02-24T00:00:00.05Z

Many homes from Virginia Beach to Colonial Beach and Midlothian experience water finding its way into the crawl space.

What causes water intrusion in a crawl space?

Water intrusion can happen due to:

Poor grading around the home
A high water table
Improper drainage around the home
Clogged gutters

If left unaddressed, crawl space moisture can lead to:

Mold growth
Wood rot
Sagging floors
Musty odors
Higher energy bills
Poor indoor air quality

How do you fix a wet crawl space permanently?

1. The Cleanout

We’ll start by removing any debris, fallen insulation, and existing vapor barrier. These old 6-mil construction-grade vapor barriers don’t do much to protect your crawl space from moisture.

2. The Prep Work

A trench is dug around the perimeter of your crawl space.

In some cases, you may need a lateral line that runs through the middle of the space.

3. The StarPipe Drainage System

The Drying Company uses a custom-engineered drainage system, StarPipe.

It has slots on each side for maximum water collection
Features a drainage track on the bottom
Its unique star-shape holds the sleeve in place
Prevents soil intrusion and clogging

Due to its unique design, StarPipe does not require gravel or drainage rock, making installation cleaner and more efficient.

4. The Sump Pump System

The drainage system is routed to a sump pump basin.

Depending on the conditions of your crawl space, The Drying Company offers three sump pump options:

The SmartSump

1/3 HP pump
Designed for tight crawl spaces
Compatible with UltraSump

The SuperSump Plus

1/3 HP pump
Large basin for easy upgrades
Compatible with UltraSump

TripleSafe Sump Pump System

1/3 HP
1/2 HP
UltraSump battery back-up pump

Your solution advisor will work with you to determine the best fit for you and your home.

5. The Electrical

A dedicated outlet will be installed for your sump pump system.

6. The Discharge Line

The sump pump’s discharge line is run to a location on your property away from your home, designated by you.

7. The Vapor Barrier

After the crawl space drainage system is complete, a new vapor barrier is installed.

We recommend a minimum 12-mil liner.

6-mil liners are thin, tear, and are displaced easily, doing a poor job of protecting the crawl space from the earth’s moisture.

Heavier duty liners such as 12-mil or 20-mil:

Can be sealed to walls and piers
Stay in place
Create an effective moisture barrier
Are durable enough to withstand service professionals working in the crawl space

Completing the System with Encapsulation

Installing drainage is key to protecting your home, but leaving vents open still allows humid air, pests, and outside moisture back into the space.

Encapsulation:

Protects the wood substructure
Helps to prevent mold growth
Improves indoor air quality
Reduces energy consumption
Makes floors warmer
Reduces drafts
Adds value to your home

Encapsulating your crawl space turns it into a controlled environment, protecting your home while giving you peace of mind.

What Our Homeowners Have To Say

“We had our crawlspace sealed up and a dehumidifier put in. Very large difference in how warm our floors are and no more musty smells. Very good work, very communicative, very worthwhile.”

— Joe Doran (Google Review)

Repair Your Wet Crawl Space Today!

If you’ve noticed musty odors, cold floors, high humidity in your home, or poked your head in the crawl space door and immediately closed it, it’s time to address the issue.

Schedule a free crawl space inspection today and protect your home from the ground up.

Call The Drying Company at 757-566-8622. We specialize in wet crawl space repair!

Sealing Off The Outside in a Farnham, VA Crawl Space

2025-10-15T11:44:50.05Z

The first step for our installers was to remove the old insulation batts and any debris from the crawl space. An antimicrobial solution, called Shockwave, was applied to the affected floor joists, killing any microbial growth. Once the Shockwave solution had dried, two SmartJack support systems were installed to help support sagging floor joists. With the jacks in place, the installers fastened R-19 fiberglass batts to the floor joists to add insulation between the first floor and crawl space. Once the insulation is installed, a 10-mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace Light, was placed over the dirt floor of the crawl space. This liner gets wrapped around all piers and is mechanically fastened to the foundation walls six to eight inches above outside grade. Then, a custom-made friction-fit door made with foamboard material was created and fitted into the crawl space entrance. This friction-fit door will help to seal the entrance from outside air and moisture. Once the door is installed, the final step is to install an Aprilaire dehumidifier to help circulate dry air and remove any moisture collected from the crawl space. With these solutions in place, the homeowners will enjoy having a comfortable, dry crawl space and home.

Signs of Foundation Settlement

2025-09-23T00:00:00.05Z

There are several signs that your home may be settling. Both inside and outside of your home, there are some key signs you can look for to determine if you need a professional to assess your home’s foundation.

Signs of Foundation Settlement:

Stair Step Cracks are common in brick and concrete walls. As your home continues to settle, these cracks may widen. You may see this from the outside of your home or inside the basement or crawl space.

Your chimney begins to separate from the home. In some cases, chimneys are built on a separate foundation not connected to your home, this increases the risk for settlement.

You might notice that doors or windows in your home are no longer square. Cracks may originate from the corner, or they may begin to separate from the framing or exterior finish. Doors may begin to stick, often homeowners employ DIY fixes such as planning across the top of the door or replacing locking or latching mechanisms.

Vertical Wall Cracks are frequent in poured foundation walls and are often seen in basements.

Drywall Cracks are often most obvious in the upper level of the home. They typically originate from the corners of doors and windows, along drywall seams, or you may notice buckling, pulling, or ripping of drywall tape.

If you have noticed any of these symptoms in your home, it’s best to have your foundation evaluated to determine if you have a settlement problem.

Curious about the causes of foundation settlement? Explore this blog: https://www.thedryingco.com/about-us/blog/51183-why-do-foundations-settle-or-sink.html?cache=0

Fixing Sagging, Bouncy, and Sloping Floors

2025-08-08T00:00:00.05Z

Fixing Sagging, Bouncy, and Sloping Floors

Have you noticed that the floors in your home are starting to dip, slope, or are getting a little bouncy? The problem is likely in your crawl space. The entire substructure of your home is made of wood. Girders, joists, and the sill plate are all wood. The girders are supported by piers or columns, most often made of brick or cinderblock, but in some cases are made of wood.

Under your home is typically vented and unsealed from the earth. This exposes the wood substructure to moisture and humidity. Wood exposed to moisture and humidity can become moldy, weak, and even rot. This weakens the joists and the girders, resulting in sinking, sagging, spongy floors.

What causes it?

- Too much space between columns

- Weakened joists and girders

- Settling columns

Girders span underneath your home and are supported by columns (also known as piers). The spacing between these columns is crucial in supporting your home’s weight. If the space is too far apart, the girder will begin to sag underneath the weight of the structure.

The moisture and humidity under your home play an integral role in the health of your home. As the wood in your crawl space absorbs moisture, it will grow mold, soften, and begin to rot. The moisture in the wood is referred to as wood moisture content and should be below 19%, the point at which wood rot begins. This compromises the integrity of your girders and joists, weakening them and making them unable to support the structure.

Settling columns create gaps between the girder and the piers that support them. This is a result of shifting and settling soils underneath your home. This shifting and settling of the soil can be a result of the amount of water the soil holds, shrink and swell due to seasonal temperatures, or poorly compacted fill soils during construction.

What Solutions Are There?

- Concrete Columns

- Additional Shimming

- Light-duty Jack Post

- Smart Jacks

Concrete columns are similar to the piers already supporting the structure. They rest on the soil and will eventually be impacted by shifting and settling soils. You’ll have to do the repair again after some time, and the cycle will continue.

