Basement Waterproofing Case Studies: Wet Crawl Space Threatens Cottage in Orillia, Ontario
Challenge
Arriving at a cottage gives you a sense of freedom and relaxation, but those feelings can be pushed aside if all you notice is a bad smell coming from the crawl space.
A customer in Orillia, Ontario, had a foul odour leeching from the crawl space below his cottage. The problem was getting worse each year, and he was concerned about what kind of effects it would have on the building’s integrity. System Design Specialist Rob Malcomson met with the customer and inspected the basement. Rob noticed that the framing was starting to show signs of rot, so he designed a system to eliminate the smell and protect any exposed wood.
Solution
Foreman Jose Martinez and his crew, Installation Specialists Trevor Bowman and Jaron Marcotte, started by removing any debris from the crawl space. Once removed they laid down drainage matting overtop of the dirt floor. This helps water disperse and drain back into the ground. To add a layer of separation between the moist dirt and the rest of the space the walls were encapsulated with CleanSpace® Vapour Barrier. To maintain the air quality our crew installed an Aprilaire® Dehumidifier, keeping the relative humidity below 55%.
The customer is thrilled with the work and service provided by the Clarke Basement System team. He’s looking forward too many more years at the cottage and without a bad smell.