Rainy Day Basement Systems Case Studies: Crawl Space and Basement Repair in Mount Vernon
Challenge
Robin and Bob H. had just bought their Mount Vernon home in June 2016. They purchased the home with a partially finished basement knowing that it needed some attention. Their first mission was to remove the worn carpet that had become musty and foul. What they found underneath was clear evidence of water damage from previous flooding. Concerned about future leaks, Robin and Bob contacted Rainy Day Basement Systems to assure that their future finished basement would not have the same wet fate as the previous one.
Upon close inspection of the home, our system design specialist determined that many of the basement problems they were facing were due to crawl space problems they were having. Like many, Robin and Bob were not aware of the condition of their crawl space. They didn’t plan on using the space, so they didn’t think it would make a difference. However, their crawl space was a crucial contributor to the moisture seepage in their basement. In addition, the moisture in the crawl space itself had rotted many of the wooden posts holding up the main floor joists causing saggy floors above. In order to properly address the leaky basement, all contributing factors had to be addressed as well.
Solution
In order to raise Robin and Bob’s sagging floors back to their original level, all 11 of the rotted wooden posts had to be replaced. We also installed two of our SmartJack posts. The highly durable steel posts are adjustable and were designed specifically to allow for easy adjustments later if need be.
To combat the moisture problems in the crawl space, we installed drainage piping along the interior of the wall footing. This process is completed by inserting a pipe into a dug out trench lined with filter fabric and then filled with gravel. This prevents clogging by allowing water into the pipe without carrying dirt and silt with it.
The crawl space was then encapsulated in CleanSpace, our crawl space lining that contains high and low density polyethylene, as well as two layers of polyester cord. It also incorporates UltraFresh, an antimicrobial agent built right into the lining. This combination creates a highly durable vapor barrier that greatly reduces the amount of moisture that enters the space and prevents the growth of mold and mildew. The encapsulation was completed by adding covers to all 20 vents in the crawl space and sealing it shut with an EverLast Crawl Space Door. The door is made of completely inorganic material making it waterproof and incapable of allowing mold growth. All four sides of the door have a weather strip to ensure a tight seal when the door is closed.
To further the protection against moisture, a SaniDry CX Dehumidifier was installed. This compact dehumidifier has a coverage area of 2200 square feet under typical conditions and can remove around 13 ½ gallons of water a day. It’s the ultimate tool for controlling the environment of a crawl space.
A TripleSafe Sump Pump was installed at the lowest point of the crawl space. Equipped with three pumps in the sump basin, the TripleSafe is the most effective pump system we offer. All three pumps are automatic and require little to no supervision from the homeowner. In addition to collecting water from the ground, the crawl space drainage pipes and the dehumidifier, the TripleSafe also pumps out the water collected by the drainage pipes that were installed in the basement.
Slightly different than the crawl space drainage pipes, we use our WaterGuard system for basement drainage. Due to its unique profile, the WaterGuard system is especially effective at collecting wall and floor seepage without clogging. The drainage channel has large holes to allow ground water in and a special wall flange with spacers to capture the wall seepage. It is installed just below the top layer of concrete making it discreet as well as accessible and maintainable.
The basement was finished off with our CleanSpace Wall System. Just like the crawl space encapsulation, by lining the basement walls with CleanSpace, it will dramatically lower the moisture and prevent mold and mildew growth.