Additional Shimming is adding material between the column and the girder to fill the space that is being made from the sinking column. Shims can be made of metal, wood, or plastic. Often, we see wood shims used in this application. Wood is subject to the same conditions that your substructure is being impacted by; eventually, it will retain moisture, grow mold, and rot. Shims also don’t stop the sinking of the column. Eventually, you’ll have to address the problem again.

Light-duty jack posts can be purchased at hardware stores. These posts hold little weight, and anything light-duty probably shouldn’t be supporting your home. These jacks sit on a block and are tightened against the girder. They do not address the concern of shifting soils below your foundation, and you’ll be making repairs again.

Smart Jacks are made of steel and sit on a specially engineered metal plate. The jack is connected to the girder and tightened into place. This stabilizes the girder and floor joists and provides an opportunity to lift the floors and walls back to level. Smart Jacks are a permanent solution that addresses the concerns of shifting soils below and provides the best opportunity to return the floors to level, supporting loads of more than 60,000lbs, and if adjustments are ever needed, the Smart Jack is easily adjustable to maintain the stability of your home.

There are several options when it comes to stabilizing your home to address the problem, but only one is permanent: Smart Jacks.

If you need your foundation evaluated, contact The Drying Company at [[phone]].

Seamless Gutters vs. Traditional Gutters

2025-07-29T00:00:00.05Z

Seamless Gutters vs. Traditional Gutters

Gutters play a major role in protecting your home’s foundation and landscaping. Not managing the water coming off your roof leads to rain runoff dumping onto the ground. This creates ruts around your foundation in the dirt and allows water to sit against your foundation or seep into the basement or crawl space.

Traditional Gutters, also known as sectional gutters, come in sections that are joined together. These pieces usually come in 10-foot or 20-foot sections. Conversely, seamless gutters are custom-fit on-site, manufactured to the length needed without any joints or connectors every 10 to 20 feet.

Both seamless and traditional gutters come in 5-inch and 6-inch options. The 6-inch gutter handles more water than the 5-inch and is an ideal choice for areas that experience heavy rainfall, homes with larger roofs, or a steeper pitch of the roof.

At their connections, traditional gutters are famous for catching debris such as pine needles, leaves, small twigs, and anything else that finds its way into your gutters. Over time, this builds up and clogs. At these seams, we also frequently see rusting and leaking as joints need re-caulking or sealing.

Traditional gutters do boast the benefit of being easier to DIY and initially costing less, but tend to cost more in maintenance due to easily accumulating debris.

Seamless Gutters are custom fit, and without seams allow for better water flow and don’t snag debris along the run of the gutter. They also tend to be of a higher quality and are more durable and thicker, making it easier to hold up in storms and giving them a longer life span than traditional gutters. Seamless gutters do look cleaner on the home as well, offering better curb appeal.

While Seamless Gutters do cost more initially than sectional gutters, they require less maintenance over time and last longer, ultimately making them a better investment.

Ultimately, homeowners tend to consider the initial price, cost of upkeep, and longevity when determining the best gutters for their home. When it comes to Seamless Gutters, you will pay more upfront but will save on time and money in upkeep, repairs, and replacement versus traditional gutters, which are cheaper to install but cost a lot of time and money in maintenance and repairs.

Installing Gutter Shutter in Waterview, VA

2025-07-25T08:49:52.05Z

This Water View family contacted us because they were experiencing issues with the water runoff from their roof when it rained. Some sections of the house had no gutter, while others poorly managed the water as they were clogged from leaves and pine needles.

The homeowners wanted to protect the home's foundation and their flower beds from further damage by the water shedding off their roof.

Why do foundations settle or sink?

2025-07-22T00:00:00.05Z

Why are there cracks in my foundation?

When the soil beneath your home is no longer stable enough to support the structure, it compacts and shifts, causing your house to settle or sink. You notice this through cracks in walls, uneven floors, or sticking doors and windows, among other symptoms.

Unstable soils can be caused by:

- Hydrostatic pressure

- Soil washout

- Soil shrinkage / soil expansion

- Poorly compacted fill soil

- Poor drainage / poor water management

- Tree roots

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure occurs when the water in the soil outside of your home’s foundation, such as the basement, exerts pressure against the block foundation walls.

At 60lbs. per cubic foot, water in the soil can exert thousands of pounds of pressure against your basement walls. This pressure ultimately causes bowing, cracking, and water leaks.

Soil Washout

Soil washout refers to the rapid erosion of soil caused by water, typically heavy rain or flooding. This creates voids in the soil that cannot support the weight of the structure above it.

The building compacts the soil beneath it into the void that’s been created and settles along with it. As the structure shifts, floors become uneven, windows and doors stick, and cracks in walls appear.

Soil Shrinkage / Soil Expansion

Soil shrinkage is a result of soil being too dry, usually during a drought or heat wave. Soil expansion occurs when soils swell with water.

Different types of soils, such as clay, sand, and loam, have different shrink/swell potential in relation to their change in moisture content. For example, clay soil tends to hold more water and shrink more than sandy soil.

Poorly Compacted Fill Soils

When homes are built, soil is moved to level lots. When these “fill soils” are used to fill in the valleys and create a flat area to build are more in, they are not always compacted evenly.

Poor Drainage & Water Management

Water sitting against the home’s foundation contributes to the saturation of the soil. Water also follows the path of least resistance, so it will push its way into basements and crawl spaces, causing mold, mildew, and wood rot.

Overflowing or absent gutters, improper downspouts, and extensions all allow water to pool against your home, causing more damage to your foundation.

Tree Roots

As trees grow, their roots pull more moisture out of the soil, changing the soil conditions around the home. This can contribute to the expansion and shrinkage of soil.

In some cases, roots may become invasive and exert pressure on your foundation walls, causing damage to underground plumbing or sewage line,s which could result in more soil saturation and pressure against your foundation.

What to look for:

- Stair step cracks in bricks or cinderblocks

- Cracks around windows and doors

- Vertical wall cracks

- Chimney separation

- Bowing walls

- Sticking windows and doors

- Uneven floors

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s always a good idea to have a foundation professional evaluate your home to determine if you have foundation settlement issues.

The Drying Company is ready to help you repair your home’s foundation and give you peace of mind. Call for a free foundation inspection at [[phone]].

The Insulation Tax Credit Ends December 31-Don't Miss Out on $1,200 in Savings!

2025-07-17T00:00:00.05Z

The Insulation Tax Credit Ends December 31—Don’t Miss Out on $1,200 in Savings!

A recent change in federal law means the insulation tax credit—worth up to $1,200—is ending sooner than expected. The last day to complete qualifying projects and still be eligible for the credit is December 31, 2025. That gives you a very limited window to complete insulation and air sealing upgrades and still claim your savings!

If you’ve been thinking about improving your home’s comfort and energy efficiency, the time to act is now.

A New Law Just Eliminated the Insulation Tax Credit Early

The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (also known as the insulation tax credit) was originally set to run through 2032. But Congress just passed legislation cutting the program short. After December 31, 2025, this credit will no longer be available.

That means to qualify, your project must be completed—not just scheduled—before the end of 2025.

If your work is finished by the deadline, you’ll still be able to claim the credit when you file your 2025 taxes (likely in early 2026). But any upgrades completed after the cutoff will no longer be eligible.

A Limited Time Opportunity to Boost Comfort and Lower Energy Bills—For $1,200 Less!

