Job completed for Crawl Space Mold Remediation, Insulation Removal and Vapor Barrier Replacement

A West Columbia, SC homeowner called Kingsley water damage & Fire cleanup after a piece of drywall beside the bathtub fell off and was covered in dark microbial growth. They were also worried that the crawl space under the house had been affected, since the floor insulation had been replaced not long before and earlier termite repairs had been done underneath the home, and they wanted both areas checked and cleaned up the right way.

Our technician started in the bathroom, where moisture readings around the tub came back dry, so there was no active leak feeding the growth. The plan there was to build containment at the bathroom doorway with a zippered entry and two support poles, put the room under negative pressure with an air scrubber, cut out a section of drywall about 4 feet wide by 3 feet tall next to the tub, then HEPA vacuum, treat and wipe down every affected surface.

The photo shows what the inspection found in the crawl space: older lumber from a past termite repair that had been left in place with new framing added beside it, insulation tucked between the joists and a worn plastic barrier over the soil. Behind the newer insulation, growth was on the subfloor and on the insulation's paper backing across an area of roughly 25 by 40 feet. The crawl space scope was to place it under negative pressure, remove and dispose of all the insulation and the old barrier, HEPA vacuum, treat and wipe down the joists and subfloor, prime and seal the wood, and then lay and pin down a new moisture barrier.

Homeowner takeaway: new insulation can hide old problems, so if wood under your home was repaired instead of replaced, ask to have the subfloor behind the insulation checked for growth. If you have mold or moisture concerns in your West Columbia home or crawl space, call Kingsley water damage & Fire cleanup at 803-219-8873. Our team is available 24/7 for mold remediation and water damage service.