Crawlspace and Spray Foam in Warren, RI Neighborhood

Thursday, August 3rd, 2017 by Courtney Kuzmich

Challenge

Doug and Wendy approached the foreman installing a job at their neighbors home to ask his opinion on some issues they were having in their basement. Steve DaSilva, being with the company for ten years, was happy to take a look while the crew continued working down the street. Doug expressed concerns with moisture and a damp, musty smell that just does not let up, no matter how many fans or dehumidifiers they run. What Steve found was an exposed crawl space with wet, moldy and falling insulation. Steve discussed products and price with Doug and Wendy. He drew up a proposal, they signed it and we were ready to get started.

Solution

The solution to this problem is a simple one. Steve and his crew went in and removed the falling insulation. It was soaking wet from just the humidity! Mold was growing on it since fiberglass insulation is made of organic material, all you have to do is add water to create the perfect environment for mold growth. That's why it was the first thing to go.

Next, the wood joists had to be treated for mold as well. Since that is not something that can be easily removed (it would compromise the structural integrity of the home) we have to treat the little mold that may have carried over from the insulation. We have a wonderful two stop process called Mold-X Neutralizer. It is a two part spray that goes directly onto any moldy surface and will remove and clean the area. Once we complete the system, there will be no more water int he crawl space, therefore no more moldy concern.

The drainage matting goes down next. The dimples in the plastic matting create a drainage space under the CleanSpace for water to flow. It adds durability, puncture resistance and a thermal break. We install this with every CleanSpace job whether there has been issues with standing water or not.

CleanSpace is a 20-millimeter thick plastic vapor barrier that reduces moisture and relative humidity. This thick plastic also comes with a 25-year warranty. It is one of the most important steps in the process as it separates the dirt floor from the rest of the home. The CleanSpace is sealed at the top of the joists with caulk and our spray foam.

Our spray foam technician, Matt Bezarro, comes in last. For this part of the install, we need all people and animals to be off the premises for roughly two hours after we finish spraying because of the chemicals and fumes it omits. Matt always informs the homeowner of the 'safe time' to return home. The reasoning behind the spray foam is to seal any last bit of outside air from entering the now encapsulated space. In the winter, cold air can leak into the crawlspace through tiny holes in the rim joists. This creates drafty rooms, cold basements, and floors and higher heating bills. This is not just a winter problem, though. In the summer, it is the hot and humid air that leaks in. It creates condensation on pipes in the basement or the crawlspace. These homes are harder to cool and dehumidify!

The final solution and the icing on the cake is our new SaniDry Sedona. It is the world's most powerful dehumidifier for its size! The SaniDry Sedona eliminates damp, musty odors in your crawlspace by drying and filtering the air. This is important because as I mentioned before, mold and mildew thrive in moist conditions. Once the moisture is eliminated, mold does not stand a chance!