Waiting could mean leaving up to $1,200 in savings on the table. That’s money that could help offset the cost of insulation and air sealing—upgrades that also:

Lower your monthly energy bills
Improve indoor comfort
Enhance your home’s air quality

This is a dollar-for-dollar credit on your federal tax return. If you owe taxes, it directly reduces the amount you owe. But only if your insulation work is finished by year’s end.

Act Now—Our Schedule Is Filling Up Fast

With the tax credit set to expire, homeowners are hurrying to schedule their insulation upgrades before it’s too late. At The Drying Company we want to help as many people as possible take advantage of this opportunity.

To ensure your project is completed in time, contact us today to reserve your slot.

Maximize Your Savings with Confidence

We’re experts in insulation & air sealing and know exactly what’s needed to qualify for the insulation tax credit. The clock is ticking, but our team is ready to:

Recommend qualifying insulation solutions
Provide a detailed, itemized invoice for tax purposes

This isn’t just about improving your home. It’s about taking advantage of a valuable incentive before it disappears for good.

Improve your comfort, cut your energy bills, and take advantage of up to $1,200 in tax credits—before the opportunity disappears. Call or contact us online today, while there’s still time to save!

Crawl Space Encapsulation in Coles Point, VA

2025-07-16T12:43:48.05Z

Our team started crawl space repairs by removing all existing fiberglass, vapor barrier, and debris. Once the space was cleared out, a new heavy-duty vapor barrier was installed. The liner was wrapped around all piers and sealed, and run up the foundation walls above outside grade. Next, we started on air sealing and insulating the space. The vents are sealed, and the rim and band were air sealed and insulated with foam insulation. Then an R-10 of closed-cell foam insulation was applied to the foundation walls, leaving a termite viewing strip at the top of the wall. Finally, an interior insulated door was installed, and a dehumidifier was put into the crawl space.

With the new, heavier vapor barrier sealing the crawl space from the earth’s moisture, and the space air sealed and insulated, we can use the dehumidifier to control the relative humidity of the space. Keeping the relative humidity under 60% will help prevent any future mold growth in the crawl space. With the encapsulation system in place, the homeowner will notice less humidity inside the home.

Understanding Termite Warranties With A Crawl Space Encapsulation

2025-07-15T00:00:00.05Z

When considering a crawl space encapsulation, a primary concern of many homeowners is “Will it affect my termite warranty?” This is a very important question for our customers because termites can spell BIG problems for homeowners.

A crawl space encapsulation should not affect your termite warranty. However, it will depend on your termite company’s terms of service. We still encounter homeowners whose pest control companies won’t honor the warranty if the crawl space is encapsulated. Still, there are more and more companies understanding the benefits of an encapsulated crawl space.

The Virginia Building Code requires that an encapsulated crawl space leave space at the top of the foundation wall (a termite viewing strip) and the full face of the sill plate visible for termite inspections. The Building Code keeps crawl space companies from covering up the most important areas for termite inspectors to see during inspections, protecting you, the homeowner.

A crawl space encapsulation helps to control moisture and humidity in the crawl space, helping to keep pests out, prevent mold and mildew growth, and create a healthier environment. A dry crawl space can typically deter termites and other pests and rodents, as they typically seek out damp environments to make their home.

Termites require a damp environment to build mud tubes. With a properly encapsulated crawl space, your chances of keeping termites out are higher. Plus, there are added benefits of energy savings, warmer floors in the winter, protecting hardwood floors, improved indoor air quality, and protecting the substructure of your home.

The Drying Company has fixed tens of thousands of Crawl Spaces, and we’ve teamed up with Pest Control Companies who understand the benefits of encapsulating and provide treatment and warranties for encapsulated crawl spaces.

It is always important to maintain annual termite inspections with a pest control company as no crawl space encapsulation guarantees that termites will not infest your home. We recommend checking with your pest control company about your warranty when encapsulating your crawl space. If you have any questions or are looking for a company that will provide termite warranties and inspections with an encapsulated crawl space, we can help!

5 Common Crawl Space Problems

2025-06-30T00:00:00.05Z

Common Crawl Space Problems

We’ve seen these 5 common problems in thousands of crawl spaces throughout Virginia. You’re not alone in your crawl space being impacted by the warm, humid temperatures we experience on the Virginia Peninsulas. Thousands of homeowners have contacted us for help solving these problems permanently.

Falling Insulation –
Falling insulation occurs in a crawl space as it is impacted by moisture over time. The insulation absorbs the moisture in the crawl space and becomes heavy. The weight of the insulation is pulled down by gravity, resulting in large sections of insulation falling to the floor. When it looks like insulation is “Dripping” from the floor joists, this is a result of delamination. Delamination occurs when the fibers of the insulation begin to separate, which is also affected by moisture.

Mold Growth – Mold growth is often found in crawl spaces on floor joists and the paper backing of fiberglass insulation. Mold requires 3 things to grow: organic material, warm temperatures, and high relative humidity (above 60%). In the home, you may notice musty odors or high humidity, which is often an indicator of microbial growth in the crawl space.

Ground Water & Water Infiltration – Many crawl spaces are affected by bulk water. This can come from the ground, which is particularly damp in some areas and is even affected by soils that tend to hold more water. Alternatively, water can infiltrate the crawl space through the foundation walls. This is usually a result of water pooling against the foundation on the exterior and seeping through the block wall. Pooling water can be a result of poor drainage, either from clogged or absent gutters or around the home, or a lack of grading away from the home.

Missing, displaced, or damaged vapor barriers – Vapor barriers are designed to protect your crawl space from the moisture in the ground. Liners with holes in them allow moisture through. Most vapor barriers installed in construction are “secured” in place using U-shaped pins. These pins create holes in the barrier that is intended to keep moisture out. A 6-mil vapor barrier is the standard for homes when they are built. These liners are thin and rip easily. Due to the oily or slick nature of the liner, they are difficult to seal with tape to create the barrier between earth and crawl space. Attaching them to the walls can be achieved, but they quickly rip away.

Wood Rot – Wood rot begins to occur when the wood moisture content reaches 19%. Visibly, you might notice that the wood is darker, almost black in areas, softening of the floor joists or girders, and sinking of the girder onto the piers. Inside your home, you might notice bouncy or spongy floors, sagging/uneven floors, or musty odors. Wood rot is a serious concern in crawl spaces because it impacts the stability of the structure.

If you’re experiencing issues like these in your Church Road, VA home or surrounding areas, contact The Drying Company for a FREE inspection and estimate!

Crawl Space Repair in Carson, VA

2025-06-30T12:43:20.05Z

To repair this crawl space, our team is going to start by cleaning out all of the old insulation, vapor barrier, and debris.

Next, we'll treat the mold growth with an antimicrobial. This will kill the mold, but it does not prevent regrowth. The only way to prevent mold from regrowing is to control the relative humidity of the environment.

A heavy-duty vapor barrier is then installed on the crawl space floor, it is run up the foundation walls above outside grade, and wrapped around piers. The liner is sealed, preventing the earth's moisture from rising into the crawl space. (It is important to note that a vapor barrier only protects from water vapor and not bulk ground water. In a home where there was bulk water, a drainage system with a sump pump would be recommended.)

Closed-cell spray foam insulation is applied to the foundation walls. The rim band is insulated with the foam as well, and the sill plate is sealed. Insulating and air sealing the crawl space helps keep out warm, damp air and drafts. This means that the homeowners won't experience things like cold floors in the winter, and drafts will be greatly reduced.

