HomeSpec Waterproofing and Foundation Repair Case Studies: Auburn Hills, Mi Crawl Space Encapsulation and Waterproofing
Challenge
A family in Auburn Hills, Mi knew they had crawl space issues which were just worsening as time went on, but had no idea how to go about handling it or determine just what exactly was going on down there. Their coworker had some crawlspace work done by HomeSpec a year prior and referred them once they heard about the problem.
Solution
HomeSpec's Chris Baltovitch traveled out to sit down with the homeowners and listen to their concerns before conducting an inspection. The homeowners expressed a few concerns that, after reading up on, they believed to be related to their crawl space. Some of the issues noted were that their house feels like it’s been getting colder over time, and family members experiencing more frequent coughing fits and general health degradation. Taking these factors into account, Chris began his inspection of the area in question, where he confirmed the family's worry, there was water getting into an unkept crawl space which was causing rot and other issues. The cold was most likely due to what's known as the stack flow effect, which refers to how with an improperly sealed crawl space or basement, air is sucked into the home from underneath. This air is cold and often damp. This air moves up through the home and out of the top of the house, often through attic vents.
Chris outlined a plan to tackle their crawl space issues, explaining in detail what needed to be done and why. In this case, the area would obviously need to be drained of water, cracks where the water was getting in would need to be sealed, and then debris would need to be removed in order to work on crawl space encapsulation. In order to handle the other health issues, a combination of air filtration system and dehumidifier would be implemented.
Cracks were to be sealed using a high-pressure urethane crack injection. The crawl space encapsulation could be handled by the CleanSpace system, which has a liner that is manufactured in 7 layers of high- and low-density polyethylene for both puncture resistance and flexibility, with a polyester cord reinforcement for tear prevention. It also includes an antimicrobial additive called “UltraFresh” blended into the material. A new sump pump discharge line would also be implemented to help prevent any possible future water issues. The Sanidry-Sedona crawl space dehumidifier offers a compact yet powerful solution which can help lower the source of the number one allergen in America, dust mites! The system drains automatically, and has simple controls, as well as dust filters, allowing for an easy solution to set and forget. As a final precaution for the health of their house's air circulation, the Aspen Air System was installed in the main building. This air purifier uses a three-filter system to help ensure removal of allergens, microparticles and more for a healthier lifestyle and generally positive impact on the entire house. Finally, the basement windows needed to be sealed as well, to which the answer was the SunHouse window enclosure, which helps prevent water leakage, weed growth and helps keep the glass clean extending longevity while reflecting natural light into the basement.
Once the project was completed, the family was happy to report that they noticed there was a notable difference in both their health, and the general comfortability of their home within a week! They were quite literally able to breathe easier in their own home.
Once the project was completed, the family was happy to report that they noticed there was a notable difference in both their health, and general comfortability of their home within a week! They were quite literally, able to breathe easier in their own home.
Project Summary
Sales Rep: Chris Baltovitch
