CASE STUDY: CleanSpace & SmartJacks

Project: The Averitt Foundation
Location: Statesboro, GA
Date: July 2010


Problem:
Built in 1965, this home belonged to the late Mr. George Averitt. He was a professor at Georgia Southern University and left the home to the university to be used in the name of academia. Behind all its beauty, the museum grade home was beginning to suffer from major moisture issues. The Averitt family consulted with Lowcountry Basement Systems for a solution to the mold that was cultivating throughout the house and the water that was stagnant in the crawl space and, at times, making its way into the house.

Solution:
Lowcountry Basement remedied the problem by installing a CleanSpace system consisting of 20 mil CleanSpace Liner, drainage matting, SmartSump Pump, SaniDry CSB and Mini dehumidifier. the vents were sealed and the rusty entrance panel was replaced with an EverLast door to keep the elements out of the crawl space. The sodden structural beams were fused with steel beams to create sturdy and level floors. Concrete blocks were replaced with SmartJacks to raise the home, bringing it back to its original elevation while sealing the cracks on the interior walls. Anabec Advanced Cleaning Solution and X-70 was applied to clean existing mold and hinder future growth, and provide the homeowner with a 20 year manufacturer warranty.

Results:
The home was isolated from the earth, moisture was under control and the relative humidity inside the crawl space was decreased, which eliminated the breeding ground for mold. The floor joists dried out, and the SmartJack system has given the home a strong foundation so it can safely be used for classrooms at any time.

Project Summary:
Installing Contractor: Lowcountry Basement Systems
Certified Inspector: Robert Videon

BEFORE: Moldy, damaged HVAC duct

AFTER: CleanSpace Installed

BEFORE: Gap around crawl space door
AFTER: EverLast door installed, gap eliminated
SmartJacks under supplemental beam, Anabec X-70 applied to subfloor

Spotted®: Savannah, Georgia photos | Savannah Home Show

Nancy and Ashley with Lowcountry Basement Systems offered home owners solutions to their crawl space and foundation problems at the Savannah Morning News Home Show.

Spotted®: Savannah, Georgia photos | Savannah Home Show

Savannah Morning News Home Show

The Savannah Morning News is pleased to sponsor the Home Show at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center on October 9-10, 2010. Come visit Lowcountry Basement Systems and learn about solutions to fix your damp crawl space, sagging floor, sinking foundation, or leaning chimney.

We are crawl space and foundation repair specialists and offer free evaluations!

http://savannahnow.com/exchange/2010-10-06/fall-home-show-returns-weekend

Foundation Problems & Solutions

Are you having foundation problems? The decision to fix these problems permanetly is an investment in your home that makes sense!

Now there is also a real solution to dirt crawl spaces!

Check out our article in the Savannah Home Improvement Guide, Summer 2010 edition, pages 29-31.

Welcome New Production Coordinator

We welcome Kassy Hodges as our new Production Coordinator. She will serve as our first point of contact for customers seeking crawl space and foundation repair services.

Kassy has already earned "WOW" service recognition while assisting a customer with her mold remediation project. Way to go Kassy!

Welcome New System Design Specialist

Lowcountry Basement Systems welcomes new System Design Specialist Keith Kilgore to the team. Keith has an extensive twenty-three year management, consulting and sales career specializing in facility renovations, new construction, operations developement and financial improvement.

Keith is in training to receive recognition as a Crawl Space Specialist through the Basement Systems International Moisture Control Network. We look forward to having him valued member of the team!

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... NORTHERN BRYAN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA... SOUTH CENTRAL BULLOCH COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA... WEST CENTRAL CHATHAM COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA... EXTREME SOUTH CENTRAL EFFINGHAM COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...

* UNTIL 500 PM EDT

Does your crawl space floods when it rains?
Check out our sump pump and drainage solutions for your crawl space.

Call us for a free evaluation to offer solutions to fix your crawl space...for good!

HBA Statesboro Fish Fry

We enjoyed joining the Home Builders Association of Statesboro for their fish fry and meeting. Great people and great food!

Wet Crawl Space and Sagging Floors

This vented dirt crawl space had water pooling in the crawl space. All that moisture led to mold, wood rot, odors and structural decay. The concrete piers were also cracked, causing unstable floor support. We installed the CleanSpace Encapsulation System, completly isolating the ground from the earth. A sump pump and drainage were installed to control the water intrusion, along with a dehumidifier to control the humidity. SmartJacks were also installed to replace the cracked concrete piers. The crawl space is now dry, and the floor is back to level and stable again!

BEFORE: Wet crawl space with structural decay, sagging floor joists and cracked piers


AFTER: CleanSpace Encapsulation System and SmartJack Stabilizers installed.


Another wet, nasty crawl space made healthy with the CleanSpace System!

New Financing Options For Your Crawl Space Project

Using the equity in your home to transform your crawl space or basement into a healthy, comfortable space could be a smart move!

