Repairing an Improperly Fixed Crawl Space in Port Franks, ON

Challenge

These Lambton Shores homeowners thought they were permanently fixing their crawl space, but after a very short time, they were still experiencing the same problems, such as cold floors and musty, damp smells. 

Here’s what they did: 

• “Laid down” plastic

• Added a sump pump to help remove water out of the space, as the house is in a low-lying area

• Insulated the exterior walls with spray foam

And here’s where they went wrong…

Solution

“Laid down” plastic: To keep the damp, foul and musty odors away, laying down plastic doesn’t work. Air works its way upwards through the tiniest of openings, additionally, the flimsy plastic shifts, tears and breaks down over time. 

We use a super-strong, thick and durable 20mil polyethylene sheet. It’s called “CleanSpace®”, as it also contains an antimicrobial agent which further ensures a healthy crawl space. The barrier sheets are sealed to one another, on any exterior wall, spray foam insulation and onto pillars, piers or posts. 

Added a sump pump: The area excavated around the sump pit was saturated, and the pump lid was not completely sealed… allowing for dirt and debris to clog and damage the pump, increasing the likelihood of failure.

At Advanced Basement Systems, we use a sump pump which is specifically designed for crawl spaces, and it includes a sealed lid to keep the nastiness out. With regular maintenance, our SmartSump™ Crawl Space Sump Pump System will effectively move water out of the crawl space for years to come!

Insulated the exterior walls with spray foam: Spray foam is a fantastic insulant in crawl spaces… but only when the crawl spaces are entirely sealed from the outside environment! Additionally, the spray foam absolutely must be properly sealed to the vapour barrier. 

If you’re ready to fix your crawl space problems permanently, we’d be pleased to offer you a complimentary inspection and a written estimate, please call us at: 1-866-277-1277 or click here to submit your information to us online.

Project Summary

Inspector: Sam

Foreman: Marg