A SaniDry Dehumidifier is installed. This is the key to controlling the relative humidity in the crawl space and protecting it from future microbial growth. This energy-efficient dehumidifier cuts on when the humidity in the crawl space increases over 60% circulating dry air throughout the crawl space.

Finally, a new crawl space door is installed. This door is designed not to rust, rot, or warp, and is HOA-friendly!

Keep Your Home Cool in Extreme Heat

2025-06-25T00:00:00.05Z

Keep Your Home Cool in Extreme Heat

During the summer months, the Richmond and Hampton Roads areas consistently experience extreme temperatures, leaving residents hot and uncomfortable. As our HVAC systems work overtime trying to keep our homes cool, our energy costs rise, making those summer electrical bills double or even triple those of prior months.

Choosing between comfort and cost when cooling your home can be tough for a lot of families. You might be using band-aid fixes like adding fans or buying a portable air conditioner to help cool down that second floor, or the room that’s always hot and humid, but this is costing you money and energy, too.

How can Virginia families keep their home cool in extreme heat, save energy & money, and be comfortable in their home, year-round? Home efficiency’s best friend for comfort and energy savings is air sealing and insulation, but where to start?

The Solution: Air Sealing & Insulation

All areas that could benefit from air sealing are not created equally. Air sealing in some areas makes far more of a difference in your home’s energy efficiency and comfort than others. For this reason, we developed an ABC air sealing strategy.

· A is for attic, which is where most air leaks out of your home.

· B is for bottom (basement or crawl space) where most air leaks into your home.

· C is for conditioned space, where most windows and doors are located.

For the biggest impact, we start with the attic.

Why Your Attic Is The #1 Priority

In the summer, your roofing heats up in the sun, and this heat radiates down from the underside of your roof to your attic, heating your attic up to as much as 130 degrees. Your drywall or plaster ceiling then radiates down into your rooms, heating the air and everything in them. As this occurs, your HVAC system is trying to keep up, and on really hot days or when the sun peaks in the afternoon, it may not be able to.

If your ductwork is in your attic, it’s subject to the extreme heat and warms up conditioned air before it ever makes it to the rooms you’re trying to cool.

3 Steps to Comfort & Efficiency

Air sealing and adding insulation to your attic is a permanent solution. It’s important to note that insulation alone does not stop air leaks (unless it’s closed cell spray foam). To learn more about different insulation types and their effectiveness,s read Home Insulation - The Basics: What You Need to Know About Insulating Your Home

Air sealing will reduce the air leaking out of the top of your home through top plates, duct chases, bath fans, and electrical or plumbing penetrations. This benefits you in both the summer and winter months by keeping conditioned air in.

For ductwork, spray foam insulation is an excellent option for protecting it from the extreme conditions of your attic and getting that air you paid to cool to the rooms it’s intended to cool. Ductwork is naturally leaky, letting in dust, dirt, and allergens, and notoriously under-insulated. Spray foam both air seals and insulates your duct work, protecting it from extreme temperatures and keeping out dust, dirt, and allergens.

Once you’ve air-sealed your attic and ductwork, a blanket of cellulose insulation, often referred to as blown-in or blown insulation, should be installed. This insulation has a higher R-value than fiberglass, is made of 85% recycled material, and contains a borate solution that helps to deter pests.

These three steps to insulate and air seal your attic space not only make a major difference in your comfort year-round, but they pay for themselves in energy savings over time! Most homes see a return anywhere from 2-10 years, but most fall in the middle of that range.

Beat the heat for good. Contact The Drying Company today for a free evaluation of your home’s insulation. [[phone]] / [[phone]].

Why Your Sump Pump Needs a Battery Back-up - Protecting Your Home During Extreme Weather

2025-05-28T00:00:00.05Z

In Virginia, residents are no stranger to hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, and winter weather conditions. These conditions have led many homeowners to protect their homes with drainage and sump pump systems. These systems are designed to keep water out of your basement or crawl space to protect your home’s foundation and keep your belongings safe.

Most homeowners make a significant investment in installing waterproofing systems in their homes to prevent even more costly damage to the home’s foundation and their belongings. What happens when these extreme weather events knock out the power that your sump pump system relies on to protect your home?

Extreme weather accounted for about 80% of all major U.S. power outages from 2000 to 2023. In Virginia, just over 94% of the 88 major power outages over the last 2 decades were related to extreme weather. That’s about 4.5 major power outages per year in the last 20 years making Virginia rank seventh highest in the number of weather-related outages in the nation. Severe weather includes events such as major thunderstorms, winter weather, tropical storms, and hurricanes.

For homes with whole-house generators, you may have utilised your whole-home generator to power your pump, however there are still benefits to keeping your sump pump on a separate battery back-up system. Whole-home generators take some time to kick on and rely on fuel, a battery back-up for your sump pump kicks on instantly and does not require fuel providing you with more comprehensive coverage when protecting your basement or crawl space from flooding.

Our experts always recommend our homeowners add an UltraSump Battery Back-up to their sump pump system. This system kicks in not only when your power goes out, but if your pump fails for any reason, your circuit breaker trips, or your primary pump becomes unplugged.

Why choose the UltraSump 4 over competitors products? Our partners at Contractor Nation compared our UltraSump 4 to the off-the-shelf unit sold by Groundworks Companies (an investment firm that has been buying foundation repair companies such as JES since 2016). Here’s what we found:

Protecting a Richmond, VA Crawl Space from Moisture

2025-04-25T15:15:27.05Z

The first step during the project for our installers was to remove the old liner and any debris or trash left behind. Once the crawl space was empty, the installers applied an antimicrobial solution, called Shockwave, over the wooden floor joists to eliminate the mold growth. It is important to note that while the Shockwave will kill mold spores, it does not remove any staining left behind from the mold growth. The mold and mildew can grow back if the relative humidity and temperatures of the crawl space are not regulated or maintained. While we recommended applying insulation to the foundation walls, the homeowners of this crawl space decided to replace the insulation within the floor joists with 16-inch R-19 fiberglass batts. Once the insulation batts were installed, we used a 10-mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace Light, to cover the dirt floor of the crawl space. This 7-layer polyethylene liner gets wrapped around all the piers, is sealed with a unique vinyl tape, and is attached to the foundation walls about six to eight inches above outside grade. This special vapor barrier will help to protect the crawl space from any moisture rising from the earth. Once the liner is installed, the installers create a foamboard block to fit into each open vent that lines the foundation walls. These foamboard pieces are sealed with can foam and will help to prevent any outside air and moisture from flowing into the crawl space. The final solution put into place by our installers was an Aprilaire E100 dehumidifier and a condensation pump. The Aprilaire dehumidifier will circulate dry air around the crawl space while regulating the relative humidity. Any moisture collected is then distributed to the condensation pump, which drains the water out of the crawl space via a hose line to a predetermined location on the property. Now that these solutions are in place, the homeowners can enjoy having a dry and clean crawl space under their home. If you or someone you know is interested in crawl space solutions, then please reach out to our company. We will help to keep the outside, outside!

Increased Electric Bills. Can More Insulation Help Lower Them?

2025-04-14T00:00:00.05Z

According to Dominion Energy Virginia’s 2024 Integrated Resource Plan filed in October 2024, Virginia residents can expect a projected 50% increase in their energy bills by 2039. The company reports the average household bill for Virginia families as of 2024 is $142.77. By 2039 they expect this to rise to $214.24.

With many families already feeling the impact of energy bills well over $200.00, they’re looking for ways to not only save money on energy bills but stay comfortable in their homes too.

