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CleanSpace™ System
Now there is a real solution to dirt crawl spaces.The CleanSpace™ System developed by Basement Systems, the world leader in dry basement technology.
Dirt crawl spaces do not have to be wet or flooded to be extremely unhealthy. Heating and cooling costs are higher in a home with a vented dirt crawl space.
CleanSpace™ SystemThere are three things that destroy materials in general, and wood in particular: water, heat and ultraviolet radiation.Of these, water is by far the most important. A dirt crawl space under a home is a very bad idea. The earth has very high humidity in the soil. This water vapor moves easily into the crawl space and upwards into the house environment. A damp environment is very unhealthy and destructive. Mold thrives and reproduces by producing airborne spores by the millions, and some molds are toxic. Insects and critters of all kinds love damp environments and wet materials. Rot and decay occur in damp environments causing structural damage. The natural airflow in a house is from bottom to top. This sucks the moist air and everything in it up into the living areas of the home. Mold spores, odors, humidity and critters create a very unhealthy environment for people. Many people are allergic to these things, and experience a host of symptoms not realizing that their dirt crawl space is affecting their health.
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Mold
Mold spores, the seeds of mold, are in the air everywhere. All they need to grow is organic material such as wood, the right temperature range, and moisture. Of these, the only one that can be controlled is moisture. Dirt crawl spaces have the high humidity levels necessary for mold growth. Humidity levels from 50% to 90% are easily found in dirt crawl spaces that have never flooded. Mold can grow on dirt, insulation, framing and even under your carpet on the first floor. Mold destroys organic materials as it feeds on them. Mold reproduces by producing millions of floating airborne spores, which some people are very sensitive to. Spores can be dormant for many years, waiting for the right conditions to grow. Some molds produce mycotoxins, such as the black mold Stachybotrys. Many articles can be found on the effects of mold, and toxic mold. Walls made of block or stone often let moisture into a crawl space. That's why it's important for a solution to include the walls as well as the floor.
Dr. Harriet Burge, an expert in airborne diseases at the Harvard School of Public Health says, "Mold in houses is not a good thing. It could lead to asthma. Houses with mold are damp, and have dust mites and other things in them that can cause illness, especially in children.
Don't panic; there is a solution that will stop your crawl space from being a hospitable environment for mold. Mold will not grow when the humidity levels are reduced below 40%.
The CleanSpace™ liner is COMPLETELY SEALED over the floor and walls to fully isolate your home environment from the earth. The result is an attractive, bright, tough, impervious liner -and a healthy home above it! The CleanSpace™ liner is tough enough for you to crawl on, so your crawl space can be used for storage. Servicemen can crawl on it without worry of putting holes or tears in the liner. The liner completely stops moisture penetration.
The CleanSpace™ Crawl Space Encapsulation System completely isolates your home from the earth. This dramatically reduces the humidity level in the air, which will reduce or in most cases eliminate mold growth, rot and critters from your crawl space and make the whole house healthier.
Trained installers will remove wood and organic materials from your crawl space floor. Rocks and uneven surfaces are leveled, depending on the crawl space conditions. The CleanSpace™ liner is carefully cut and installed. The workers will usually be working in their socks, once the floor piece is laid out, to keep the liner clean. That's how clean your crawl space will be! Small holes are drilled into the top of your crawl space walls, and nylon fasteners are installed to permanently secure the CleanSpace™ liner to the walls.
Some crawl spaces are wet and require a drainage system underneath the CleanSpace™ liner. MidAmerica Basement Systems recommend a drainage system that is best for your crawl space conditions. A Basement Systems SuperSump™ will be necessary in wet crawl spaces to drain the water and pump it out. The SuperSump™ has a reliable 1/3 hp cast iron pump in a strong durable sump liner with holes in it to accept water from the ground. It features an air tight lid to keep the moisture and bugs out, and a WaterWatch™ alarm system to let you know if there is ever a pump or power problem before the crawl space floods. For details about the Super Sump™ please visit the Waterproofing section.
The humidity levels in many crawl spaces go from over 80% to under 35% after the CleanSpace™ System is installed. Some homeowners say that the windows and doors upstairs are operating better because the swollen wood dried out. Even buckling hardwood floors and carpets dry out.
The CleanSpace™ System is patent pending and a trademark of Basement Systems Inc.
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Because of the high humidity level in a dirt crawl space, cool surfaces such as the earth at 55 degrees, concrete and metal surfaces will sweat with water vapor condensing out of the air. This causes rot, smells, and is a water source for critters.
Moisture is the prime factor that causes structural damage. Over time, rot and decay from a moist environment damage wood framing and steel structural members.
Dirt Crawl Spaces are great places to live, thrive and reproduce if you're a bug. There is an even temperature, moisture, damp wood and shelter. Spiders, beetles, centipedes, termites, and all kinds of other insects are found in dirt crawl spaces. Animals such as mice, (dead and alive) are commonly found in dirt crawl spaces. In some cases, even rats, snakes and small animals have been found.
The CleanSpace™ liner is used to isolate the home from the earth completely and permanently. The liner is a heavy 6 mil thick material similar to a pool liner. It is manufactured in 7 layers - a blend of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene and two layers of polyester cord reinforcement. It is black on one side and white on the other. The bright white finished side really brightens a crawl space with the available lighting and allows you to easily see that your crawl space is free of mold, insects and dirt.
The top edge of the CleanSpace™ liner is sealed to the walls with polyurethane sealant. All seams are sealed with special 4" wide sealing tape and/or sealant made for the CleanSpace™ liner. The CleanSpace™ liner is also sealed around other objects such as pipes, columns, and piers with any combination of sealant or concrete.
The SuperSump™ will be installed in a low spot in your crawl space. As an option, a drainage swale or trench system can be developed around the perimeter to drain water to the SuperSump™. An UltraSump™ battery back-up pumping system is an option. Other options include a perforated drainage piping system, with or without a stone bed. Once the drainage is installed, the CleanSpace™ liner will be installed over it, and sealed tightly around the SuperSump™.
