Moisture in your crawl space is never good news. It can create an ideal environment for all kinds of pests and cause wood rot that can impact the structural integrity of your home. Maybe the worst consequence of having a moist crawl space is mold growth. Mold releases airborne spores that can also contaminate the air in your living space and your HVAC system distributes them throughout the home. If not handled properly, mold can cause serious and even permanent damage to your health. Mold is especially dangerous for anyone with allergies or asthma.
This is why it is a much better solution to waterproof the crawl space and avoid facing any moisture issues at all.
Unfortunately, our customer’s crawl space was not protected from water damage when her neighbor’s water heater leaked and flooded her below-grade area. Since she has asthma, she wanted to resolve this problem as quickly as possible. With several waterproofing measures, we managed to protect the owner’s crawl space against water damage and ensure that this kind of problem won’t occur again.
Meeting the Customer
Our customer from Colorado Springs, CO, lives in a townhouse. That is why when her neighbor’s water heater malfunctioned and leaked, her crawl space ended up full of water. Although the crawl space slowly dried on its own, the customer was afraid that something like this could happen again.
As she has asthma, moisture in the crawl space presents a huge health hazard for her. Mold thrives in damp crawl spaces, so protecting this area against any moisture was essential.
The home was built 35 years ago, and since it was built as a townhouse, only ends are exposed to the exterior. The homeowner was determined to ensure better air quality in her home, so she started looking for waterproofing specialists. She heard about Complete Basement Systems on TV and decided to look us up online. She liked what she saw and scheduled a free inspection.
Initial Inspection
When our expert came to the Colorado Springs, CO, home, the crawl space was mostly dry. However, there was evidence of previous water intrusion and moisture. Dirt and debris were everywhere and there were signs of water on the crawl space walls. Luckily, the moisture hadn’t affected the home’s stability in any way and the homeowner called us in time. After a thorough examination, our inspector suggested several waterproofing solutions that will keep this crawl space dry and clean. He explained all of them to the customer and the homeowner gladly accepted all of the suggestions.
Repairing the Damage
Our crew started the work by installing two crawl space vent covers. These will keep the outside moisture-laden air from coming inside and increasing humidity levels in the crawl space area. To enhance the vapor barrier’s durability, we also placed drainage matting on the floor.
Next, we installed ExTremeBloc™ insulation board on exterior perimeter walls and rim joists. This insulation can also reduce the customers’ energy usage. It is extremely durable thanks to the polymeric film facer on both sides. While some types of insulation are a haven for pests such as termites, this one keeps them at bay. It has an integrated termiticide so it will make it more difficult for pests to get inside or cause damage to the crawl space. Another benefit of this insulation board is that it comes with a Class A fire rating, so it is effective against fire.
We also agreed that crawl space encapsulation was the best option for her. That is why our crew installed the CrawlSeal™ vapor barrier in the crawl space to protect this area against moisture. This 20-mil liner will not only reduce humidity in the crawl space but will also stand in the way of cold drafts in winter. This way it can also help lower the homeowner’s energy bills. Our crew installed the same barrier over the floor and the walls, which is one of the main advantages of this liner. Since it can be used to protect both the walls and the floor, the installation time is cut in half.
CrawlSeal™ is made with polyester cord reinforcement which makes it extremely durable. This liner comes with a longtime warranty.
We removed debris and insulation where needed and managed to protect the entire crawl space in just one day. Our customer was very pleased with the result.
“The crew was on time and they were very pleasant and courteous,” said the homeowner about the project, adding that we “did a wonderful job and the cleanup was very satisfactory.”
If you wish to encapsulate your crawl space or you are interested in some other waterproofing measures, don’t hesitate to contact professionals at Complete Basement Systems and schedule a free inspection and estimate. One of our experts will inspect your crawl space and suggest suitable repair solutions.