Some alternatives to adding heat in the winter might be space heaters, but those can cost you a whopping $60-$90 per month each on your electric bill per heater for about 8 hours of use.

In the summer, running fans is a significantly smaller expense than running heaters at about $20-$25 per fan per month on your electric bill, but can still add up. If you go as far as adding something like a mini-split depending on the unit, you’ll be adding anywhere from $50-$150 to your electric bill per month.

Even with these “fixes” you’re not solving the problem of your HVAC system failing to keep your entire home comfortable. Fans and heaters add to your electricity bill and you’re going to spend time adjusting, moving, and worrying about the units.

So, what can you do to keep your home comfortable, yes even that one room that’s always freezing or hot, and help reduce energy bills? Insulation and air sealing are nearly always the answer. As two of the most cost-effective ways to increase the comfort and energy efficiency of your home, these projects can help you save up to 10% on your energy bills.

The savings impact that proper insulation and air sealing will have on your home’s energy bills will always depend on the current conditions of the home. Energy Star reports that 9 in 10 homes (90%) of homes in the U.S. are under insulated so, chances are, your home is a home that will benefit from these improvements.

Not only will air sealing and insulation reduce energy consumption and improve comfort, but it can also result in improved indoor air quality by helping to prevent outdoor allergens, moisture, and pollutants from entering the home. This reduces the risk of mold growth and raspatory issues.

In addition to making these improvements to your attic, you can also consider air sealing and insulating your ductwork. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is with spray foam insulation. This reduces the dust and allergens that can be pulled into your duct system and increases the efficiency of the system. Energy Star also notes that this measure can reduce greenhouse gas emissions further, contributing to better overall air quality.

The long-term impact of air sealing and insulation of your home and the savings that you will see in your energy bills means that over time the project will pay for itself financially. Making this a worthwhile investment in your home and your wallet.

To start tackling reducing your energy bills and improving your comfort in your home, call The Drying Company at [[phone]]. Our Home Performance Advisors will do a free assessment of your home insulation and help you determine where you can make the biggest difference in your energy costs and comfort.

Encapsulating a Virginia Beach, VA Crawl Space

2025-03-12T11:34:59.05Z

The first step to improving the crawl space was for our installers to remove the old vapor barrier and any debris from the space. Once the area had been cleared, the floor joists and wood structures were sprayed down with an antimicrobial called Shockwave. The Shockwave eliminates mold spores but does not remove the staining that mold growth can leave behind. After the antimicrobial spraying was completed, our installers laid down a 20-mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace, over the dirt flooring of the crawl space. This heavy-duty liner is wrapped around all piers, sealed with a special vinyl tape, and mechanically fastened to the foundation walls six to eight inches above the outside grade. The CleanSpace vapor barrier will help to protect the crawl space from moisture rising from the earth and from seeping through the porous brick walls. Once the vapor barrier is put in place, our installers fastened a unique foam board, called SilverGlo, over the foundation walls of the crawl space. The open vents lining these walls are also covered with cut pieces of this foam board. The SilverGlo will act as an air barrier and vapor retarder while providing the crawl space with an R-10 insulation value. Moving the insulation from the floor joists to the foundation walls will move the crawl space into the conditioned space of the home and will prevent cold air from rising into the floors above during the winter season. The next product installed was a vinyl Friction Fit door that's fastened within the crawl space entrance. This door will not become warped by the outside elements like a metal or wood door. And finally, a SaniDry Sedona was placed within the crawl space. This energy-efficient dehumidifier will circulate dry air around the crawl space and monitor the relative humidity of the space. A condensation pump was connected to the Sedona to remove any collected water from the crawl space via a hose line. With these solutions in place, the homeowners can feel comfortable knowing that their crawl space is safe from any outside moisture or influence.

How Snow and Freezing Rain Can Impact Your Gutters

2025-01-22T00:00:00.05Z

How Snow and Freezing Rain Can Impact Your Gutters:

Snow can damage your gutters as it adds weight to the system. Traditional gutters and their brackets are not designed to handle the weight of snow and ice. This causes sagging, brackets to detach, and separation at the seams of your gutters.

As snow melts and freezes these effects can be seen especially at the seams and connections of your gutter system where you’ll notice seeping as the melting snow expands as it freezes.

Ice damming can also be a problem for homeowners. Ice damming occurs when snow melts and freezes at the edge of the roof. This blocks waterflow off the roof and causes water to back up under your shingles which can damage your fascia, roof, and gutters.

How do you protect your gutters from snow and ice?

Keeping your gutters clean and clear is key to keeping water and melting snow draining away from your home properly. This means paying someone to keep your gutters clean, regularly cleaning your gutters yourself, or installing GutterShutter.

Paying someone to keep your gutters clean is a never-ending expense that you’ll pay out 2-4 times a year depending on how heavily wooded the area you live in is and how important you find it to protect your roof and your home’s foundation. Over time, that’s really going to add up.

Doing it yourself may save you some money but you’ll still be buying tools for you to do it yourself, spending time that could be spent doing something you enjoy much more, and it can be dangerous to climb up on the roof to clean the gutters, so your safety has to be taken into consideration too.

Installing GutterShutter means you pay once and never have to pay someone to clean your gutters again and you’re not climbing on the roof, spending your weekend cleaning those nasty gutters out. This seamless system is guaranteed to never clog, sag, or pull away. Yes, even in snow.

GutterShutter features super strong brackets that support the gutter and the hood making it durable and keeping it from sagging. It’s rolled hood keeps debris out, so when snow melts it flows freely through the system and doesn’t fill your gutters and freeze. The system also installs directly to the fascia and under the drip edge helping to protect the fascia from water damage and the roof from ice damming.

Call The Drying Company for a free Gutter estimate and protect your home from the damage clogged gutters can cause! GutterShutter is Clog Free, Guaranteed!

Sealing Up a Williamsburg, VA Crawl Space

2025-01-09T12:07:29.05Z

The first thing that we focused on doing was removing the debris and old fiberglass insulation batts from the crawl space. The wooden floor joists, riddled with mold growth, were sprayed using an antimicrobial called Shockwave. This solution kills the mold spores but does not remove any remaining staining. The mold can also grow back if the relative humidity and temperature of the crawl space are not controlled.

Once the floor joists were sprayed down with Shockwave, we installed a new vapor barrier over the dirt floor of the crawl space. Our installers used a 10-mil liner called CleanSpace Light. The CleanSpace is wrapped around every pier, and mechanically fastened up the foundation wall about six to eight inches above outside grade. This CleanSpace Light will help protect the environment from moisture rising from the earth and offers a clean and bright aesthetic.

The next step was to move the insulation from the floor joists to the foundation walls. We started by blocking the open vents from allowing outside air and moisture to get inside. Precisely-cut foam board pieces were cut to fit inside each vent, then sealed with can foam. We then covered the walls in a 1.5-inch-thick layer of spray foam. This insulation offers a value of R-10 and acts as a vapor retarder and moisture barrier.

The last product we installed was a SaniDry Sedona, an energy-efficient dehumidifier. This specialized unit will not only help to control the relative humidity of the crawl space but it will also circulate dry air around the area. Any moisture collected is then distributed to a condensation pump, directing the water out of the crawl space and away from the foundation via a hose line. A hygrometer is installed near the dehumidifier to help the homeowner monitor the relative humidity and temperature of the crawl space at all times.

With these solutions put in place, the homeowner can rest easy knowing that the crawl space is better protected from any outside influence. If you or someone you know is having moisture or mold issues within the crawl space, then give us a call to schedule your free estimate. We'll help you to keep the outside, outside!

