Before & After Photos

This crawl space is located extremely close to the Barnegat Bay in Toms River, NJ and was constantly having water and moisture issue. Now they have a clean and energy efficient crawl space that can even be used as additional storage space!

This Toms River, NJ home had a dirt floor crawl space that was poorly insulated, was likely to attract pests and insects, and (in its current state) allowed for the spread of mold and mildew due to the high humidity levels. 

First, we removed all the contaminated insulation and debris, leveled the ground for proper draining, and installed a drainage matting and a vapor barrier. The vapor barrier is a heavy-duty, 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with a polyester-cord reinforcement. It cannot tear and is extremely durable. Dirt floor crawl spaces attract and absorb moisture and once the dirt dries, it causes humidity levels to rise and can lead to mold problems.

To correct this, we installed Sani-Dry Sedona dehumidifier to control the humidity levels in the crawl space and a Smart Drain. The Smart Drain prevents any moisture from sitting on top of the vapor barrier. The vapor barrier is also treated with an antimicrobial to prevent mold and is installed over the foundation walls and floor to create a continuous air and moisture barrier. Now the homeowner has a transformed crawl space that is clean and dry.

A Toms River, NJ homeowner, who lives near the Barnegat Bay, was plagued with a chronically wet crawl space. Due to the high water table, his crawl space had at least an inch of standing water throughout the year due to groundwater seepage. Fortunately, Crawl Space Solutions by Cowleys was call in to save the day. 

This Toms River homeowner contracted with Cowleys for a full Clean Space install. An important part of the encapsulation process is installing a special Everlast™  vent cover. These covers, which can be installed against wood framing or masonry, close off outside air and moisture from entering the crawl space through the exterior vents.  These covers not only work well, but, as shown in the pictures, are aesthetically pleasing. Made with a hard durable plastic, they stand up to the worst weather conditions, and, unlike wood vents, these covers are completely maintenance free. They never rot, warp, or crack and they never need to be painted. Even though these vent covers completely seal the vents from the outdoor elements, they are easy to open if you need to access your crawl space to have repairs done or for storage (another benefit of encapsulation — a clean, dry area for storage!). To open these vent covers, all you need to do is twist a few knobs, and you’re in! The attached pictures show the outside of the crawl space of this Toms River home before and after one of these vent covers was installed. 

A business owner in Toms River, NJ called our office and wanted our Contracting team to add a vapor barrier and a dehumidifier to his crawl space. 

First, we removed all the debris and then leveled the ground. Afterward, we installed the vapor barrier, which is a heavy-duty, 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with a polyester-cord reinforcement. It's extremely durable, treated with an antimicrobial to prevent mold, and is installed over the foundation walls and floor to create a continuous air and moisture barrier.

Lastly, we installed a Sani-Dry Sedona commercial-grade dehumidifier which directs the extracted water that is pulled out of the air directly into the sump pump. These dehumidifiers are maintenance-free, turn on and off automatically with a built-in hygrometer, and there is no water tray to empty or overflow.

Recently, we went on a service a call in Bayville, NJ for a homeowner who was complaining of an excessive amount of moisture in his crawl space. Excessive moisture in your crawl space can have a major impact on your family’s health. In fact, 40% of the air in your home comes up through the crawl space — which means that moisture and mold can seep into your home, where you're breathing it in. 

Once we arrived at the property, we equipped our personal protective equipment (PPE) and began our inspection. After surveying the crawl space, we noticed that the homeowner had a dirt floor crawl space and that his home was located right on the bay. Dirt floor crawl spaces attract and absorb moisture. When the dirt dries, it causes humidity levels to rise in your home. After a thorough inspection, we determined that this was the cause of the moisture build-up in the crawl space.  

The best treatment method to remove the moisture is to encapsulate the crawl space. First, we installed a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is a super-durable, 20-mil 7-ply plastic sheet material made up of high and low-density polyethylene with polyester-cord reinforcement. The vapor barrier resists the passage of air and by stopping air movement from the ground, it can also turn your crawl space into a semi-conditioned space. Next, we removed the existing fiberglass insulation and replaced it with encapsulated comfort thermal insulation. Then, we installed a smart pump with a battery back up and auxiliary pump to remove any groundwater underneath the liner.

Finally, in order to prevent mold growth, we installed a SaniDry XP commercial dehumidifier. These machines are specifically designed and manufactured for the challenging environments of basements and crawl spaces. The SaniDry XP is a powerful energy-efficient dehumidifier that outperforms standard household dehumidifiers by as much as 10 times while using the same amount of energy to run. The SaniDry XP can effectively cover indoor living spaces over 3000 square feet, making it well-suited for basements and crawl spaces over 40” high. 

Now, the moisture in the crawl space is greatly reduced, helping prevent mold growth.