Moisture Barrier
The Best Long-Term Solution For Your Crawl Space Is A Crawl Space Encapsulation/Vapor Barrier
This solution addresses all areas of concern related to humidity and moisture in the crawl space. An encapsulation essentially means your crawl space is sealed from the ground, walls, outside air, and water intrusion. Encapsulating the crawl space rose in popularity during the early 2000s. Several studies that indicated residential homes experienced significant benefits with encapsulation sparked the rapid growth in the industry.
Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Requirements
Most state building codes in the Southeast require that the crawl space has a vapor barrier. In North Carolina and Tennessee, the minimum thickness is 6 mils. This standard 6 mil, although not the longest-term option available, is great for any crawl space, especially if the home is going to be listed for sale. These two states also require that the vapor barrier is installed to run up the walls, completely covering any open dirt areas of the crawl space floor. County building codes sometimes add on to the existing state code by requiring that all the vapor barrier seams be taped. This means that wherever the barrier overlaps, it must be sealed, usually by a commercial-grade 4-inch waterproof tape.
Our Encapsulation Process
First, we completely cover the ground with the 12-15-mil polyethylene vapor barrier that is made here in the USA. Then, we run it 6 inches up the wall and fasten it in place. Next, we run it 6 inches up the piers and seal it around them. Last, we will seal the foundation vents and install a dehumidification system. This is a full encapsulation. It lasts for the life of the home and maximizes the efficiency of your home. Clemmons Crawlspace has seen customers with utilities saving as high as 30-40% post encapsulation. Call us today to learn more!
Benefits of a Sealed Crawl Space
There are many benefits of sealing your crawl space by encapsulating, here are a few of them:
- Ensures clean air inside the living space of your home. Most homeowners do not realize that up to half the air they are breathing inside the home comes from the crawl space. Air comes up through the seal plate along all perimeter walls, leaks into the ductwork and the HVAC unit, as well as permeates through any openings in the sub-floor. With an encapsulated crawl space, this air will always be clean when it comes into the living space.
- Allows for control of the humidity level in the crawl space. Because mold cannot grow at or below 55% relative humidity in the air, this is essential to long term mold and fungal growth prevention.
- Maintains the structural integrity of the home’s foundation by keeping the wooden structural support beams and floor joist dry, which ensures their long-term strength.
- Provides better insulation value to the home. By having healthy, dry insulation in the crawl space and/or by spray foaming the crawl space wall as part of the encapsulation, the thermal exchange into the living space of the home is reduced, equating to a more efficient home. Saves money on heating and cooling. It’s always easier to heat and cool dry air as opposed to moist air. By your HVAC and heat units not working as hard, there is usually a decrease in overall energy cost.
- Helps reduce insect intrusion. Bugs navigate to dark, damp areas. When your crawl space is clean and dry, it can reduce the number of pests coming into your home.
- Increased storage area for your home. If the crawl space is 3 feet or higher, encapsulating can create a nice and clean secondary storage area.