The Impact of Home Insulation for Energy Savings

2024-07-12T00:00:00.05Z

Properly air sealing and insulating your home can have a HUGE impact not only on the comfort and energy savings in your home but also on the environment.

Using a modest estimate of 20% energy savings on the homes that we've installed energy-saving solutions, we can calculate the impact these home improvements such as attic insulation, air sealing, crawl space insulation, and more can improve energy savings and reduce carbon emissions.

Carbon intensity is a measurement of how much carbon dioxide is emitted for each unit of energy used which is typically expressed as the amount of carbon dioxide released per kilowatt-hour of electricity used. These factors can vary based on geographic region and energy source. In Virginia, we can estimate a carbon intensity factor of 11.3 metric tons of carbon per person. With over 1,200 homes energy efficiency and comfort improved with cellulose insulation and air-sealing, we can estimate an energy savings of $480,000.

The energy-saving improvements we make on our homes that help reduce our energy bills don't just have an impact on our houses and energy bills but have a huge impact on our environment. The improvements made in the 1,200+ homes we've worked in have resulted in an estimated $42,477.8 metric tons per year. These energy savings and carbon emission reductions result in saving roughly 1,930,808 trees per year!

The Drying Company Receives The Founder's Award From James City County

2023-11-16T09:31:22.05Z

Thursday, November 9^th, 2023

The Drying Company and Owner, Steve Tetreault are honored to be presented with The Founder’s Award by Christopher Johnson, Director of Economic Development for James City County.

The Founder’s Award has been presented for 28 years, previously called The Captain John Smith Business of The Year Award. The Founder's Award recognizes that contributions or achievements worthy of recognition do not have to be limited to a single business each year. This award is “presented to a company, organization, group, or individual that has made a significant contribution to the County and its citizenry in terms of capital investment, employment, philanthropy, volunteerism, reached a significant milestone or meritorious achievement, or a combination thereof.”

The award recipient is determined based on a vote by members of the Board of Supervisors and Economic Development Authority from a pool of candidates selected by the Office of Economic Development Staff. On this occasion, The Drying Company was among two honorees, when The Board of Supervisors and Economic Development Authority found themselves deadlocked between two candidates, The Drying Company and Greystone of VA.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized for our impact on the local community. We have an incredible team that really focuses on helping people in their homes and through the different charity drives we hold each year, it’s easy to miss the bigger impact it has on the community. It’s great to be able to show everyone on Team TDC what all of their hard work and commitment to our mission and values has achieved.” Says owner, Steve Tetreault about receiving The Founder’s Award.

The Drying Company extends its deepest thanks to the communities it serves, its clients, its team, and their families for the support they provided throughout the years.

The Founder's Award

2023-11-16T00:00:00.05Z

Steve Tetreault (center) & Tyler Tetreault (left center) are presented The Founder's Award.

Thursday, November 9th, 2023

The Drying Company and Owners, Steve Tetreault and Tyler Tetreault are honored to be presented with The Founder’s Award by Christopher Johnson, Director of Economic Development for James City County.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized for our impact on the local community. We have an incredible team that really focuses on helping people in their homes and through the different charity drives we hold each year, it is easy to miss the bigger impact it has on the community. It’s great to be able to show everyone on Team TDC what all their hard work and commitment to our mission and values has achieved.” Says owner, Steve Tetreault about receiving The Founder’s Award.

The Drying Company extends its deepest thanks to the communities it serves, its clients, its team, and their families for the support they provided throughout the years.

Ducts Sweating Between Floors in Williamsburg, VA

2023-08-11T08:33:10.05Z

This Williamsburg, VA family reached out after noticing a humidity problem in their basement. They were noticing mold around the HVAC and on the ceilings in basement bedrooms. They were unsure where the humidity and moisture were coming from, but knew it was a problem they needed to address to protect their home and their health. The first step was to confirm if this was a humidity issue or not then work with the homeowners to develop a solution.

Upon inspection, the homeowner’s suspicions were correct. Humidity was occurring between the first floor and the basement. This was a result of the rim and band between the floors needing to be sealed. The same issue can occur between the first and second floors of a home. The floor above, in this case the first floor of the home, is leaking air allowing it to get under the floor and above the basement ceiling. As this air meets the duct work the temperature difference causes it to condensate. The moisture eventually leads to the mold the homeowners were seeing.

6 Common Crawl Space Problems

2023-06-21T00:00:00.05Z

With such a warm, humid climate in the spring and summer months, humidity becoming trapped in the crawl space is a common problem many homeowners face. Some of the most common things we see in crawl spaces in the Greater Richmond, Williamsburg, and Virginia Beach areas include.

1. Mold & mildew growth on floor joists

2. Falling/Fallen fiberglass insulation

3. Missing, damaged, and crumpled vapor barriers

4. Mold & mildew growth on the paper backing of fiberglass insulation.

5. Efflorescence on foundation walls

6. Insects and critters

Leaving your crawl space vents open in the summer doesn’t do the job of keeping the space dry. Instead, it allows hot humid air to become trapped and raises the relative humidity in the space. To learn more about the science behind this, watch this video “Why Vented Crawl Spaces Just Don’t Work”

Mold and mildew grow on floor joists as the relative humidity rises and warm temperatures are sustained. All mold needs to grow is a relative humidity above 60%, an organic food source (the wood substructure of your home), and warm temperatures. Mold and mildew growth on the paper back of fiberglass insulation is very common. Mold loves organic material, and it especially loves paper.

Falling or fallen fiberglass insulation is a result of the material absorbing the moisture in the crawl space. It becomes heavy and with the help of gravity, begins to fall away from the floor. Often you may see that the insulation looks like it is “dripping” this is a process called delamination. Delamination occurs when the fibers in the insulation begin to separate from one another as a result of the moisture it’s holding.

We typically see missing, damaged, or crumpled vapor barriers in crawl spaces, this is because the vapor barrier installed at construction is a 6-mil thickness that is either simply laid on the ground or tacked into place with U-shaped stakes. The purpose of a vapor barrier is to prevent water vapor from the earth from rising into the crawl space and impacting the substructure of the home. However, if your liner is not sealed or has had holes put in to “keep it in place” it’s not going to do a very good job at keeping vapor out, in fact, it’s going to let it in. 6-mil vapor barriers are very thin, think of a standard trash bag, so they are easily damaged and displaced by service persons going in your crawl space or by critters running through or making a home down there.

Efflorescence on foundation walls occurs as moisture moves through porous foundation walls into the crawl space. As it moves through the wall it brings the minerals and sediment in the block with it. This results in a white powdery substance often described as looking chalky on the surface of the block. Efflorescence is a sign of moisture moving through the foundation wall and into the crawl space adding to the relative humidity. When looking for bulk water intrusion, we’ll often notice things such as water staining on the walls, erosion of soil around the foundation wall where the water is entering, and the ground being softer in those areas.

The dark, damp environment of your crawl space makes a great home for insects and critters. Our inspectors often find that mice have nested in fiberglass to keep warm, snakes have made a home and shed their skin in the crawl space, and crockets, spiders, and a number of other insects find the safety of the damp, dark crawl space, the perfect place for them to call home.

How do you know if you have any of these problems in your crawl space? The sure way is to have a professional inspect your crawl space. Our Home Performance Advisors do thorough inspections and take photos of their findings to give you a complete look at what’s happening in your home.

