Construction & Contractors Blog
The crawl space of your home might be a frightening space filled with bugs and dampness. You may dread it every time you have to go in there. One reason your crawl space may be a horror is because it gets wet from condensation or from water draining in when it rains. A wet crawl space can be a haven for insects and spiders, mold can cover the walls and insulation can be ruined. However, crawl space encapsulation may put an end to these problems. Below is how to encapsulate your crawl space.
Clean Up the Space First
The crawl space has to be cleaned up and dried out before it can be encapsulated. This could involve removing soggy fiberglass batt insulation, scrubbing mold from the walls, and pumping out water. If mold and asbestos are present in your crawl space, then this work should be left to professionals. Part of the cleanup process includes stopping the water problem if possible. If the space gets wet every time it rains, then you may need to install a drain to keep water out or change your landscape so water drains away from the house.
Seal the Vents and Air Leaks
Older homes were often built with dirt floors in the crawl space and vents in the walls to allow condensation to escape. This method tended to cause more problems than it solved since humid air comes in the vents from the outside and makes condensation worse. When combined with water that seeps up through bare soil, the result is a crawl space that is frequently damp even though water doesn't drain into it from rain. Sealing the vents is part of the process of encapsulation, which keeps air out of the space.
Encapsulate with Plastic and Insulation
The final step in drying out your crawl space and keeping it dry is to encapsulate it. This involves using a thick plastic barrier to cover the floor and walls so water and moisture can't seep in. In addition, insulation is usually added for an additional barrier against condensation and moisture. Insulation might be in the form of spray foam or rigid board insulation. When the encapsulation is complete, the crawl space is sealed off from the outside and stays dry. Because it's sealed, it's necessary to treat the air. A common way to do this is to have a dehumidifier installed that pulls moisture to the outside of the crawlspace.
Encapsulating your crawl space makes the area underneath your home dry enough to use for storage so it is no longer wasted space. Not only that, you'll eliminate musty dampness that contributes to mold and insects. As a result, you should notice an improvement in the air quality of your home.
Share8 October 2018
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
