Foundation Repair Case Studies: Restructuring a Crawl Space in Greenville, NC

Wednesday, March 28th, 2018 by Mary White

Challenge

Melissa, of Greenville, NC, knew that she had several problems going on in her home, but really didn’t know where to start. With it being her second home, she knew it needed repair, but with so many issues it would require quite a project. The home’s floors were sagging, walls cracking and the chimney was leaning as well. She had been advised that the girders underneath her home needed replacing, as well as most of the subfloor above. She had entertained estimates from other companies but wanted to give us a call at Southeast Foundation and Crawl Space Repair to see if one our inspectors could take a look.

On the day of the appointment, Southeast Foundation & Crawl Space Repair inspector Justin Edwards arrived to inspect the property. After making his way into the crawl space, Justin confirmed that many of the home’s girders and joists needed replacement. The damage incurred to the home’s beams and joists was the result of years of water and water vapor slowly breaking them down, and floors had settled tremendously over time as well. To fully protect the home, it would call for providing stabilization underneath, as well as installing our industry-leading crawl space encapsulation system. Though this would be a large project, Melissa knew the significance of leaving it unaltered. Because of the professionalism and value offered on the day of the appointment, Melissa chose Southeast Foundation and Crawl Space Repair.

Solution

With a project of this size, things had to be performed very strategically. A lot of prep work was required. First, we began with debris removal. With the crawl space never being addressed before, there was quite a bit to remove from the home. Then, the area had to be excavated, raked, and leveled for the project. After all of these steps were complete, the structural additions came next. Drop beams were added, and the rotting floor joists were all sistered to provide ample stability for the flooring above. Then, the entire perimeter of the crawl space and area around the rim joists was sealed and insulated. Next, the team treated all beams and joists with Mold-X2, a mold treatment that destroys mold and its stains in just 20 seconds. Now that the joists and beams were clean, protected, and secure, Team Southeast could begin by installing the flooring support.

Following the blueprints for placement, the crew began to place and secure all 16 Smart Jacks. Smart Jacks from Supportworks stabilize and lift existing beams and floor joists in a crawl space. Sometimes, if existing joists are rotted or full of moisture, it’s necessary to install steel beams to complement the Smart Jacks. In this home’s case, the joists were compromised enough that new steel beams were a necessity. Several sections of steel beams were added along with the jacks, to add further support of the home’s weight once transferred to the beams and Smart Jacks themselves. This would provide solidarity for the home’s flooring unlike it had ever had before, even upon initial construction.

Transitioning to the encapsulation, we installed the SmartSump, a pump that collects and contains crawl space moisture. A discharge line was added for water transport out of the crawl space. Then, sealing off the crawl space from the earth, they addressed the floors and walls of the crawl space, which had been allowing unwanted moisture and air in, creating a drafty and damp environment. Next, they sealed all crawl space vents, allowing our dehumidifier to completely control the relative humidity, without the interference of outside air and moisture. A brand new crawl space door was fashioned as a custom fit for the entryway, creating a tight seal.

SilverGlo, another superior performance product, was installed next to the crawl space walls. With its graphite-infused interior and its outer radiant barrier, the insulation reflects heat back into the crawlspace, saving energy and money for our homeowners. This would inevitably stop the transfer of moisture into Melissa’s crawl space from the surrounding walls. Next, we installed our 20mil-thick CleanSpace liner, a thick and durable bright-white liner that prevents moisture and air from passing up to the crawl space from the ground. Finally, the team had to provide a means to control the relative humidity going forward. By installing our high-efficiency Sani-Dry Sedona dehumidifier, we ensure that the humidity of the crawl space stays at a controlled level, preventing mold growth and continuously keeping the area dry and free from problem-causing moisture.

The team had taken many steps to ensure the safety of Melissa’s home and the protection of its crawl space. After a thorough check of the crawl space and final adjustments, Southeast’s job was complete. Melissa knew that she had prolonged the life of her home, protected her investment and made it a safer place to live. She was more than pleased with the work and professionalism of Southeast Foundation and Crawl Space Repair.