Photo Album: Encapsulating a Muddy Crawl Space in Allenwood, NJ
Why They're Bad
The problem with dirt floor crawl spaces is that they attract and absorb moisture. Once the dirt dries, it causes humidity levels to rise and can lead to mold and mildew issues.
Leveled the Ground
The first thing we did was remove all the debris and old insulation throughout the crawl space, level the ground for proper draining, and install drainage matting.
The Drainage Matting and New Sump Pump
The drainage matting is a dimpled plastic mat that allows all excess moisture to work its way over to the new a SmartSump™ Crawl Space Sump Pump we installed.
Next: The Vapor Barrier
Next, we installed a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is a heavy-duty, 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with a polyester-cord reinforcement. By encapsulating the crawl space & installing the vapor barrier over the foundation walls and floor will create a continuous air and moisture barrier.
Durable Stuff
The vapor barrier is extremely durable and is treated with an antimicrobial to prevent mold. We also cleaned off all the beams in the crawl space and installed SilverGlo™ on the walls of the crawl space. SilverGlo™ is a waterproof foam insulation that seals the walls from outside moisture and humidity. Now the dirt floor crawl space has been transformed into a clean and healthy one!