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Rockfish, NC Crawlspace Encapsulation and Repair

Water should not be in your crawl space as even a little bit will cause problems. Unfortunately water will not go away if it is already in a crawl space. If a crawl space is not vented and there is no way for that small amount of water to evaporate, then it will sit and become a breeding ground for bacteria. This will lead to mold and the formation of mildew in your crawl space that will cause a bad odor that will eventually penetrate into the main house. Vented crawl spaces will have a constant air flow, so water should not puddle up beneath your home. Regardless if your crawl space is vented or unvented, sitting water will not be good as it can cause damage to the surrounding area and to the interior of the house. Water beneath a crawl space may indicate that there is a poor ventilation system, or it could be the vapor barrier has failed and groundwater is now seeping up through the ground. Other reasons may be that water is not properly directed away from the structure. Fixing this issue may include reinstalling new gutters or down sprouts. Once the water is down there, then it will need to be removed. Small hand pumps can be purchased from local home improvement stores to help pump smaller amounts of water out from beneath the home. Regardless of the amount of water, it will need to be removed before any type of repair can be done to the crawl space. Dehumidifiers are great for maintaining the proper humidity levels in a crawl space and will take moisture out of the air. Water will cause a greater amounts of humidity underneath your home, which could lead to the corrosion of the structure and more water related issues. Therefore these dehumidifiers will return the air to a normal amount of humidity for the crawl space. After the water has been removed, identify how the water is entering the crawl space and fix any damage that may have been caused. A new vapor barrier may need to be installed on the floors and walls of the crawl space. These precautions will help to keep water out so that the area beneath your home is dry. 

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How do I moisture proof my crawl space?

To keep moisture out of the crawl space, a vapor barrier should be installed to maintain an appropriate crawl space humidity. A vapor barrier will be installed on the floor and on to the walls of a crawl space to keep ground water and outside weather from seeping into the crawl space. To prevent groundwater from entering into your crawl space, the dirt floor area should be covered with a vapor barrier. And by installing vapor barrier on the walls, it will stop rain water or moisture from melting snow from penetrating the foundation walls. Vapor barrier will not need to be installed on the ceiling as it is not threatened by outside water. Vapor barriers are usually constructed of plastic, and sometimes aluminum, to add insulation to the foundation. Laying down a vapor barrier is one of the first steps in crawl space encapsulation. The encapsulation process will involve covering it with a vapor barrier and cutting it off from the ground and outside air which can allow humidity to enter and become trapped. This water vapor will then be covered with a mixture of high and low-density polyethylene with polyester-cord reinforcement that covers the dirt flooring and is spread and attached to the walls of the crawl space. This lining is also reinforced with an antimicrobial finish that resists the growth of mold and mildew under the liner. This liner will be sturdy enough to walk/crawl on and may be used for storage in the future. You may afterwards consider the option of  installing a high performance dehumidifier air filtration unit to maintain the humidity levels in the crawl space. This will maintain the moisture that happens to enter, and prevent it from becoming a serious problem.

This area underneath you house is where a lot of piping and air conditioning units are located in your home. The harm that can be done by not utilizing a vapor barrier and encapsulation can become very detrimental to the structure of your home. Therefore, sealing your crawl space will be a great method in protecting your home from moisture damage. 

The process of installing a vapor barrier may be done on your own and many of the materials can be found at local home improvement stores. However, allowing professionals to do the work will ensure that the job is done right and that no future issues arise from faulty installment. This process can be very tedious and time consuming, so hiring someone with experience to make sure the job is done right. By encapsulating your home, you will increase the air quality of your house. It will reduce the chance of damage to your floors. Encapsulations may also lower your energy bills significantly. It will also allow heating and cooling vents and equipment to last and function much longer. Also if you should decide to sell your house in the future, a sealed crawl space


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How do I lower the humidity in my crawl space?

Lowering humidity in a crawl space can easily be done by dehumidifiers that can be installing into your crawlspace. The dehumidification process takes water out of air and then redistributes that dry air. Maintaining the humidity will also create better air quality in the rest of the house, it can be beneficial for health, comfort, and the removal of musty odors and mold. As the dehumidifier dries and redistributes air, it will help to kill bacteria and mildew that normally thrive in damp and humid climates. The actual dehumidification process intakes air and passes it through a cooling coil that remains at a temperature below the dew point. The water particles will eventually form as condensation inside of a dehumidifier and then distribute the dry air. Dehumidifiers can be found at select stores. But you'll want to make sure that you find one that can efficiently work in your crawl space. Bigger crawl spaces may need bigger dehumidifiers, or may need the installment of two separate units. Dehumidifiers can be permanently placed in your crawl space, or they can be portable. No matter which kind you choose, consult an expert so that you get the one that's right for your crawl space.

910-672-6887