Crawl Space Repair Photo Album: Moldy Crawlspace in Greer, SC Leads to Huge CleanSpace Encapsulation

Mold can be dangerous and cause health problems, especially in older adults and children. Unfortunately for this homeowner their water intrusion issues were severe and because of the increased humidity level, mold had begun to grow. There were two main parts of this project; killing the mold that was already in the crawlspace and preventing any more mold from coming back by installing a CleanSpace Encapsulation system. While this was worse than many of the crawlspaces we work in, it could still be taken care of in a similar fashion to the other jobs that we do. In order to keep this crawlspace free of water intrusion and mold growth our crew installed drainage matting, 3-inch drain tile, Mold-X, CleanSpace, a SuperSump pump system, and a dehumidifier.

Mold Growth in Crawlspace

Here is just a little of the mold that was growing in this crawlspace. The mold covers most of this board and will only continue to grow and get worse as time goes on. Mold is a very serious issue and needs to be taken care of as soon as possible, especially in a crawlspace. The air from a crawlspace cycles around the home, so even though it may not seem like a big deal, the mold spores will eventually disperse throughout the home.

MOLD

A picture is worth a thousand words, and this particular picture is a great embodiment of that statement. Here you can see the difference between the area the System Design Specialist rubbed off and the rest of the board. Mold is no joke and should be addressed as soon as possible.

Crawlspace Before CleanSpace Installation

This is what the area looked like when our System Design Specialist first went out to the home. It may not seem like this area is dealing with water problems because there is none visible in this picture, but the problem is not always obvious. A lot of moisture actually comes from the ground, which was the case in this crawlspace.

Old Crawlspace Liner

Many homeowners have this same black liner laid out under their home. While this liner does a decent job of protecting anyone going under the home from getting too dirty, it doesn't provide any more protection. This means that as far as serving as a vapor barrier, it doesn't work. It is not thick enough to prevent water from getting through and it isn't sealed, with is another issue.

Last Photo of the Unencapsulated Crawlspace

This photo helps to show how much room our crew had to work with on this project and the condition of the crawlspace. There was not a lot of room for the crew to work with, but they have been in much tighter spaces. One of the first things that the crew needed to do was to remove all of the insulation that was covered with mold and then spray the area with Mold-X to kill the remaining mold.

Installed CleanSpace Liner

This is what the crawlspace looks like after the CleanSpace is installed in the crawlspace. It completely changes the look and function of the crawlspace. Our crew was able to transform this area from a dark, damp, moldy place into a somewhat climate-controlled, clean area. It can even serve as some extra storage!

More Installed CleanSpace

Here is another photo that shows off what the crawlspace looks like with its new CleanSpace Liner all rolled out! Our crews do an excellent job keeping the CleanSpace extremely tight against the floor and the walls of the crawlspace. This helps to make the crawlspace look better and prevent the CleanSpace from tearing or being pulled away from the walls.

Tightly Installed CleanSpace Liner

One of the most important parts of installing CleanSpace is making sure that it is sealed correctly and is laid out tight. This is especially important when it comes to the walls of the crawlspace, because this is the edge of the CleanSpace and is the most likely place for moisture to get through.

Even More CleanSpace!

It is hard to not be satisfied with seeing CleanSpace installed. The crew does such a great job with installing the CleanSpace, making sure than they follow every "curve" of the crawlspace. This leads to a better looking and more effective encapsulation system. It makes a crawlspace not seem so scary!

Installed SuperSump Pump System

This is one of the most important parts of the system. It is where all of the water drains and it pumps all of the water out and away from the home. Our sump pump systems have many "extras" that normal sump pumps do not. It is encased in a liner with an airtight lid, which prevents any moisture from coming back into the crawlspace.