Before & After Photos

Utility lines in a vented crawl space are often affected by outside air carrying in moisture. Sealing vents, installing the CleanSpace Encapsulation System and insulating the crawl space walls with Spray Foam will help control the flow of air carrying moisture into the crawl space. 

As the insulation acts as a sponge, it holds moisture against the wood joists raising the moisture content of the joists. Mold requires organic material, warm temperatures, and relative humidity above 60% to grow. Often we see mold growing on the paper backing of the insulation and on wood joists in the crawl space. As the moisture content in the joists increases, the probability for wood rot becomes more likely. Once the joists reach 19% moisture wood rot begins. An antimicrobial called Shockwave is sprayed onto the joists to kill the mold. Once the encapsulation is complete and the dehumidifier is installed it will be set to turn on before the humidity in the crawl space reaches 60% (The ideal point for mold to grow). The Encapsulation system will help prevent ideal conditions for mold to grow from occurring and make the home healthier and more comfortable.

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. 

This crawl space in Lancaster was suffering from many outside moisture issues. One of these issues was that the old liner covering the dirt floor was torn in many places, allowing the earth's moisture to rise and affect the relative humidity of the crawl space. An excessive moisture content can lead to condensation, material damage, and even mold or mildew growth. Our installers removed the existing vapor barrier and any debris from the crawl space, then placed a 20-mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace, over the dirt floor of the crawl space. This heavy-duty liner covers the entire crawl space floor, gets wrapped around all piers, and mechanically fastened to the foundation wall, six to eight inches above outside grade. The CleanSpace will help protect the crawl space from any moisture rising from the earth, and it allows service personnel to maneuver freely throughout the crawl space. This solution is one of many to help encapsulate and seal off any outside influence. If you are interested in our vapor barrier, then please give us a call today to schedule your free estimate.