All-Dry of the Carolinas Before & After Photos

Crawlspaces are often necessary. In addition to this, many people believe venting a crawlspace is a necessary evil. This is both true and false. Venting a crawlspace is evil—that’s for certain. However, it is not necessary. Many people decide to do this because they have a dirt crawlspace, which, in itself, is problematic. Dirt crawlspaces cost more money to heat and cool. Because of the dirt, the crawlspace has damp air and the humidity levels are through the roof. All of these issues add up to bring more moisture issues and water into the space. If you ever wonder why you may be experiencing water issues, this may be the leading cause right here.

Let’s use this crawlspace as an example. This Hartwell, Georgia homeowner was having considerable trouble with their crawlspace area. They were witnessing an explosion of water issues from which they could not determine the origin. They were at their wit’s end when they decided to give All-Dry of the Carolinas a call. We were able to send out our Design Specialist, Jonathan Geddie, to take a look and get to the bottom of everything.

The “before” photo has a sample of what he found. The first thing he noticed was the plastic liner on the floor. Now, don’t get me wrong, the liner was definitely a good idea. However, without it being sealed it’s not doing its job. This means that the liner is completely sealed to the wall, without any holes or patches exposed. Once this happens, none of the moisture from the earth can escape into the crawlspace air. Moreover, the liner wasn’t particularly thick. It was layered, but it did little else but hide the clay dirt floor.

Now, in the “after” photo, we see the changes made. Here, we’ve installed our patented CleanSpace. This is a 20 mils thick liner reinforced with polyester cords. When we install this product, we cover the entire floor and everything else, including supports. All of the edges are sealed using a variety of methods designed to keep the liner in place. The end result is what you see now, new and improved. Not only does it take care of the dirt floor problem, but it also brightens the space. Our crew, led by Foreman Raymond Petry, did an amazing job It looks better than it ever did before, and our customer surely agrees.

It’s difficult to maintain a crawlspace when it’s not a space we often frequent. Unlike a basement, this area isn’t usually used for storage or recreation. Because of that, the space falls into disuse and any problems it has are swept beneath the rug until they begin to affect the rest of the home. It always happens like this. Now that doesn’t mean that there’s anyone to blame, it only means that this is bound to occur. It just is. Water Issues will arise as long as the dirt floor is exposed and the walls are porous.

Take a look at our “before” photo, this is a prime example of a crawlspace that is afflicted with moisture issues. The walls are stained with efflorescence and the floors are barely covered by the thin sheet of plastic. It was a valiant effort by the homeowners to attempt to rectify this problem, but that sheet simply wasn’t good enough.

The problem no longer exists in the “after” photo. In this photo, we’ve cleared out the problem. The entirety of the crawlspace is covered by our CleanSpace plastic liner. This liner is far superior to the original liner in the crawlspace. It is 20mils thick, and reinforced with polyester cords. This cording makes it nearly impossible to rip or tear the fabric. Also in this photo, there is the SuperSump pump that catches the any potential water the space may experience due to flooding or heavy rains.

This Hartwell, Georgia crawlspace has never looked better.

Water intrusion is an issue that we have seen since the very beginning of our business. This home was proof that water problems in basements are not going anywhere. Unfortunately, this is a reality that too many have to face. However, there is a relatively simple, and effective way to keep water out of the basement.

This home had been plagued with water intrusion and all of the problems that go along with it for awhile. The problems started to get worse, so they finally made a few calls, which led them to us. They set up an appointment with one of our Systems Design Specialist, who was able to visit the home and figure out exactly what was needed to keep water out of their basement. In order to prevent water intrusion and a high humidity level in the basement, our Specialist suggested our WaterGuard Drain, SuperSump Pump System, and a dehumidifier to help with the humidity level.

Once our crew got to the house a few weeks later, they immediately began working. They began by removing a few inches of concrete floor near the wall, as well as a hole for the sump pump. The SuperSump pump system was then installed and the crew began to work on the discharge line. Meanwhile, the WaterGuard drain was being installed in the "trench" that was cut out for it. Once everything was installed, the crew mixed up some concrete so that the WaterGuard and area around the sump pump could be covered, making it seem like nothing ever happened. 

Our purpose for each job is to provide a solution to every issue that a homeowner may have, while also trying to leave as little of a footprint as possible. We want to fix your home, while making as few changes as possible.

There are several different types of cracks that can occur with foundation problems like settlement. Sometimes these cracks are separation cracks (like a chimney separating from the home or around a door or window, drywall cracks, but the most common type of cracking is stair-step cracking. This cracking often starts at the corner of a door or window and looks like stairs from the side. 

One of the cracks that had appeared on the outside of this home was following a stair-step pattern. They are more common on cinder block or brick walls, because the mortar breaks easier than the bricks and takes the path of least resistance. However, this crack seemed to take a pattern similar to this. The crack started around the window and slowly made its way up and up to the top of the wall.

The difference between the before and after pictures may not seem too significant, but a lot has been done between the two photos. The biggest thing that was done was the crew installing several push piers in order to lift and stabilize the foundation. The push piers help to raise the foundation back towards its original position. After the lifting has been done, the crew mixed up some new mortar and covered the crack. A little bit of paint and the area will look as good as new!

Pictured as the “before” is the crawlspace before All-Dry of the Carolina began the process of moisture proofing it. It has all the tells of a bad, humid situation. Insulation is hanging on to the ceiling by a thread. The plastic liner they have is saturated with water and dirt. The air itself smells horrible and is not fit for man or beast.

Meanwhile, the Clemson, South Carolina is given a new lease on life in the “after” photo. This is only part two of a staged process. Here, the old liner has been removed. Along the walls, we’ve installed the first wave of our patented, 20 mils thick CleanSpace liner. Across the dirt floor, drainage matting has been fitted and installed. The purpose of this dimpled material is to guide the water towards the sump pump. The following stage is to place CleanSpace on top of this material.

The final stage should give this crawlspace a total encapsulation.