Professional Crawlspace Repair & Insulation Services in North, VA

This North, VA homeowner reached out to us when they noticed how all the recent rain had been impacting their crawl space. They were concerned about water under the home, musty odors and worried about mold growth.

At our inspection, we found that water had indeed been seeping into the crawl space. The block walls had signs of moisture stains and the soil in front of the wall was damp and muddy. The existing 6-mil vapor barrier was disheveled and torn in several places and did not seal the crawl space from the earth’s moisture. Hot, humid air flooded in through open foundation vents contributing further to the excessive moisture and high relative humidity.

The excess moisture was being absorbed by the wood joists and fiberglass insulation damaging the materials. When fiberglass gets wet, its R-value is greatly diminished. The moisture damages the fibers of the material and causes it to delaminate, separating from itself and falling to the ground. The high relative humidity and warm temperatures create the ideal environment for mold and mildew growth on organic materials such as the paper backing of insulation or the wood floor joists. Resulting in the odors the homeowners were noticing.

To address these concerns, we proposed sealing the crawl space, to prevent moisture from entering the space and insulating from the foundation walls to help us better control the environment and prevent these damages from reoccurring.

We would begin by cleaning out the old vapor barrier and fiberglass along with any debris on the ground. Then we would treat the mold and mildew growth with an antimicrobial solution, designed to kill the growth. Next, we want to install a heavy-duty, CleanSpace vapor barrier that can be attached to the walls without ripping or tearing and is durable enough to be crawled on by service persons without the worry of damage to the system. This will seal the crawl space from the earth’s moisture.

The next step would be to seal the crawl space from outside air and moisture. We would achieve this by blocking and sealing all vents from the inside. Sealing the rim & band, sill plate, and any penetrations through the foundation wall to the outside with foam. We also install an interior friction fit crawl space door designed to insulate and air seal behind the exterior door.

Then, we want to install insulation on the foundation walls. This reduces the transfer of heat through the walls and allows us to better control the environment. Most of our homeowners choose to insulate with closed-cell spray foam which creates an air barrier and vapor retarder at 1.5 inches. Insulating from the foundation walls has the added benefit of protecting pipes from freezing in the winter.

Finally, we recommended a SaniDry Sedona dehumidification system. This system is specifically designed to regulate the humidity in crawl spaces and basements and is energy efficient. The Sedona cuts on at a preset threshold, usually about 55% relative humidity. It pulls the excess moisture from the air, filters it, and circulates dry air throughout the space. With every dehumidifier, we install a wireless hygrometer. This allows the homeowner to monitor the temperature and relative humidity in their crawl space compared to the home.

With this approach to treating and preventing future mold growth and moisture infiltration, the homeowner will not need to worry about having their crawl space fixed again. They will no longer experience musty odors in the home because water working its way through the walls will be directed under the encapsulation system preventing it from impacting the crawl space environment.