We fix wood rot caused by trapped moisture, upgrade framing, and waterproof foundation walls affordably and avert a potential disaster!
Crawlspace Structural Repair & Moisture Remediation
This 1980s home in South Surrey had a hidden moisture issue developing below a stamped concrete deck. Because the deck was built directly above the foundation of the stucco home, humidity was constantly seeping through the stucco layers into the wall sheathing and house framing. Over the years, this trapped moisture created severe wood rot inside the cripple wall in the crawlspace.
Fixing this problem required a deep, step-by-step structural intervention to ensure the home was safe and permanently protected from future rot.
Our Economical Repair and Reinforcement Process:
- Structural Support: We set up temporary walls to support the weight of the home's structure while the damaged load-bearing elements were replaced.
- Rot Removal & Treatment: We cut out the ruined sheathing and bad framing. Anything that was still structurally sound was treated to prevent future fungal growth.
- Rebuilding the Framing: We replaced the wall plates and stud framing using durable, pressure-treated lumber. We engineered a physical gap between the new wood and the exterior stucco to break the moisture bridge, filling that space with closed-cell spray foam to maintain a structural bond and integrity.
- Insulation & Vapor Barrier: Because this crawlspace functions as a heated, conditioned space, sealing it was vital. We packed the framing with foil-backed, laminated EPS insulation sealed in with spray foam to completely block out humidity.
- Seismic Upgrade: As we couldn't effectively fasten the ply in it's original position we reinforced the entire interior face of the new framing by installing a structural layer of 3/4-inch plywood to the interior.
- Foundation Waterproofing: We treated the concrete foundation wall, applying a bonded hydraulic cement screed to keep ground water out, and lined it with encapsulated EPS foam to maximize heat retention and reduce humidity and efflorescence.
The entire workspace was thoroughly cleaned and inspected, leaving the homeowners with a dry, rock-solid crawlspace and a clean bill of health. You can see the clean, reinforced results in the finished workspace view.