Before & After Photos

We installed about 1.5 inches of closed-cell spray foam over the foundation walls of this crawl space in Glen Allen, VA. At this thickness, the spray foam has an R10 value of insulation and acts as an air barrier and vapor retarder. We blocked out any open vents running along the crawl space wall, as these vents allow outside air and moisture to freely enter to crawl space, affecting the environment and relative humidity. With any insulation we install over the foundation walls, we always leave a 2-inch viewing strip at the top of the wall for termite inspectors. With these solutions in place, the crawl space is better protected from any outside influence penetrating through the foundation walls.

This homeowner was experiencing moisture issues within their crawl space. With open vents lining the porous foundation walls and many areas of the floor remaining exposed, this crawl space was being affected by the outside air and moisture, as well as the moisture rising from earth. This influence can affect the environment and the relative humidity of the crawl space. An elevated relative humidity can lead to condensation, puddling, and mold and mildew growth. Our installers placed a heavy-duty 20mil vapor barrier, called CleanSpace, over the dirt floor of the crawl space. It is wrapped around all piers, sealed with vinyl tape, and mechanically fastened to the foundation walls six to eight inches above outside grade. This liner will assist in sealing off any moisture rising out of the earth. It is one of many solutions when fully sealing and encapsulating the outside off from your crawl space.

This crawl space had issues with mildew/mold, falling insulation, an ineffective vapor barrier, and moisture concerns in the home. We removed the old insulation and vapor barrier, treated the mildew/mold, installed a new vapor barrier, applied spray foam insulation on the crawl space walls, sealed all the vents, the rim and band, and sill plate, and insulated behind the crawl space door, then installed a dehumidifier to control relative humidity. 

Initially, this crawl space was encapsulated with a 6-mil vapor barrier and R-11 vinyl faced fiberglass insulation. Thhomeownerer contacted us with concerns about an ammonia, or animal urine odor in her home and poor air sealing. 

Our goal was to remedy the Home Owner’s concerns of foul odors in her home and wasted energy. To achieve this, we installed a 20 mil Clean Space Vapor Barrier on the floor of the crawl space and around the piers. We installed Foamax board insulation on the walls leaving a 3-inch viewing strip for pest control companies to do their inspection. We applied spray foam insulation to the rim and band and sill plate to create an air seal and reduce drafts coming into the crawl space. Finally, we installed a Sani Dry Sedona Dehumidifier, the leading dehumidifier on the market, to pull any moisture that enters the crawl space out. 

This crawl space was originally encapsulated at construction with a 6 mil Vapor Barrier and R-11 vinyl faced fiberglass insulation. The homeowner complained of an animal urine or ammonia odor in their home. This was a result of moisture entering the crawl space through the porous cinder block walls and saturating the fiberglass insulation. 

We installed a 20 mil Clean Space Vapor Barrier, Foamax Insulation Board, sealed the rim & band and sill plate, and installed a SaniDry Sedona Dehumidifier. This approach will help keep moisture out of the crawl space and control relative humidity.