Crawl Space Sealing and Encapsulation, Crawlspace Encapsulation

Crawl Space Sealing & Encapsulation

Crawl space encapsulation is a system where a vapor barrier is laid out for 100% floor coverage, a moisture barrier is sealed to the walls, crawl space vents are sealed, and the air is conditioned with a crawl space dehumidifier. Encapsulation systems in the crawl space are designed to manage humidity. High relative humidity in many crawl spaces creates a hazardous environment for the wooden structure supporting your floors. This humidity is managed by sealing out moisture with a crawl space encapsulation system and drying with a dehumidifier. Sealing a crawlspace with encapsulation methods is the only proven and guaranteed way of managing moisture effectively on a long-term basis.

Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation

1. Prevent Further Moisture Damage
2. Control Mold & Fungal Growth
3. Save Energy (15-20% Savings)
4. Improve Indoor Air Quality
5. Add Value to the Home
6. Dry out Floor Framing
7. Helps with Insects
8. Low Maintenance
9. Warmer Floors
10. Peace of Mind

100% COVERAGE WITH PRO LINER

For a properly installed crawl space encapsulation, the floors should be covered 100% and all piers should be wrapped with a professional quality liner. We use both 12-mil and 20-mil liners made with 100% virgin resin, polyester cord reinforced, treated with antimicrobials, all American made.

All debris should be removed from the crawl space and the ground should be made as level as possible. The liner must be installed with precision techniques to fit around all obstacles and over-lapped. All penetrations including piers, pipes, wires, and seams in the plastic should be taped with a high quality waterproofing tape.

The preparation of the space and the craftmanship of all aspects of the install should be as precise as possible!

RIGID FOAM BOARD INSULATION

The walls of our sealed crawl spaces are insulated and the moisture is blocked with a rigid foam board insulation. Our special foam board insulation has a radiant barrier designed to contain thermal heat, is infused with wax for a superior fire rating, has termiticide as an added defense against termites, and is graphite infused for the highest R-value.

We do not encourage the use of spray foam insulation as it cannot be applied evenly to the crawl space foundation walls, it is aesthetically unappealing, and does not give a good surface for the encapsulation floor liner to attach to.

You can save big $$$ on your energy bills. Rigid foam insulation board helps greatly with energy efficiencies!

CRAWL SPACE DEHUMIDIFIERS

Dehumidifiers are the heart of any great encapsulation system. They dry the air as well as the floor framing which prevents the weakening of wood. The dehumidifier also cleans and purifies the air. It also stops further mold growth and makes existing mold and fungus go dormant.

Each professionally rated dehumidification unit should match the size of your home with the unit’s capacity. The choice of brand, placement, orientation, sizing, and installation are critical to the success of the system.

Household dehumidifiers are not suited for crawl spaces. The components are not made to operate at full capacity outside of the home. A suitable unit should be rated at 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 60% RH. At Bay Crawlspace Solutions, we only use Santa Fe Dehumidifiers.

VENT COVERS AND ACCESS DOORS

Foundation vent covers and special access doors for the crawl space are very important. They serve to minimize air loss as well as keep pests and insects from having an easy way to access the crawl space. The goal is to keep as much air out of the space from outside and contain the air inside the crawl space for it to be properly conditioned.

Many amatuer and low-quality crawl space sealing projects will use a thin piece of foam to attempt to seal the vents. This approach is not suitable for sealing a crawl space.

A professionally sealed crawl space access door should not contain large air gaps. If you can see light from outside while the door is shut, it is not suitable for sealing a crawl space encapsulation.

Crawl Space Encapsulation