Photo Album: Cleaning Out and Encapsulating a Dirty Crawl Space in Plainsboro, NJ

Tired of dealing with a messy and humid dirt floor crawl space, this homeowner in Plainsboro, NJ, decided it was time that he have Cowleys encapsulate it.

Bad Shape

As you can see, the crawl space was in bad shape. The insulation was deteriorated and falling down, the dirt floor was wet and sandy, and the humidity levels were high.

Cleaned Out

So we removed all the contaminated insulation and debris, leveled the ground for proper draining, and installed a drainage matting and a vapor barrier.

Strong and Durable

The vapor barrier is a heavy-duty, 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with a polyester-cord reinforcement. It cannot tear and is extremely durable.

Negative Effects of Dirt Floor Crawl Spaces

Dirt floor crawl spaces attract and absorb moisture and once the dirt dries, it causes humidity levels to rise and can lead to mold problems.

Smart Drain

To correct this, we installed Sani-Dry Sedona dehumidifier to control the humidity levels in the crawl space and a Smart Drain. The Smart Drain prevents any moisture from sitting on top of the vapor barrier.

Transformed

The vapor barrier is also treated with an antimicrobial to prevent mold and is installed over the foundation walls and floor to create a continuous air and moisture barrier. Now the homeowner has a transformed crawl space that is clean and dry as well as an additional area for storage!