Systèmes Sous-sol Québec: Serving Quebec's Heritage
The “Salle de L’Institut Canadien” (SIC), located at 16 Rue Saint-Pierre in Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, is a heritage building of great importance to the local community. Primarily used for municipal council meetings, this hall can accommodate around 120 people. However, this historic building faced a major structural concern: Its floors had become soft and uneven, jeopardizing the safety of its users.
Inspection by Systèmes Sous-sol Québec
Concerned about the sagging floors, the responsible parties sought the expertise of Systèmes Sous-sol Québec to assess the situation and propose a lasting solution. Our specialist, Daniel, inspected the hall and the crawl space below.
Signs of sagging were visible in several areas of the hall, where the floor was sloping, even creating gaps between the floor and the interior walls. Upon examining the crawl space, Daniel discovered a troubling environment: The high humidity had severely damaged the wooden beams and joists, rendering them incapable of adequately supporting the weight above. Daniel explained that excessive moisture, often present in unsealed crawl spaces, can lead to wood rot, weakening the structure and causing the floor to sag.
A Customized Solution to Protect the Heritage Building
To address this issue, Daniel recommended a two-part solution designed to permanently stabilize and protect this historic building. First, we proposed the installation of our SmartJack system to reinforce and stabilize the floor joists. Second, to control moisture in the crawl space, we suggested the complete encapsulation of the space with the CleanSpace system.
Renovation Work: SmartJack and CleanSpace
The renovation work began with cleaning the crawl space, where our team removed debris to prepare the area. Next, we installed 18 SmartJack supports throughout the crawl space. These supports, placed on an aluminum base and attached to the existing beams, immediately lifted and stabilized the sagging floors. Made of galvanized steel, these supports are resistant to corrosion and can be adjusted to reach the desired height, offering a flexible and durable solution.
Following this, we proceeded to encapsulate the crawl space with the CleanSpace system, a revolutionary solution for managing moisture. The system consists of two membranes: the CleanSpace drainage mat and the CleanSpace liner. The drainage mat creates a drainage space while providing a thermal cushion between the liner and the ground, making the area comfortable to walk on. The liner, on the other hand, is a thick, durable membrane designed to prevent water vapor from entering the air. Additionally, it is treated with an antimicrobial additive to prevent mold growth.
Thanks to these interventions, Systèmes Sous-sol Québec was able to restore the stability and safety of this heritage building, allowing the community of Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu to continue using the Salle de L’Institut Canadien with peace of mind.