Bank of America and Basement Systems Inc. have teamed up to give you access to home equity options for your crawl space or basement improvement project.

Give us a call for more information or schedule a free crawl space evaluation.

Sagging beams or floor joists in a crawl space?

Sagging beams or floor joists in a crawl space are definately a cause for concern. The columns in a crawl space can settle due to weak foundation soils. The soil can shift and settle over time, causing movement of the columns. Sagging beams and floor joists can result from improper spacing of existing pier columns. Excess moisture and wood rot can also weaken beams and joists.

If you have a damp crawl space, plan on solving this problem first! We offer FREE evaluations to design a system to fix your crawl space. The CleanSpace System will completely isolate your house from the earth, reducing the negative effects of humidity and moisture in your crawl space.

BEFORE- Sagging floor


AFTER- SmartJacks Installed


The SmartJack System will level and stabilize the existing beams and floor joist in your crawl space. It can also be installed in conjunction with a crawl space liner, such as CleanSpace. Sign up for a FREE Evaluation.

New Trailer Labeling

We're excited about our new fleet labeling! Here's a picture of our first trailer. Thanks to Pocket Media!

Thermal Inspection and Insulation Remediation

Robert completed Thermal Inspection and Insulation Remediation training to earn his cec requirements for his IICRC Certification (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification)

10 Things to Look For When Shopping for a Crawl Space Waterproofer

1. Do the specialize in crawl space waterproofing?
2. Will the solution address the 4 basic steps to completely fix your dirt crawl space?
3. Can the company provide references of satisfied crawl space waterproofing customer?
4. Will a fully transferable, written warranty be provided with the system?
5. How long is the warranty for the system– 5, 10, 25 years?
6. Do they offer an annual maintenance service after your system is installed?
7. How much more marketable and valuable will they make the home after it’s waterproofed?
8. Do they offer financing options for your project?
9. Do they have a variety of products to design a system specifically for your crawl space?
10. The Small Business Administration reports that 50% of contractors fail within the first year and 96% within the first five years. Will they still be in business when the customer needs them?

How Your Dirt Crawl Space Affects Your Home

Water can enter a crawl space under the footing, through the block walls, cracks and openings or from plumbing leaks. Once in your crawl space, it sits there in pools (or in some cases, we refer to it as a lake). The exposed earth also contributes a lot of water vapor into a dirt crawl space.

The earth is damp, and as the damp soil dries, the water vapor flows upward into the house by what is called the Stack Effect. A house’s natural tendency is to draw air in from the crawl space and lower levels, and then upward into the living spaces.

Building scientists say that 30% to 50% of the air you breathe on the first floor is air that came from the crawl space.

Therefore, whatever is in your crawl space air is in your house and affecting you. If there is mold in the crawl space, there are mold spores upstairs. If there are damp odors in your crawl space…you guessed it…there are damp odors upstairs.

Previously the tactic was to add vents to a crawl space with the idea that air will flow in through the vents on one side and out through the vents on the other side. These vented crawl spaces, instead of becoming less damp, end up being more wet. Rather than letting moist air out, a house sucks moist air in, and then up into home!

Air that flows in through the crawl space vents brings its moisture with it. When air is heated or cooled, its relative humidity changes. The relative humidity of air goes up by 2.2% for every degree we cool it. Crawl spaces are cool due to the earth averaging a temperature of 55 degrees year round. When warm humid air enters into a crawl space, the air is cooled, and the relative humidity goes up. This high relative humidity leads to sweating HVAC ducts, mold, rot, and energy loss.

To eliminate your vented dirt crawl space from having any negative effects on you home.

1. Fix the ground water leakage.
2. Isolate the house from the earth.
3. Seal the vents and other outside air leaks.
4. Condition or dehumidify your crawl space air.

The CleanSpace® System meets all the criteria for fixing your dirt crawl space.

Spray Foam Does Not Solve Crawl Space Moisture Issues

Mold growing on crawl space floor joists.

Mold growing on crawl space HVAC ducting.

Sweating (or should I say raining) HVAC system in crawl space

So how old do you think this house is? 10 years, 5 years, maybe 2 years old.

Not even close- try 6 months! This customer was not so happy to find these conditions in the crawl space of their newly built home.

As discussed in my previous post, spray foam insulation on the subfloor does not address the main issue in a crawl space- moisture from the dirt beneath the home. The wood members in the crawl space are still exposed to ground moisture. There are only two primary ingredients needed for rot and mold to thrive: one is organic material, like the wood beneath a home, and the second is water.

Wood + Water = Mold & Rot

Also, because the crawl space is still vented, hot humid air is drawn into the crawl space causing the HVAC ducting to condensate. This creates more moisture, and more mold growth! Not only was the mold evident in this particular crawl space, but the air quality testing inside the home also revealed high levels of airborne contaminants.

So, the only avenue to preventing structural damage, condensation and poor indoor air quality is to eliminate the moisture by installing a CleanSpace Encapsulation System.

Sign up for a FREE Crawl Space Evaluation