Crawl Space Encapsulation & Crawl Space Repair

Have you noticed any problems with your crawl space? You may have noticed sagging or wet floors in your home, sticking windows and doors, the smell of mold or another unpleasant odor, or many other possibilities. If you’ve noticed any of these problems, there may be something wrong with your crawlspace.

It’s time to have your crawl space inspected and repaired. Depending on the problem, it may be best to have your entire crawl space encapsulated. 

What is crawl space encapsulation?

Crawl space encapsulation is when your crawl space is sealed off from all outside elements. Basically, your crawl space will be lined with some kind of plastic liner or vapor barrier, and this liner will keep all moisture, insects, rodents, water, and anything else out of your crawl space. 

If there is moisture in your crawl space (never a good sign), the best and most permanent way to get rid of this moisture is by sealing the space. This is called encapsulation. Encapsulating a crawl space can be done by crawl space professionals or some foundation repair companies. 

Some homeowners wonder whether they really need to encapsulate their crawl space to get rid of the moisture. The answer to this is that it depends on your situation, but your crawl space will always be better off if it is encapsulated. Some homeowners try simply placing a dehumidifier in their crawl space and hope for the best, but while this may take care of the current moisture in the air and get rid of moisture as it becomes present, it doesn’t take care of the root of the problem. Chances are that if moisture is getting into your crawl space, there’s a leak or crack somewhere letting that moisture in. Crawl space encapsulation will get rid of this leak or crack and protect your crawl space from any current and future moisture. Instead of simply getting rid of moisture as it appears like a dehumidifier, crawl space encapsulation actually prevents moisture from getting into your crawl space in the first place. Most crawl space encapsulations include installing a dehumidifier as well as sealing the space, and this method is much better than only having a dehumidifier. 

Signs that your crawl space needs to be encapsulated:

Even if you have had your crawl space encapsulated before, it may need to be encapsulated again. The exhaust fan may go out and could be out for a while before you notice it. This will lead to more moisture entering the crawl space and creating another problem. 

There are many signs that your crawl space may need to be encapsulated. Your home may not have all of these signs (or you simply may not notice them), but you should be aware of the potential signs of a damaged crawl space so that you can take action when necessary. Also, your home may not display any of these signs, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t in need of some work. 

If you think your crawl space may need to be repaired or you notice any of the signs of a damaged crawl space, give Healthy Crawl Space a call. 

If your crawl space needs to be encapsulated, your home may have the following signs:

• Wet, sagging, or uneven floors
• Moldy odor throughout your home
• Wet or moist crawl space or foundation
• Windows or doors that stick or won’t shut easily
• Bugs or rodents living in your crawl space
• Your crawl space floods more than usual
• Your heating or cooling costs are higher than normal

If your home’s floors are wet, sagging, or uneven, your crawl space may be damaged. When moisture gathers underneath your home, that moisture is then able to move upward through the floors. This can make the floors themselves saggy, wet, and uneven. 

When this moisture comes into your home, mold is then able to grow. Everyone knows that breathing in mold spores is detrimental to your health and to the health of your family members. One reason mold may be growing in your home is because of a leaky crawl space in need of encapsulation. Your crawl space needs to be sealed tightly to prevent moisture and mold from entering your living space. If you find mold in your home or in your crawl space, it needs to be removed right away to avoid causing future health problems for your family members. 

Another sign that your crawl space needs to be encapsulated is that the windows and doors in your home are difficult to close or often stick to their frames. Again, if there is moisture in the air, many problems will come from it. One of those problems is sticking door or window frames. Another reason your frames may get stuck is due to damaged supports in your crawl space, which isn’t fixed with encapsulation, but with crawl space piers. 

If your home is flooding, you should definitely pay attention. One reason that many homes in the south flood is because of cracks in the crawl space walls. One way to stop the leaks in your crawl space is by encapsulating the area. Water will no longer be able to get inside and your flooding problem will stop. 

High heating and cooling costs are another sign of a crawl space in need of encapsulation. This goes back to the moisture in your home once again. When moisture is present beneath your home, your HVAC system isn’t able to keep up and may not be able to keep the temperature throughout your house at a decent level. This results in fluctuating temperatures and high costs. 

If you’ve noticed any of these problems in your home, call Healthy Crawl Space and schedule an inspection. We would love to take a look and help repair your crawl space however we can. 

The benefits of encapsulating your crawl space:

The benefits of encapsulating your crawl space go along with the signs that your crawl space needs to be repaired. These benefits include:

• Pest prevention
• Reduces mold
• Less moisture and humidity
• Less chance of flooding
• Improves the health of your home and increases its value
• Protects the interior structure of your home

How much will crawl space encapsulation cost?

There are several factors that go into determining how much it will cost to encapsulate a crawl space. Some of these factors include:

• The size of your crawl space
• How complicated the project and layout is 
• Materials used
• Who you hire
• What kind of system you install

One of the main factors that determine price is how complicated your encapsulation system is. There are different kinds of encapsulation systems, and you’ll need to figure out which one will be best for your crawl space before proceeding with the encapsulation. Some encapsulation systems are simply a thin layer of plastic liner, while more complex versions can have multiple layers of a thick vapor barrier, a dehumidifier, sump pump, or even drainage trenches. The more features you install, the higher the price will be. 

Deciding what features to install and what kind of materials to use will be determined by a crawl space professional. If your crawl space gathers a lot of moisture and has a lot of problems, obviously a more complicated system will be better than a simple one. On the other hand, if your crawl space is just starting to have problems and not much moisture has seeped through, you can likely stop the issue before it gets worse with a simpler system that will be cheaper to install.

Chances are that you’ll end up paying a few thousand dollars for a crawl space encapsulation, but this number will vary depending on the factors listed above. 

You can call any crawl space professional for a price estimate and an inspection. 

Can you encapsulate a crawl space yourself?

While you can encapsulate a crawl space yourself, it is always best to leave encapsulation to the professionals to avoid mistakes and ensure that your crawl space really is fixed and won’t have problems in the future. 

If you do decide to encapsulate a crawl space yourself, the biggest thing to worry about is making sure to completely seal your crawl space in order for the encapsulation to be successful. If there are any leaks or you miss any places, then the encapsulation won’t work and you may have the same problems as before. 

Who can fix your crawlspace?

You should always call a crawl space specialist and have your home inspected before deciding whether or not to encapsulate your crawl space and which system should be used.  

The worse the problem is, the sooner it needs to be fixed. While any problems should be fixed before they get worse, it’s especially important to quickly encapsulate your crawl space if the problem has progressed at a rapid pace or if there is a lot of moisture or damage present.

Healthy Crawl Space specializes in all things pertaining to your home’s crawl space. We love what we do, and we want to make your life easier by fixing your crawl space quickly and efficiently. Give us a call today to schedule an inspection and get a free quote.