Crawl Spaces

Encapsulation 

If you do not have any standing water/rain leaks (or after we have solved the leak issue) but are experiencing any problems with: Mold, Smells, Air Quality Issues, Humidity, Buckling Hardwoods, Allergies, then encapsulating (which is sealing off and conditioning your crawl space) is the only solution to solving all of these issues.

We transform your crawl space so dramatically that once we are done, you’ll want to have lunch down there just to celebrate!  By improving the air quality in the Crawl Space, you improve the air quality of your entire home (Stack Effect) and those that live in it.  You also protect yourself from mold/mildew growth, your hardwoods from buckling because of excessive moisture in the crawl and have eliminated the musty, moldy, dampness and dirt smells.  General scope of work for sealing the crawl:

1. Debris removal and grading is performed to ensure the tough, long lasting quality of the vapor barrier is realized
2. Sealed – stop uncontrolled, leaky air that allows high humidity and the moisture problems that result.  High quality, extremely tough and durable Class 1 vapor barrier is utilized to seal the ground, walls and piers; other detailed stop gap measures are taken to seal penetrations, vents, holes, seams etc.
3. Conditioned – We install a high performance, long lasting Dehumidifier to automatically control the humidity and create a clean, dry environment
4. 25-year Warranty is provided with a complete Sealed Crawl Solution

STRUCTURAL ISSUE?  We do not provide structural repair services for crawl spaces. Please contact us for some great references to Foundation Repair Contractors that we trust who have similar customer focused, integrity lead philosophy that we have used to build AKME Waterproofing.

Interior Drains

We will evaluate your home, interior and exterior, to determine the source of the water problem and prescribe a customized solution to solve and control the issue for the duration of the home.  Our evaluation is focused on what is the best and most effective way to solve your water problem once and for all.  We take a Solutions, not ‘systems’, approach.  Who wants to see their Waterproofer more than once?

Vapor Barrier on the Floor Only

We install our 15-mil reinforced Bilar encapsulation liner for maximum effectiveness, which also allows for future encapsulation as a possibility(w/o losing any of the $ invested).

• Our vapor barrier installation is always thorough and detailed, designed to last.  We will remove all trash, debris, rocks, concrete, nails etc. that can lead to wear and puncturing of the liner over time

• We perform any necessary grading to ensure the liner is on solid, continuous ground for uniformity and being able to withstand traffic from those who need to perform work in the crawl space

• We sufficiently overlap and staple the liner to the ground to ensure effectiveness, maintaining integrity over time and that it will not move when there is worker traffic in the crawl space; additionally we tape the seams to seal them

The focus is a permanent installation of the vapor barrier.

Crawl Space with a Dug Out /Stand-Up Area

This is common in older homes that often have a brick or stone crawl space foundation wall around the perimeter with a dug-out area in the middle that typically provides access from within the home. The dug-out area either has just a bank of dirt around the perimeter of the dug-out area or a ‘knee wall’ has been built to hold the dirt back and keep it from eroding. This is often utilized as a Mechanical area; HVAC, water heaters and storage.

If attempts to control water outside have not been effective enough, then an Interior Drain Solution is required. We have witnessed countless times where ground water has entered the dug out portion through bank of dirt/wall well below the crawl space foundation wall around the perimeter of the home. This means that a dig up and re-waterproof of the exterior crawl space walls would not be effective in stopping this water because it is already below the bottom of the crawl space foundation wall when it enters the home. Essentially, it’s too low for the new waterproofing and foundation drain to capture it.

As a result, a very customized Interior Drain Solution is required in order to permanently control the intruding water and allow you to reclaim a dry environment, protecting your Mechanicals and stored items. Each home with this scenario is different and therefore the solution is designed specific to the needs of your problem.

We specialize in these older homes where ‘Mac Gyvering’ is needed to ensure that you have your water problem solved for the duration of the home.