Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Case Study in Charleston, SC

Project: Jake and Laurie D.

Location:Charleston, SC

Date:March 2011

Wet, exposed masonry walls

Issue:

In November 2010, Laurie and Jake purchased their dream home. The home seemed perfect for them and their two small children. Behind all its appeal, the home had serious moisture issues. As the winter months passed, they discovered their energy bills were incredibly high. Laurie requested SCE&G conduct an energy audit.

The inspector found high humidity and evidence of mold in the crawlspace despite the fact that the previous owner had partially retrofitted the crawlspace.

Jake contacted Crawlspaces Plus for an expert consultation.

SilverGlo™ insulated wall panels

Solution:

Crawlspaces Plus remedied the problem by removing the unsealed vapor barrier and installing the patented, 7-Ply CleanSpace™ liner. The masonry foundation piers were wrapped with CleanSpace™ 12 mil and the perimeter walls were covered with SilverGlo™ insulated wall panels which have a superior R value.

The rusty door was replaced with an Everlast™ airtight door system to keep elements out of the crawlspace. The malfunctioning dehumidifier was serviced. Remedia Pro was applied to remediate the existing mold and hinder future growth.

Unsealed barrier and masonry

Results:

The home was isolated from the earth, moisture was brought under control and relative humidity inside the crawlspace decreased, which elimiminated the conditions that suport mold growth.

The SilverGlo™ insulated wall panels eliminated air intrusion through the foundation walls and energy savings alone will pay for the improvement.

CleanSpace™ liner installed

Project Summary

Installing Contractor: Crawlspaces Plus, Charleston, SC

Certified Design Specialist: Brad Gustafson

Products Installed: CleanSpace® liner & drainage system, SilverGlo™ insulated wall panels & Everlast™ Door

Read more of our crawl space case studies in South Carolina