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Crawl Space Repair Photo Album: Nasty Crawl Space Encapsulated in Beaver Bay, Minnesota

This customer had purchased a home in Beaver Bay, Minnesota and before long they started noticing musty smells in the home and very cold floors. Luckily, the homeowner came across the DBS Residential Solutions booth at the Arrowhead Home and Builders show at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center and signed up for a free inspection and estimate from our specialist. Our specialist visited the home and found four sectioned off crawl spaces, each one more damp, dirt, and spider filled than the previous. With the size of the crawl space and a complete lack of insulation or waterproofing our specialist proposed a full crawl space encapsulation with drainage around the perimeter and two sump basins. With the crawl space divided into 4 smaller crawl spaces under the home the walls would need to be penetrated to make a continuous drain to the sump basins. The crawl space access was inside the home and the first thing that we would need to do is cut in a larger access from the exterior of the home on the East wall. There will be a total of 2 access points from the exterior into the crawl space and one access would have a Turtle crawl space access well installed. The walls and rim joist of the crawl space would benefit from 3" of closed cell spray foam applied. This album displays the crawl space starting from when we first encountered it, all the way until the final touches. The four separated crawl spaces provided a unique challenge for our crew, but they were able to complete the project without a problem.

Before - Uninstalled Dirt Crawl Space

This home sat on top of four block wall crawl spaces. They were joined by openings like these which allowed the air from the most moist crawl space area to effect the entire bottom of the home.

Before - A Moist, Dirty Area

This home sat under a hill which allowed water to drain directly under the home. At some points in the year there was even standing water inside the crawl space.

Before - Crawl Space Access

The only access to this crawl space was from one point inside the home. The homeowner wanted to be able to access the crawl space easier, so they had us install two additional openings, one of which included our Turtle Crawl Space Access Well.

Before - Dusty and Musty Air

This home had multiple vents and other protrusions that allowed air from the crawl space into the home. With this air came the musty odors of the moist crawl space.

Before - No Insulation on The Walls or Rim Joists

This crawl space only had the concrete blocks as insulation. This means there was essentially no insulation protecting the underside of the home.

Before - Uninstalled Pipes

The pipes supplying water to the home were bare in the crawl space. If they were exposed to temperatures low enough there could have been major issues in this area.

In Progress - Insulating the Walls

The walls of this foundation were insulated with our SilverGlow foam board insulation.

In Progress - Taping The Seams

Between the individual foam boards we spray an expanding foam and use a heat reflective tape to insulate the crawl space as best as possible.

In Progress - Sealing Each Crawl Space

Each individual crawl space had to be encapsulated, so our crews worked one step at a time to move the crawl spaces toward completion.

In Progress - Better Insulation for the Pipes

After completion of the project the pipes will exist in a conditioned space that is not exposed to the elements.

In Progress - Interior Block Wall

Since this block wall is on the interior of the home it doesn't require additional insulation.

In Progress - Access To the Pipes

We make sure the homeowner has access to the areas of their home that may need future fixes or improvements.

In Progress - What's Next?

The drain has been installed with the sump pump, the waterproof matting has been laid down, and the Silverglow insulation has been installed. What's next? To fully encapsulate the space we need to use spray foam insulation along the seams and the rim joists.

In Progress - Fitting Around Pipe

Each of our projects is customized specifically to our customer's needs. If there are pipes, outlets, or just about anything else in the way we are careful to properly install our solution while working around the obstacles.

In Progress - Sealing It Up Tight

Our crew is careful to seal the matting we encapsulate the crawl space with. We want to give every one of our customers as bright and clean of a space as possible so we are careful to reduce wrinkles and make sure the space is completely encapsulated.

Completely Encapsulated

This crawl space is now completed. The rigid foam board SilverGlow insulation has been installed, the CleanSpace matting has been installed and sealed to the SilverGlow Insulation, and the whole system is sealed to the home using spray foam insulation which also insulated the rim joist of the home and blocks unconditioned air from entering the crawl space.

No More Musty Smells!

This crawl space is not longer dirty or moist and the previous vents are now replaced with insulation which keeps the home warm and there's no longer any damp, dirty air to get pushed up into the home.

Additional Crawl Space Hatch Created

This homeowner wanted additional access points to the crawl space. We were able to do this without sacrificing the insulation barrier around the crawl space. Even this openg has been properly insulated to promote the most efficiency for the home as possible.

Rim Joists Insulated

One crucial step we take is to insulate the rim joist around the home. This is a key area for air to leak in from the outside and can be the source of major inefficiencies in the home.

Completed with a Sanidry

The small blue unit in the corner of this crawl space is our Sanidry CX which is a dehumidifier system designed for crawl spaces. With a coverage area of 2200 square feet, this unit is the industry's best for dehumidifying a damp, humid crawlspace.

Sealed Tight

We use a special adhesive to bond the CleanSpace matting to the brick wall to complete a full vapor barrier under the home. Any water under the matting is directed into a sump basin under the matting where it is pumped away from the home. With the crawl space effectively sealed away from the earth, the space is much less humid and the floor joists are protected from mold and rot.