How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost? A Useful Guide

Did you know that without encapsulation or the sealing up of your home’s crawl space you will be vulnerable to mold, mildew, and pest infestation?

There are numerous reasons to want to encapsulate the crawl space that is located underneath your home. Not only are you preventing a build-up of problems but you highly increase the overall condition of your home.

Are you wondering how much does crawl space encapsulation cost? If yes, you should check out our guide here on the typical prices.

For a crawl space encapsulation cost estimate in the greater Hampton Roads, VA / NC region, learn more about BAY Crawl Space & Foundation Repair at our Home Page, About Us Page, or Request A Quote Page.

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What is Crawl Space Encapsulation?

The crawl space of your home is the area that is located between your home’s floor and the ground.

Crawl space encapsulation is the process of sealing up this area with a variety of barriers, insulation, and dehumidifier.

Some reasons you might consider encapsulating your crawl space are if you notice a pest problem, excess mold and mildew, your floors are soft or buckling, there are cracks within your foundation, or your heating and air conditioning costs are extremely high.  You can read more about what crawl space encapsulation is here.

How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost?

Crawl space encapsulation cost calculators determine that the average cost for encapsulation is about $7,500.

The lowest cost can be $5,000 and can even go as high as $30,000. The cost depends on a variety of factors such as the size of your crawl space, the type of condition it is in, and the materials used.

For a better idea as to how much it will cost to encapsulate your crawl space you should first determine the type of condition it is in and it’s size. It is best to have some type of idea as to what repairs need to be done before you call in an expert.

Roughly, a small crawl space around 1,000 square feet costs between $5,500 and $7,500 dollars.

A medium crawl space around 2,000 square feet can vary between $10,000 and $15,000.

What You Need For Crawl Space Encapsulation

There are a few steps that need to be taken in order to properly encapsulate your crawl space. They include insulation, a vapor barrier, a dehumidifier, and sealing.

Insulation

Proper insulation of your crawl space will help prevent any air leakage, maintain air quality, and drastically reduce your HVAC costs by increasing your home’s energy efficiency.

Crawl space insulation cost depends on the type of materials you will be using.

There are a few varieties of material you can use for insulation. They are open-cell spray foam vs. closed-cell spray foam, rigid foam, and batte insulation.

Open-cell spray foam and closed-cell spray foam can cost between $1.00-3.50 per foot. We DO NOT RECOMMEND spray foam insulation of any kind in a crawl space encapsulation because it is nearly impossible to remove for future repairs if needed.

We recommend using a ‘crawl space approved’ rigid foam board to insulate the walls of the crawl space which costs about $2.50-3.00 per linear foot (24″ walls).

Batte insulation is a traditional and popular option as it costs $0.60 to $1.10 per square foot but it is flawed because it can be damaged by moisture and overtime possibly have mold.

For the best crawl space insulation cost it is best to invest in your foundation walls to prevent any moisture or air leaks and help you cut on energy costs.

Vapor Barrier and Seal

It is important to use a premium vapor barrier in the process of encapsulating your crawl space as it lines the floor to keep the space dry.

A vapor barrier helps prevent mold and mildew, rotting wood, and rusted metal as it works as a vapor diffusion retarder.

Any electrical equipment or plumbing will be protected by a vapor barrier from breaking down due to excess moisture.

The vapor barrier cost depends on how thick it is. You want to choose a thick material to help prevent any moisture and tear to the barrier.

The thickness of a polyethylene plastic sheeting is between 6 to 20 mils (1 mil = 0.001 inches). A 6 mil thick sheet is $0.05- $0.20 and a 20 mil premium vapor barrier ranges between $0.40 to $0.60 per square foot.

On top of the vapor barrier cost, you will also be required to purchase waterproofing tape to help secure the barrier which costs a minimum of $18 per roll.

Once your vapor barrier is installed you need to seal exterior vents and air leaks to help the effectiveness of the vapor barrier and insulation.

Sealing includes vent covers which cost $10-20 each and a sealed crawl space access door that costs $60-150 each.

Dehumidifier

Finally, the dehumidifier must be designed for crawl spaces which costs between $1,000-2,000 each and requires electrical power, which is usually included in an encapsulation for $300-500 each.

Other expenses include lights, permit fees, flood vents, and other potential items.

How To Reduce Crawl Space Repair Cost

Some tips to save money on the repair and encapsulation of your crawl space is to do some of the work yourself ahead of time.

But make sure you still include a professional so that problems such as mold, drainage, and pest problems are properly addressed.

Some work to do ahead of time is to clean out the crawl space yourself. Cleaning out any construction materials, old junk, or plant growth and disposing of these items yourself can save you money in labor.

When hiring an installation company, get 2-4 estimates to ensure you are not charged an excessively high fee.

Seek Professional Help for Your Crawl Space Encapsulation

Crawl space encapsulation cost is not cheap but is worth the money, effort, and time.

You will save money on your energy bills, decrease pest infestation and build-up of mold and mildew, and protect the foundation of your home for many years to come.

Contact your local Virginia crawl space and repair experts today for a free analysis and quote!  Call 757-460-0444 or reach us through our contact page today.

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