CRAWSPACE ENCAPULATION
Crawl Space Sealing and Encapsulation
Our crawl space and encapsulation services help to protect your home. Encapsulating and sealing crawl spaces helps prevent moisture problems in your home. We cover your crawl space with a polyethylene to ensure it’s impervious to moisture. After our job is done, it’s important for you to control the humidity level by investing in a dehumidifier.
The Problem with an Unsealed Crawl Space
Crawl spaces have vents designed to keep the space dry, but now we know they don’t always necessarily work as designed. Vents allow variation in humidity that can actually lead to more moisture in your home!
Why Encapsulate and Seal Your Crawl Space?
Encapsulation stops water vapor from entering your home through the crawl space. Because warm air rises, the air inside your house flows from bottom to top. Normally the air then exits your home through the soffits or ridge vent. Moisture build-up can cause wood rot and mold that is dangerous to both your home and your health.
About Crawl Spaces
A traditional crawl space consists of soil or sand, sometimes with concrete or washed gravel on top.
In Michigan, the ground under your home contains moisture. If enough water vapor collects in a crawl space, it condenses and turns into water. That water then tries to evaporate into the atmosphere. This leads to mold, fungi, and wood rot in your crawl space.
Installing vapor barriers, however, constricts the water vapor’s movement. Today cross-laminated vapor barriers meet or exceed the technical standard.
Sealing Versus Encapsulation
Sealing and encapsulation are similar. Sealing covers the floor about 8 inches up the walls. Encapsulation covers the floor, walls, and ceiling, and could include adding insulation to the walls and door.
Who can benefit?
If you are experiencing any number of these issues, it’s probably time to seal your crawl space:
- Insect problems
- Mildew
- Mold
- Musty smell
- Relatively expensive cooling bill
- Soft or separating floors
- Sweaty windows
- Wet insulation
Key Benefits
- Avoids foundation issues
- Avoids health problems
- Creates an unappealing would-be living space for animals and insects who might damage your home
- Better living conditions
- Improved air quality
- Prevents fungi and mold from growing
- Greater energy efficiency
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