From initial MC% assessment through borate treatment and vapor barrier replacement to post-remediation clearance — the full below-grade mold scope in one place.
Assessment
🔍MC% Assessment & Contamination Mapping
MC readings at 10–12 ft intervals across the crawl space. Visible growth mapped and photographed. Written assessment with findings before scope proposal.
Removal
🔨HEPA Removal & Wire-Brush Treatment
Loose and surface mold growth on joists and sheathing is removed using industrial HEPA vacuuming and wire brushing — capturing spore material rather than disturbing it into the airspace. Contained removal prevents spore migration upward through the subfloor assembly into living areas.
Treatment
🌳Penetrating Borate Application
EPA-registered penetrating borate solution applied to all accessible joist and sheathing surfaces after HEPA removal. Borate diffuses into wood fiber over time, providing ongoing inhibition of fungal colonization — including species that may not be visually apparent yet. Borate remains active in treated wood for years.
Structure
🔨Sistering Structurally Compromised Joists
Individual joist assessment for structural integrity. MC readings plus physical assessment of deterioration. Sister framing specified where structural capacity is compromised — documented in written scope.
Barrier
💧Vapor Barrier Repair or Replacement
Reinforced poly, correctly lapped, footing-secured. Proper vapor barrier installation is the #1 long-term prevention tool for crawl space mold in Essex, IL properties.
Systems
🏔Encapsulation vs. Vented Conditioning Assessment
Full crawl space encapsulation (sealed vapor barrier, insulated perimeter walls, conditioned air supply) is the right answer for some Essex, IL crawl spaces — particularly those with high water table, poor drainage, or chronic moisture loads that vented conditioning can't manage. We assess your specific conditions and recommend objectively, not by default toward the more expensive option.
