Basement Waterproofing Case Studies: Cold Feet in the Kitchen Leads to Discovery of Rotting Beams in Toronto, Ontario

Challenge

For almost all residential homes, large wooden support beams carry much of the load. These joists play a crucial role in your home’s stability, so if they’re compromised, your home’s integrity is at risk.

A customer in Toronto, Ontario, noticed their kitchen floors were cold during the winter. Drywall throughout the space was cracking, and none of his cupboards was level, so he figured something was going on in the crawl space below.

He decided to reach out to Clarke Basement Systems after seeing an ad for our Crawl Space Encapsulation System. System Design Specialist Ron Monk met with the client and inspected his home. Ron determined that the dirt floor in the crawl space allowed moisture to leech into the space, creating mould and causing the wood to bow. The lack of insulation also led to cold air seeping up into the main level.

Solution

Foreman and Company Owner Don Clarke and his crew, Installation Specialists Pat Lopushinsky and Michael Hobson, started by laying down Drainage Matting over the exposed floor to prevent water from pooling. ThermalDry® R20 Wall Membrane was layered over the foundation walls to help retain heat. We encapsulated the entire area with CleanSpace® Vapour Barrier to seal out moisture and brighten up the space. Lastly, we supported the sagging beam with two of our SmartJack® Support Braces.

The customer can’t believe how much warmer his kitchen is. The room is finally level and ready to renovate, and his home is protected thanks to our full encapsulation and support system.