Before & After Photos

This homeowner was having problems with high humidity in their crawlspace. After hearing about the danger of high humidity and moisture in the crawlspace, the homeowner called us to see what the problem was, but more importantly what the solution was. This crawlspace was not in bad condition at all, but as the homeowner said, the relative humidity was much higher than it should have been.

The "before" photo shows the crawlspace without any work done or products installed. While there is not water running down the middle of the crawlspace or dripping from the ceiling, this crawlspace did need to have our CleanSpace Liner installed in it.

The "after" picture shows the same area but after the transformation. Our 20 mm thick CleanSpace Liner has been installed and sealed tightly onto the walls. This seal keeps moisture from getting into the crawlspace. However, it is almost impossible to install this liner without having some gaps, no matter how small. These gaps can be around water heaters (like in the picture), columns, or pipes and do let a little bit of outside air in. This is why our crew also installed a dehumidifier to help regulate the humidity level in the crawlspace.

High moisture levels under homes is an issue that doesn't discriminate. This issue can occur with any size home, big or small, and can happen almost anywhere in the world. There are, of course, some areas that are more prone to and are affected more by this excess moisture. Unfortunately, here in South Carolina we tend to have much higher humidity levels than at least most of the rest of the United States. This higher humidity level leads to more moisture under the homes here as well, which leads us to the unfortunate situation that this homeowner was in.

This homeowner began to worry about the moisture levels in the crawlspace, when they thought about having new wood floors installed. Having hardwood floors ruined because of too much moisture in the crawlspace happens quite often, which is probably the reason why the company who was installing the floors had checked the crawlspace humidity level. The first photo shows off what the crawlspace looked like when our System Design Specialist first went out to the home. The damp earth can be seen around the perimeter of the crawlspace, indicating too much moisture.

The crawlspace was completely transformed after the crew made their way to the home! While there were many different steps from the first picture to this finished product, it was certainly worth it. CleanSpace is able to completely transform a crawlspace and turn it into a place that is almost unrecognizable of what it used to be. CleanSpace does a great job at making crawlspaces look much different, but more importantly CleanSpace is able to seal off a crawlspace from the outside world, keeping the majority of water and moisture out of the crawlspace. 

" Customer had water seeping into her crawlspace causing a musty odor, mold, and foundation problems. Design Specialist Christopher Geddie went out to give a free estimate and assess the customer's concerns. Our crew then installed our Cleanspace system, a SuperSump pump to discharge water, and a dehumidifier to maintain healthy air quality. The customer was very pleased with the work and is excited about the quality of her home now that the crawlspace is dry.”

This homeowner had a lot of work done when our company came out to his home. This before and after will only focus on a very small part of the entire job, however, this was a very important part of the project. It may not seem to have changed all that much between the two photos (besides that the area is covered in some white plastic), but it certainly has!

CleanSpace does much more than it seems, but it was not the only thing that was done in the crawlspace and in this photo. One thing that gets masked is that our crew sealed the vents in the crawlspace. In the before photo, the vents in the corner of the crawlspace can very obviously be seen, however, in the other photo, the area is covered. The crew actually seals the vents up and caulks them so that no air can get into the crawlspace from these vents.

Now that the sealed vents have been discussed, let's go back to the CleanSpace, which is what really makes the difference in a crawlspace. Having this thick liner keeps water vapor from penetrating it, which is good because that means the relative humidity level should go down quite significantly. One of the most important aspects of the CleanSpace's installation is that it gets sealed to the wall. This is important because if it is not sealed, then it is much less effective at keeping the water vapor out of the crawlspace. In the after picture, the CleanSpace has been sealed just a few inches below the "ceiling" of the crawlspace. Don't forget, CleanSpace also brightens up the crawlspace and makes it look much more "Clean"!

There are many different ways for water and moisture to get into a crawlspace. The two most common ways for this to happen is from the crawlspace "floor" (the ground) and from water soaking through the walls and getting into the crawlspace. However, there is another huge way that moisture can get into the crawlspace; through outside air finding its way into the crawlspace. This can come through small cracks or holes in the walls, but one of the biggest areas is the entrance to the crawlspace. 

The entrance to this crawlspace was pretty big, which left a large area for air to seep through around the edges. This may not seem significant, but especially in an area with high humidity levels, this can greatly affect the moisture levels in the crawlspace. Unfortunately this is a fact that many homeowners don't even think about, because, well there is a door covering it up, so it should be fine!

Fortunately, we have a product that does a great job at keeping moisture from getting into the crawlspace. The product we installed is called an EverLast Door, which is a large, durable door that is made of inorganic material. It is made this way so that the door won't ever rot out (like wood can) and prevents mold growth on the door. It also each of the knobs on the door help to tighten the door so that it creates an airtight seal.