Basement Waterproofing Case Studies: Moisture, Mould and High Humidity Threaten Rental Property in Sauble Beach, Ontario
Challenge
With popular home improvement shows highlighting investment properties in recent years, more and more people are looking to start their own rental business. It can be a lucrative idea that puts some extra money in your pockets and is an excellent piece of equity to hold onto for the future. But what is often not highlighted on television is the upkeep and stress that goes along with owning an income property.
A customer in Sauble Beach, Ontario, had their own upkeep issue with their rental property. Located in a popular holiday area, the property offered several cozy apartments, but down below, a problem was growing. The crawlspace had water seeping into it, causing pooling, mould, and high humidity. Looking to preserve their investment and protect the apartments above, the customer reached out to Clarke Basement Systems to fix their crawl space conundrum.
Solution
With winter upon them and the summer season getting closer, the customer met with System Design Specialist Rob Malcomson. Rob designed a system to waterproof the basement, remove humidity and expel any water entering the crawl space.
Foreman Jose Martinez started by installing a Supersump® Sump Pump. The sump pump removes the water, draining it outside where it won’t be a problem. To ensure proper drainage, the customer chose to have an IceGuard™ Discharge Line installed. This option is a great choice as it prevents the discharged water from freezing in the line and creating a backup. For added peace of mind, an Ultrasump® Battery Backup was also installed to make sure the sump pump runs no matter what life throws at it.
Next, the entire crawl space was encapsulated and insulated. CleanSpace® Vapour Barrier provides a watertight barrier around the whole area, preventing water from entering, while the ThermalDry® Wall Membrane acts as an insulator. The added insulation gives the above apartments extra warmth while extending the renting season.
With high humidity affecting the walls and structure, an Aprilaire® Dehumidifier was installed. The Aprilaire® keeps the relative humidity below 55%, helping to prevent rot, mould and foul odours.
The customer is delighted with their new healthy crawl space. The apartments no longer deal with any foul odours, are safe from the dangers of mould, and will be warmer than ever! No more moisture a protected investment, and a happy customer… now that’s a job well done!