Crawl Space Encapsulation
Encapsulating your crawl space is a great way to increase the value of your home, protect your indoor air quality, and keep moisture from damaging your most valuable asset. But is crawl space encapsulation the right solution for your home? It’s worth understanding some basics so you can answer that question for yourself.
The Basics
Greensboro residents will be familiar with this foundation type, as crawl spaces are especially common in the Southeast. They’re great at giving you access to plumbing, electrical, and gas lines, so you can do maintenance without costly and time-consuming excavation. But crawl spaces can have problems with moisture, and Greensboro residents are no strangers to muggy and wet weather. Unfortunately, persistent moisture in your crawl space can hurt your home and your health.
With enough moisture, mold can grow, wood can rot, and all kinds of critters can set up shop. Encapsulation keeps the air in your crawl space dry, helping to prevent these issues. It does so by using multiple layers of defense. The first is a heavy-duty moisture barrier, which protects against ground moisture rising up. The next is insulation installed along the walls, which keeps water from seeping in. And finally, a dehumidifier pulls leftover moisture out of the air. This layered defense creates an effective shield against wet conditions that would otherwise cause problems.
Is Crawl Space Encapsulation The Right Solution?
While encapsulation can be extremely effective, it isn’t the right solution in all cases. And sometimes work has to be done to get your crawl space ready. Let’s go through some examples.
- If your crawl space can’t be sealed, the dehumidifier can’t keep moisture low the way it’s supposed to. So encapsulation might not be the best option for you.
- If you find mold, rot, or pests in your crawl space, you want those issues dealt with before encapsulation starts.
- If any appliances backdraft (release fumes) into your crawl space, that should be fixed before encapsulation starts. Otherwise, these dangerous fumes could build up in the newly sealed space.
If you would like to know more about whether crawl space encapsulation is the right solution for you, get in contact with an Agent today.
we can help
Sealing Agents has been in the industry of protecting homes from water intrusion for over 25 years. We take all of the lessons we’ve learned during that time and apply them directly to your home, creating pathways for water to move safely around and out of your home.