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This basement has some concerns with water infiltration. In addition to a TripleSafe Sump Pump System, on the opposite side of the basement, we installed with SuperSump Pump System next to the water heater. The SuperSump Pump System which contains a 1/2 hp pump on a pump stand to keep it from clogging if any silt or sediment finds it's way into the pump basin.
This crawl space had evidence of water infiltration, mold, and a deteriorating vapor barrier. After removing all debris and treating the mold, we installed the CleanSpace Encapsulation System. CleanSpace, a 20-mil vapor barrier that is poly-string reinforced and contains an antimicrobial called UltraFresh is installed. It is laid on the crawl space floor and fastened to the walls six inches above the outside grade (to direct any moisture entering through the cinderblock down to the earth) and wrapped around piers. All seams are overlapped and sealed to isolate the crawl space off from the earth's moisture.
This homeowner was looking at options to replace or upgrade the insulation in their crawl space. We reviewed all of their options and they determined they wanted to encapsulate the space.
These homeowners in Louisa wanted to encapsulate the crawl space on their newly constructed home. The exposed dirt flooring of the crawl space would continue to allow the earth's moisture to rise into the crawl space unless covered and sealed. The moisture rising from the earth can increase the relative humidity of the crawl space, which can then lead to mold growth, condensation, and moisture damage to certain materials. We placed a 10-mil CleanSpace vapor barrier over the dirt flooring to help protect the crawl space from rising moisture. This liner gets wrapped around all pillars and is mechanically sealed to the foundation walls six to eight inches above the outside grade. Any seams and gaps are sealed with a unique vinyl tape. The vapor barrier will help to prevent moisture from elevating the relative humidity, and it gives the crawl space a brighter and cleaner aesthetic.
Before encapsulating this crawl space, we treated the joists with an antimicrobial called Shockwave. This product is a hospital-grade antimicrobial designed to kill the mold and mildew growth.