Basement Waterproofing Case Studies: Turning a Cottage into a Home for Retirement with Crawl Space Solution
Challenge
We had a customer in Washago, ON, who was nearing retirement and was spending more time in her cottage, which would soon be her forever home. For her place to feel more like a home, she sought options to clean up and make it a better living environment. She called Clarke Basement Systems to have her crawl space inspected and have someone educate her on what changes would improve her cottage’s functionality in the winter. She told System Design Specialist Rob Malcolmson “It was time for change”. Rob found a few things causing her problems. One was that the old builder’s pink insulation was done poorly, and mice were making a home in it. Another was that the customer's dehumidifier was being overworked, as the moisture levels were extremely high.
Solution
Starting with our CleanSpace® vapour barrier, we encapsulated the area to eliminate further moisture and mould growth. Next, our in-house drainage matting was put on the ground. Followed by our ThermalDry® R-20 wall insulation system, the crawl space was sealed correctly and would now preserve energy. The last system installed was our patented SmartSump® with a sealed lid and engineered liner to control water below the home and prevent high water levels. Overall, the new systems allowed the dehumidifier to work not nearly as hard as it used to. Next, by replacing the old insulation with the new R20 ThermalDry®, the heat preservation in the winter improved immensely, saving her lots of energy and money in the cold winter months. When the crew finished, our customer was pleased with her investment, knowing she would have a well-working home for retirement!