Crawlspace encapsulation and drainage system
First Claim
1. A water-barrier and drainage system for preventing the penetration of water vapor and ground water into the crawlspace environment of a building, said crawlspace environment having a floor surrounded by a substantially continuous peripheral foundation enclosing said crawlspace environment beneath the building, said system comprising a continuous embossed plastic drainage panel covering the entire floor of the crawlspace to provide a barrier against the penetration of groundwater and water vapor up through the floor and into the air space of the crawlspace, said plastic drainage panel being embossed to provide a plurality of spaced protuberances at the underside thereof forming legs which support the drainage panel spaced from the floor of the crawlspace to provide a water flow space adjacent the floor for the drainage of water and water vapor which penetrates up through the floor of the crawlspace or through the walls of the crawlspace.
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Abstract
A novel simplified system for protecting a crawlspace against the entry of sub-soil water vapor and external ground water from the crawlspace walls and floor and for completely isolating the crawlspace from water vapor from the ground. The present system comprises applying over the floor of the crawlspace, generally a dirt floor but sometimes a poured concrete floor, a continuous durable embossed plastic drainage panel, and extending the drainage panel vertically-upwardly to cover and seal the interior peripheral foundation walls enclosing the crawlspace to an elevation at least slightly greater than the elevation of the ground in contact with the exterior surfaces of the peripheral walls and preferably to the tops of the peripheral walls. This encapsulates the dirt surface of the entire crawlspace against the penetration of external ground water or floor water and also sub-soil water and water vapor and provides a water drainage space beneath the drainage panel for the escape of water and vapor therefrom.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A water-barrier and drainage system for preventing the penetration of water vapor and ground water into the crawlspace environment of a building, said crawlspace environment having a floor surrounded by a substantially continuous peripheral foundation enclosing said crawlspace environment beneath the building, said system comprising a continuous embossed plastic drainage panel covering the entire floor of the crawlspace to provide a barrier against the penetration of groundwater and water vapor up through the floor and into the air space of the crawlspace, said plastic drainage panel being embossed to provide a plurality of spaced protuberances at the underside thereof forming legs which support the drainage panel spaced from the floor of the crawlspace to provide a water flow space adjacent the floor for the drainage of water and water vapor which penetrates up through the floor of the crawlspace or through the walls of the crawlspace.
Specification