Gloucester County Crawlspace Moisture Control & Spray Foam Specialists

This homeowner contacted us because they had no vapor barrier in their crawl space and had moisture damage. At the inspection, we found some mold growth and falling insulation. There was evidence on the block walls and piers that water and moisture had been a problem in the space, and there was some erosion on the ground where water had collected. Moisture flooding into the vents contributed to high relative humidity which allowed the microbial growth to occur and damaged the insulation. The homeowner wanted to address the moisture concerns and consider their options for mitigating current and future issues with moisture.

To address these concerns, we first proposed removing the existing, damaged fiberglass insulation and any debris on the ground. Then we would treat the mold and mildew growth with an antimicrobial.

The next step would be to install a heavy-duty vapor barrier to seal the crawl space off from the earth’s moisture. This would be achieved by attaching and sealing the liner on the foundation walls, piers, and sealing all seams. All gaps to the outside would be sealed, including the rim and band, sill plate, and vents. This stops air carrying moisture from flooding into the crawl space and contributing to high relative humidity and moisture damage.

Then we would insulate the walls with an R-10 of either Foam Board or Closed-Cell Spray foam, depending on the homeowner’s preference. We would leave a 2-inch viewing strip, as required by VA building code for termite inspections at the top of the block wall. Insulating from the walls extends the thermal barrier of the home to the floor of the crawl space, reducing the transfer of heat between the crawl space and outside. This results in warmer floors in the winter and can even help with plumbing lines that freeze in the winter.

With the crawl space sealed as much as possible, we need to control the relative humidity inside the crawl space. Because high relative humidity (above 60%) and warm temperatures are all mold and mildew need to grow on organic materials such as the floor joists, we need to make sure we are controlling it. The SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier is the perfect piece of equipment for the job. This dehumidifier is specifically designed to remove excess moisture from the air and circulate dry air throughout the entire crawl space. The unit is energy efficient and only cuts on when the relative humidity increases over the preset threshold, about 55%, keeping the relative humidity under 60% and protecting the crawl space and the home.

Finally, we want to address one of the biggest holes in the crawl space, the door. We install an interior friction fit door to provide an R-10 of insulation behind the exterior door and air seal. Then we proposed an exterior ABS door that mounts flush to the outside of the home, the door does not rust, rot, or warp.

By taking this route, the homeowner will be able to mitigate the moisture in their crawl space and protect the substructure of their home from future damage. They will also gain the added benefits of warmer floors in the winter, a healthier indoor air quality, lower energy bills, and the peace of mind that they won’t need to re-do their crawl space or mitigate mold again.

This homeowner in Gloucester Point, VA contacted us at The Drying Co./ThermalTec to evaluate their crawl space for moisture damage. We sent one of our experienced Home Performance Advisors to examine the crawl space and give a free estimate for the job.

Upon inspection, we found that the crawl space floor was quite cluttered with debris, old wood, cinder-blocks, and what remained of a dirty, torn vapor barrier. All the debris will have to be removed, the old liner will need to be replaced with a heavy-duty 20-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier, similar to a pool liner, which will prevent moisture from the dirt floor to rise into the crawl space. The CleanSpace liner has polyester cord reinforcement inside, making it quite heavy and durable, and has an antimicrobial agent called UltraFresh manufactured in the material, which will help prevent mold and bacteria growth. The vapor barrier would be wrapped around all piers and attached to the foundation walls six to eight inches above outside grade. The CleanSpace is bright white and adds a clean and pleasing aesthetic appearance to the crawl space.

The next problem we found in this crawl space was the mold and mildew growth along the floor joists and girders. Mold and mildew will grow on any organic material within the crawl space such as wood and the paperbacks of fiberglass insulation. The relative humidity needs to be at least 60% for mold to begin growing on the organic materials. We will address the issue of relative humidity later. We would propose using Shockwave antimicrobial, an EPA-registered disinfectant, sanitizer, and cleaner designed to kill mold spores at their source.

We also noticed that much of the fiberglass insulation was tearing apart and falling to the floor. Fiberglass acts like a sponge, soaking up moisture from the crawl space air, and becoming too heavy to sit between the floor joists. Water droplets pull apart the fine fibers of the insulation, and the extra weight of the water tears it apart. Instead of replacing the fiberglass in the floor joists, we would propose insulating the foundation walls of the crawl space. The benefit of doing this would enable us to help mitigate heat during the warmer seasons while reducing cold floors during the cooler seasons. There would not be any need for fiberglass insulation in the floor joists with the walls being sealed. We would use a closed-cell spray foam, which acts as an air barrier and vapor retarder if sprayed at an inch and a half at least. The open vents in the foundation walls, which let air and moisture uncontrollably seep in, would be covered from the inside with a precise cut foam board piece and sealed with foam. Doing this would allow us to mitigate the leakage of moisture underneath the home, which will also reduce the relative humidity and mold growth.

The final proposition would be to add a dehumidifier to help control the environment underneath the home. We would use the Sedona SaniDry, a high-efficiency dehumidifier designed to regulate and control the amount of moisture within the crawl space. The Sedona controls the relative humidity, keeping it below 55%, and helps evenly distribute dry air around the area. The homeowners are given a hygrometer to monitor the humidity and temperature within the crawl space in case there are any spikes. With the crawl space being encapsulated and sealed, and the dehumidifier regulating the environment, the homeowners would have a major decrease in moisture problems during the warm and humid seasons, they would not experience cold floors during the colder seasons, and would see a decrease in their energy bills.

If you or someone you know is experiencing moisture problems or smelling the musty odor of mold rising into their home, then please call us at The Drying Co./ThermalTec for a free estimate! Our experienced and professional team will work with you to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient.