Photo Album: Wet crawl space in Keyport, NJ gets complete makeover.
Crawl Space before.
When we first went in to scope out the crawl space on our hands and knee pads we sunk into the mud "floor" at least six inches. It was a gooey mess. This was going to take a lot of work to remedy, and the investor was aware and had planned for this complete crawl space makeover.
Drainage matting.
We started by installing thick mold-resistant drainage matting to create a barrier between the crawl space and mud floor. We custom-cut the mating so it fits perfectly with the pillars, jet-outs, and plumbing lines.
Vinyl wrapping the pillars.
Next, we protective-wrapped the crawl space pillars with 12-mil thick "pinkie" rolls to keep them dry.
Insulation on the walls.
For the walls, we installed SilverGlo insulation, an Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPS) product that is coated with mold-resistant aluminum. This lightweight, rigid, and closed-cell insulation works far better in crawl spaces than over-the-counter batt and foam insulations thats meant for dry attics. This insulation has a closed-cell structure, so there is minimal water absorption and low vapor permanence. It seals in heat and keeps out the cool winter air in the crawl space interior making the house much more energy efficient.
Crawl space after.
As part of the crawl space renovation work, we installed a heavy-duty tear-resistant 20-mil CleanSpace vinyl liner. It's considered to be the toughest crawl space vapor barrier on the market. To deal with water that inevitably makes its way into the crawl space, especially in a coastal town like Keyport, we replaced two of the sump pumps with our own high-grade pumps. The sump pumps we install as part of our crawl space waterproofing system are built with top-quality motors and components made to handle high water volume and long run times. These pumps also have a battery backup system so they will work when they need to be working - even if the home loses power! There are a few things where it pays off to buy the best, and sump pumps are one of them!