Your crawl space is a key area of your home since it gives the house extra support and helps ventilate air around it. Depending on its size, you may use it as a storage area, a place to house your HVAC systems and piping, or both. No matter what you use it for, experts advise ensuring the site is free of moisture. Keep reading to learn more about crawl space encapsulation and vapor barriers and decide which suits your home.
What Is Crawl Space Encapsulation?
Crawl space encapsulation uses a vapor barrier to keep moisture out of this area of your home. Experts install plastic sheets around the crawl space to seal off all possible openings. If you have a lot of water in your crawl space, this is the best option. Crawl space encapsulation blocks moisture, preventing mold and fungi growth.
During crawl space encapsulation, a team of professionals will cover the whole area in a vapor barrier, which seals the location. You can combine this method with insulation to ensure your home remains completely protected.
Reasons for Crawl Space Encapsulation
Crawl space encapsulation is an excellent solution if you have a lot of moisture in the crawl space, as it puts an end to condensation and other forms of water. Additionally, completing tasks like this increases the value of your home and makes it more appealing to potential buyers. Crawl space encapsulation assures buyers that they won’t have to worry about the water damage caused by vapors within the property.
After all, moisture in the crawl space of the home could lead to:
- Wood rot
- Soft floors
- Rusty pipes or ductwork
- Foundation cracks
These problems are expensive to repair, and some can become the cause of other issues. For instance, a crack in your foundation can lead to settling, which causes roof sloping, uneven doors, and stuck windows, among other issues. Repairing these problems can get expensive, but neglecting them can lower the value of your home and lead the problems to snowball into something worse. Think of your home like a house of cards; if you pull one from the bottom, the other cards could fall too. Problems with your foundation or crawl space affect all areas of your home.
Pros of Crawl Space Encapsulation
Why should you choose crawl space encapsulation? This method can help increase the value of your home, save energy, decrease cooling costs, reduce the risk of mold, and more. In addition, since encapsulation helps to seal off the crawl space, it also decreases the risk of rodents and insects sneaking their way into your home.
Call The Crack Guys
Call The Crack Guys for crawl space and foundation encapsulation! Combined, we have nearly 30 years of experience and only use the best tools and technology to make repairs. Contact us for a free estimate on your restoration to keep your home in great condition.
What Is a Vapor Barrier?
While the waterproofing process often uses a vapor barrier material for encapsulation, you can solely install this to keep moisture out of your crawl space. A vapor barrier is a plastic cover that goes around the perimeter of the affected area—in this case, the crawl space—to let less water in. In other words, it’s a barrier against those unwanted vapors.
Reasons To Install a Vapor Barrier
Home and commercial property owners install vapor barriers because they keep a space dry. This is especially important in humid areas like the southern United States, as that humidity can seep into the home and create a moist environment in your crawl space.
One Problem With Vapor Barriers
Encapsulation completely seals off the basement or crawl area, but the same isn’t true if you solely install vapor barriers. Moisture can still sneak in, albeit at a slower rate. Additionally, a vapor barrier alone will not stop humidity from entering the home through vents as air circulates throughout the house.
Which Is Best?
So which option is best, crawl space encapsulation or vapor barriers? Professionals like The Crack Guys gravitate toward encapsulation with vapor barrier material since we believe it’s best to use a combination of both repair methods.
Furthermore, the complete encapsulation process will lower your energy bill and eliminate moisture. Simply put, encapsulation does a great job of protecting your home and belongings. Additionally, encapsulation completely solves the problem, so you don’t have to worry about a repeat incident in the future.
How Does It Cut Energy Bills?
Improving air circulation throughout your home makes it easier to keep the property at a stable temperature during winter and summer. After crawl space encapsulation, you won’t have to crank the AC in summer to stay cool, nor do you have to blast the heat in winter. And keeping those temperatures at an appropriate range means lower bills.
Reasons To Waterproof Your Crawl Space
Encapsulation and installing water vapor barriers are two of the various types of crawl space waterproofing. As water collects in this part of your home, it can create a humid atmosphere, even more so if you live in a warm area. As the space becomes more humid, the chances increase of mold, mildew, and fungi growing. Some pests may also want to call this place home because it’s their definition of an ideal environment.
Air circulates throughout your home. This means if there’s mold in your crawl space, the allergens could ventilate throughout the rest of your house. This can agitate your immune system, especially if you have allergies or asthma.
Waterproofing prevents this, but only if you do it the right way. A dehumidifier can cut down on the moisture in an area, but it won’t get to the root of the issue. You need to know why you have water in this part of the house and use various methods to stop it.
Always Call an Expert
The Crack Guys combine vapor barriers with encapsulation—and if you have mold, we can remove that as well. It’s always best to leave waterproofing to the experts because they have the necessary skills to fix the issue and prevent a repeat incident. Contact our team today to encapsulate your crawl space and keep your home in pristine condition.
