Crawlspace Solutions
Sick of living with a wet, moldy crawlspace? Vented crawlspaces are a major cause of mold problems in homes in the Mid-Atlantic Region—especially on the Delmarva Peninsula. (The good life comes at a price, sometimes.)
The Science of Crawlspaces
There are two major sources of crawlspace moisture: from the ground, and from moisture carried in through foundation vents on hot, humid summer days. The old science says to vent crawlspaces to carry moisture out. In fact, the opposite is true: The more you vent, the worse things get. Summer crawlspace air lingers in the 58-62 degree range. Then the dew point creeps into the high 60s. Suddenly, all surfaces with a temperature below the dew point accumulate condensation. Conditions in your crawlspace rapidly deteriorate, and mold finds a new home.
When built right, crawlspaces are airtight, with temperatures more consistent with the rest of the structure. Builders are beginning to gain the proper knowledge. But in many cases, a new solution is required. That’s where JCN comes in.
IntelliSeal is a scientific solution developed through studying and repairing years of field failures of inferior technologies. As a result, JCN is the world’s only supplier of IntelliSeal Technologies—proven, time-tested solutions that can be completely customized for your unique crawlspace conditions.
It might sound complicated (and expensive), but the solutions are actually quite the opposite: First, a drainage system and sump pump are put in place, if necessary. Vapor Barriers are then installed on the floor, walls, and piers, and all seams are sealed with a two-step bonding process. JCN’s standard three-layer Vapor Barriers are 6 mil (6/1000 inch) thick on walls and floors, and 14 mil thick on dirt floors, providing strength, durability, and protection. In some cases, an upgrade to JCN’s Ultimate 20 mil Vapor Barrier is recommended.
Then we fight dirty. JCN enters your crawlspace and kills active mold colonies with an EPA-approved fungicide. All wood surfaces are treated with a mold preventative accompanied by a 25-year limited warranty against future mold growth—protecting your valuable investment. All insulation is removed from the floor joists, and a rigid R-10.5 insulation is installed on all exterior walls. To finish the job, all foundation vents and the structure’s perimeter are sealed, and exterior band joints are insulated. But we don’t stop there. After treatment, we continue to monitor your crawlspace for a full year with moisture and humidity meters. We return once every three months to observe seasonal effects. If we detect a water event or elevated humidity levels, we take immediate corrective action.