You can also check out our article “10 Signs You May Have Crawl Space Problems” to see if you have any of these symptoms without going in your crawl space. You could still have moisture problems in your crawl space and not notice these 10 Signs, it’s always best to get a professional to look at your home so you can have the peace of mind knowing what’s going on.

For a free crawl space evaluation, call The Drying Company at [[phone]] or [[phone]].

Home Insulation in Chesapeake, VA

2023-05-16T11:08:34.05Z

To address the cantilever, we first installed foam insulation blockers, air sealed and insulated with closed cell spray foam, and filled the remainder of the space with fiberglass then reinstalled the floor joist coverings. In the attic, we installed PVs to prevent the soffits from becoming blocked. Then we blew in cellulose insulation over the existing fiberglass insulation. Cellulose is also dense packed under storage decking in the attic.

Installing Gutters in Hampton, VA

2023-05-15T14:22:12.05Z

The Gutter Shutter System was installed on the front and back of the home. The larger trough means it can carry more water and keep up with the rainy weather with out worry of clogging or overflowing.

Installing Gutters in Hauge, VA

2023-01-20T12:20:05.05Z

We went over a few different options with the homeowner, they ultimately decided to replace the sections of the existing gutter and install gutters where there were none.

The Gutter Shutter system was installed on the home featuring a wide trough and hood. The system comes with a guarantee that it won't clog, sag, or pull away from the home. This give the homeowner the peace of mind that their system will last and that they won't need to clean their gutters again!

Sealing a Crawl Space in Henrico, VA

2022-06-01T11:01:10.05Z

Our team begins by treating the mold and mildew on the floor joists with an antimicrobial. Next, they seal the rim band, sill plate, and crawl space vents. These are all huge points of air infiltration, by sealing and insulating in these areas, we can stop as much outside air from entering the crawl space as possible.

Next, our team rolls out a heavy-duty 10-mil vapor barrier, CleanSpace. This liner is designed to withstand service persons crawling on it to work in the space without the worry of rips or tears that would come with a conventional 6-mil liner. The CleanSpace is overlapped at all seams and sealed, it is wrapped and sealed around all piers, and it is attached and sealed to the foundation wall. This isolates the crawl space from the earth's moisture, preventing it from rising into the space and increasing the relative humidity.

Our technicians then apply closed-cell spray foam to the foundation walls at an R-10 thickness. Finally, a dehumidifier is installed to control the relative humidity of the crawl space ensuring it stays low enough to help prevent future mold and mildew growth.

Resealing a Williamsburg, VA Crawl Space

2022-05-25T17:02:26.05Z

The first thing we did was remove the existing vapor barrier and any debris littering the crawl space floor, then we installed a drainage system under the crawl space grade level using a 4" perforated corrugated sock pipe with drainage rocks. This drainage system was then connected to a Super Sump Pump system, which contains a 1/2 horsepower Zoller pump and a discharge line that leads to a predestined area behind the home. Then we installed a durable 10-mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace Light, over the dirt floors of the crawl space. We wrap the vapor barrier around all piers and mechanically fasten it to the foundation walls six to eight inches above outside grade. This will help to protect the crawl space from moisture rising from the earth. CleanSpace will resist wear and tear, and it comes with an antimicrobial, called UltraFresh, built into the material. This will help mitigate mold and mildew growth on the liner itself. We then turned our attention to the open vents lining the foundation walls. Custom foam board pieces were used to block the open vents on the inside and then sealed with foam. This will cut off the free flow of outside air and moisture to the crawl space. Normally, we would then move on to adding spray foam or Foamax foam board to insulate the foundation walls, but the homeowner decided to keep their already existing foam board insulation. Insulating and sealing the foundation walls blocks off the moisture that is seeping through the porous walls, and helps to control the temperature and environment of the crawl space. The last thing to add is a high-performance dehumidifier, called SaniDry Sedona. This dehumidifier will help to control the relative humidity and temperature of the crawl space, and it will circulate dry air around the space. A hygrometer is given to the homeowner to monitor the relative humidity and temperature of their crawl space. Annual maintenance and inspections are scheduled, and the homeowner can now enjoy a dry and comfortable crawl space underneath their home. If you are also experiencing high energy bills, musty odors, or an uncomfortable home, then please give us a call at [phone]. We'll help you keep the outside, outside!

Repairing a Williamsburg, VA Crawl Space

2022-05-13T10:01:37.05Z

The homeowners opted to proceed with the project by breaking it up into two phases. The first phase began in January. Our team started this phase by cleaning out the old fiberglass insulation and any debris in the crawl space and straightening out the existing 6-mil temporarily (the liner will be addressed in phase 2). Next, they will treat the mold and mildew with an antimicrobial. Since it’s winter, the homeowners aren’t going to have to worry about the hot humid weather causing them more problems. Our team also performed a service on the existing dehumidifier to ensure it was running correctly, the unit was clean, and the drainage and condensate lines were clear of any clogs. As the last step of this phase, a new crawl space door was installed.

A few months later, before the weather began to warm up, our homeowners proceeded with phase two. A 10-mil clean space light vapor barrier is rolled out, all seams are overlapped and sealed. The liner is wrapped and sealed around all piers and attached and sealed to the foundation walls. Whoever previously installed the foam board insulation on the walls did not leave the required viewing strip for termite inspections, so our next step will be to cut the code-required viewing strip so that termite companies can perform their inspections.

Our homeowners now have a crawl space sealed off from outside air infiltration and the earth’s moisture. The dehumidifier will control the relative humidity to help prevent future microbial growth and a properly sealed crawl space door will help reduce the cold air flooding into the space causing those cold floors. With a clean, dry, crawl space, our homeowners won’t need to worry about microbial growth causing musty smells inside their house.

Controlling Moisture in a Louisa, VA Crawl Space

2022-04-25T11:18:28.05Z

This Louisa, VA homeowner had noticed some moisture damage in their crawl space and after some research, determined they wanted to encapsulate the space. Matt met with them to discuss the project, do an inspection, and help them determine which products and materials they wanted to use.

While inspecting and measuring the crawl space, Matt found that moisture had been seeping in through the foundation walls, evidenced by efflorescence and staining on the blocks. Areas of the crawl space were missing their vapor barrier, which was unsealed, and was allowing moisture from the ground to rise into the space. Open foundation vents were also a gateway for hot humid air to enter the space as well.

The fiberglass insulation in the floors was dirty, it had been acting as a "filter" for the air being pulled up into the living space via the stack effect (about 50% of the air inside your home comes from your crawl space). As the insulation has absorbed moisture, the fibers have begun to pull apart from one another and "drip" from the ceiling. The moisture makes the batts heavier, causing them to fall away from the floors completely.

The excess moisture in the space resulting in high relative humidity, and warm temperatures has created the right environment for microbial growth. Mold and mildew need an organic food source, in the crawl space, this is the floor joists, subfloor, and paper backing of the fiberglass insulation. (Usually, homeowners don't go in their crawl spaces, but they may notice musty odors and high humidity inside their home, this can be an indicator that there are humidity and mold/mildew issues in the crawl space.)

Already knowing they wanted an encapsulation, we reviewed the different material options with our client and put together a plan for getting the crawl space cleaned up and turned into a healthy space.

Local Contractor, The Drying Company/ThermalTec, Continues to Grow

2021-07-22T12:25:08.05Z

The Drying Company has found a new home in Stonehouse Industrial Park at 3005 John Deere Rd. Toano, VA 23168.

