Preventing Damage to Your Home by Encapsulating the Crawlspace
Crawlspace encapsulation serves several purposes and can benefit your house in ways that you had not considered. Understanding how encapsulation works and if it is a good idea for your home is vital before undertaking the project for your property.
Understanding Encapsulation
Crawlspace encapsulation provides a vapor barrier under your home and seals out moisture, bugs, and reduces mold or structural damage to the home. Encapsulation starts with a survey of the property and an inspection of the crawlspace to determine if there are problems that need resolving before the encapsulation is begun.
If there is mold under the home, it needs to be removed, water issues need to be dealt with, and anything stored under the house needs to be cleaned out. Once all these things are fixed, the contractor can come and place the vapor barrier and start sealing the space for you.
Adding a vapor barrier to your crawlspace does not make it waterproof, so if there is water running under the home, drains must be installed to carry the water away from the house. Often a simple french drain installed around the foundation will do the job, and you can remove moisture from the crawlspace with a dehumidifier after the space is sealed.
Insulating the Crawlspace
During the crawlspace encapsulation, the contractor will put a plastic vapor barrier down on the ground, seal the vents under the home, and insulate the foundation to reduce the temperature fluctuations under the house. Insulation alone will not provide protection inside the crawlspace, but it can help reduce cold floors in your home and is an excellent addition to the crawlspace encapsulation project.
Often, temperature fluctuations can encourage moisture or condensation, so the more control over the temperature in the space you have, the less likely you are to have condensation building up under the home. When combined with moisture removal through dehumidification, the insulation can provide a valuable addition under your home.
Calculating the Cost Of Encapsulation
When considering crawlspace encapsulation, you need to know the cost to determine if it makes sense for your home. Contractors providing the service often have varying prices that are directly related to the extent of the service and what needs to be done to seal the space under your home.
Talk with several contractors in your area about your project, and home then inspect the crawlspace and generate an estimate for the job. You may find a significant difference in the cost, so it is critical to look at what is included in the estimate and what work is needed to ensure your space is sealable. If the contractor can not adequately seal the space, crawlspace encapsulation will not be effective at any price, and the contractor should tell you that upfront.
