what is crawlspace encapsulation?

Did you know twenty-percent of all homes in the U.S. have crawl spaces. Crawl spaces play many vital roles in a home, housing the building structure, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, gas lines, and irrigation system of your home.

Most homes with open vented crawl spaces tend to suffer from moisture-related issues, such as mold and fungal growth. These issues can compromise the structural integrity and health of the home. Moisture can lead to expensive crawl space repairs and attract termites.

To avoid these issues, experts recommend a professional grade ‘crawl space encapsulation’.

But what exactly is crawl space encapsulation? What makes this home upgrade worth the cost? More importantly, how do you go about an effective crawl space encapsulation?

If you’re asking yourself these questions, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we tell you all you need to know about crawl space encapsulation.

WHAT IS CRAWL SPACE ENCAPSULATION?

Crawl space encapsulation refers to the addition of a heavy-duty moisture barrier to the dirt floor or gravel floor of your crawl space, sealed foundation vents, insulated walls, and dehumidifier(s). Crawl space encapsulation is most effective when you seal the space completely. As soon as you’ve encapsulated the space, you can use a dehumidifier to help regulate the moisture levels in the area.

HOW DOES CRAWL SPACE ENCAPSULATION DIFFER FROM INSULATION?

Many homeowners confuse between crawl space encapsulation and crawl space insulation. But the two serve very different functions. Crawl space encapsulation works great when you’re dealing with such issues as ground moisture and humid air. On the other hand, crawl space insulation is ideal only to help with cold floors.

DON’T USE FIBERGLASS BETWEEN FLOOR JOISTS

Unless you’ve chosen NOT to seal and dehumidify or conditioned your crawl space, you shouldn’t use fiberglass.

Actually, it may be a good idea to avoid using fiberglass at all. The material performs poorly when it comes to crawl space insulation. When the material is installed in an unconditioned, vented space, the results are minimal.

Why?

Because the material soaks moisture, losing its R-value in the process. That makes it useless as an encapsulation material. Fiberglass also sags due to the weight of the water, opening holes in the encapsulation blanket.

Even worse, fiberglass batches are typically held together using a urea-based adhesive. When fiberglass, adhesive, and moisture combine, they create a haven for mold

AVOIDS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE

Moisture in your crawl space will only lead to structural damage over time. The vapor within the crawl space can rot your home’s wooden frames and flooring. Encapsulating the crawl space keeps away moisture. In addition, encapsulation helps keep dangerous pests like termites out. These pests can cause untold structural damage to your home.

Taking on a mold remediation project, asbestos abatement, crawlspace encapsulation, and or removal of lead based paint (to name a few) can cause more harm than good when done incorrectly or may result in fines by the DEP. 

Let us do what we do best by keeping you and your family safe from potential harm. We have years of specialized experience dealing with mold, remediation, abatement, wet basements, damp crawlspaces, and asbestos as well as proper handling and disposing of hazardous materials. Our crews maintain a high level of safety for both themselves, your family, and the environment.