Since 2002, Toano has been home to local contractor, The Drying Company/ThermalTec. In 2014 the business’ growth prompted a move from Toano Business Center on Richmond Rd. to their current address at 236 Industrial Blvd. Toano, VA 23168. The company continued to grow and soon occupied 3 buildings on Industrial Blvd.

As their growth continued, the need for more office and warehouse space became more pressing. In 2020, Owners Steve and Tyler Tetreault began the search for a new home for The Drying Co. that would facilitate the growth of the business.

After a year of negotiations, the father and son duo, Steve and Tyler closed on their new home on July 14, 2021, at 3005 John Deere Rd. in Toano, VA. Some may be familiar with this building as the Design Masters offices, which will continue to occupy a portion of the building.

“It’s been exciting to grow our business and team over the years. Starting out, we were in a small office/warehouse on Richmond Rd. and at the time we had less than 20 employees. Since then, we have grown to more than 60 employees and are still looking to grow our team further. We’re excited to move into a space that will allow us to continue to grow and better serve our customers.” Remarks Owner, Steven Tetreault on the relocation.

While there is no firm moving date for the company, the business expects to be in their new building by the end of 2021. “One of the best parts about watching the business grow is being able to bring new talent to our Drying Co. family and offer employment opportunities to our community.” Says co-owner Tyler Tetreault.

The Drying Company is a home improvement company that specializes in fixing Attics, Basements, Crawl Spaces, Foundations, & Gutters. To learn more about the company, visit TheDryingCo.com or contact them at 757-566-8622 / 804-823-1290.

Walls & Ceilings Names The Drying Company A Top 25 Insulation Contractor in 2021

2021-02-18T08:40:38.05Z

The Drying Co./ThermalTec is proud to be recognized by Walls & Ceilings Magazine once again, as one of their 2021 Top 25 Insulation Contractors.

Since 1938, Walls & Ceilings has been an influential voice in the Building Industry. Their work is focused on examining leading technologies and developments in the industry. They address topics such as insulation, waterproofing, ceilings, tools & software, and building envelopes, among many others.

Walls & Ceilings, along with assistance from the Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA), conducted their annual nationwide search to find the best insulation companies in the country. They discovered a multitude of talented insulation contractors both big and small. They examined the stories, impact, and innovation of each business and narrowed their list down to 25 Insulation Contractors that they feel are among the best and most ambitious in the country.

“Our team works hard every day to give the best solutions and service to our clients. Having their hard work and dedication recognized by our industry is awesome. I am extraordinarily grateful and proud of our team and their commitment to our clients and our business.” Says Steven Tetreault, Owner of The Drying Co.

The Drying Co., located in Toano, VA, has been serving homeowners and businesses in Greater Richmond and Hampton Roads since 2002. They are a local company, owned by a father and son team, Steven and Tyler Tetreault. The Drying Co. is focused on delivering comfortable, energy-efficient, healthy, and durable building environments for all their customers. “Our team is customer-focused. Every home and every homeowner are different, so we focus on what our clients want to achieve and educating them on their options and building science. Being transparent with our customers is a huge part of ensuring we’re delivering them the best experiences and results.” says Co-Owner Tyler Tetreault. The Drying Co. proudly serves their community and is passionate about learning and developing their team and skills to continue to serve their customers.

Read the full Walls & Ceilings announcement here: https://digitaledition.wconline.com/february-2021/feature-top-25-insulation-contractors/?oly_enc_id=0785B9338267A0J

Visit www.TheDryingCo.com to learn more about how the experts at The Drying Co. can help make your home more comfortable, energy-efficient, durable, and healthy.

The Drying Co./ThermalTec Introduces GutterShutter, Never Clean Your Gutters Again!

2020-09-29T14:13:27.05Z

The Drying Co./ThermalTec is excited to announce the addition of a new product to their business called GutterShutter. GutterShutter is a seamless, non-clogging, maintenance-free, all in one gutter system, assembled on-site and made in America. GutterShutter has been the recipient of the Consumers’ Choice Award for Business Excellence 2014-2019. The product was a natural add-on for The Drying Co. who specializes in home comfort, water, and moisture management.

Since 2002, The Drying Co. has been helping their customers protect their homes from water and moisture damage through waterproofing and bulk water mitigation systems in crawl spaces and basements. How water is directed around the home plays a big role in its impact on the home’s foundation and ultimately the health of the family living in the home. Traditional gutters, screens, and filters all clog, require cleaning, and overflow, dumping more water around the home’s foundation and creating bigger problems for the homeowners.

“Whenever we add a product or service to our business, we want to make sure it’s something that not only fits with what we’re already doing but will add value to our customer’s homes and lives. We chose GutterShutter because after researching the product and other products on the market, we feel it offers the best protection for our homeowners and their homes.” Says owner, Steve Tetreault.

The Drying Co. will begin offering gutter services to Williamsburg, Gloucester, Yorktown, Newport News, and nearby areas.

For more information or to schedule a free estimate call 757-566-8622. Visit www.TheDryingCo.com to see the full list of services offered by The Drying Co./ThermalTec, see photos of their jobs, and read reviews from their customers.

Precautions Taken by The Drying Co. To Ensure the Safety of our Customers & Employees during COVID-19 concerns.

2020-03-16T10:37:53.05Z

To our valued customers,

We understand that there is a growing concern in our community about the spread of COVID-19. As we continue to serve our customers, our primary concern as we face the developing situation with COVID-19 is to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our employees and our customers. Throughout this time, we will be increasing our protocols for keeping our customers and our employees safe.

All our vehicles and our offices will be sanitized daily with Shockwave Antimicrobial, a hospital-grade antimicrobial.
We have instructed all our employees to stay home if they experience any symptoms or are not feeling well.
Our Crews will notify homeowners when they arrive on-site for a job but will not shake your hand and will keep the recommended distance from you.
All our Installers will wear Personal Protection Equipment, including Tyvek Suits, Face Masks, and gloves to ensure that they protect themselves and our customers from any possible exposure.

It is important for us to provide safe working conditions for employees and customers. We ask that any customers who are experiencing any symptoms notify our office so that we can reschedule your appointment for a time that you are feeling better and your symptoms have passed.

We will continue to monitor the developing situation with COVID-19 and adjust our business practices as needed. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

We wish you and your family good health and happiness.

Sincerely,

Steve Tetreault

Owner

The Drying Co. joins Basement Systems national network.

2018-04-06T13:23:24.05Z

The Drying Company (TDC) was inducted into the Basement Systems Incorporated (BSI) network which offers patented, and award-winning basement waterproofing products to custom design a permanent solution for wet basements. A key benefit of this network relationship is that warrantees issued by the locally owned and operated TDC are also backed by BSI and are transferrable.

“I’m very excited to be a new dealer of the BSI network. BSI has been a national leader in the waterproofing industry with innovative products, systems and training. BSI is helping us give our customers the solutions they need to keep a dry basement or crawl space,” said Steve Tetreault, owner and president of TDC.

When BSI was established in 1987, it was a single contractor company servicing the Seymore, CT area. Today it has grown to include a network of more than 300 authorized dealers throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

BSI headquarters are located at the company’s corporate campus in CT, encompassing 210,000 square feet of office space and training facilities. Contractors, like TDC, utilize the state-of-the-art training facilities to gain best practice insights for delivering the best solutions for local customers.

TDC is an award-winning Home Performance Contractor that has serviced the greater Richmond and Hampton Roads region since 2002. Recently named among the “Top 25 Insulation Contractors in America” by Walls and Ceilings Magazine, TDC is honored to add the BSI Network induction to its list of offerings.