If you have a crawl space below your home, you may have heard of a service known as crawl space encapsulation. However, if this service is new to you, it isn’t easy to understand whether or not it is worth the investment.
To make that decision, you must first understand what crawl space encapsulation is and its main benefits. After learning that, you can compare those advantages to the average price you can expect to spend when having your crawl space encapsulated.
The goal of this article is to guide you through that decision-making process. Read on to learn the basics of crawl space encapsulation and determine whether it is the right decision for your home and budget.
What is Crawl Space Encapsulation?
In simple terms, crawl space encapsulation involves creating a complete seal between your crawl space and the outdoors. When a crawl space is not encapsulated, it has exposure to the outside air and the elements. It may also be easy for animals, insects, and water to enter the crawl space. Encapsulation sets a complete barrier between the interior portion of your crawl space and anything that might try to get in. Ultimately, the barrier that encapsulation creates leads to many benefits that we’ll describe later in this article.
How Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Work?
Now that you understand crawl space encapsulation, let’s look at what this service involves. Encapsulating a crawl space is an in-depth process that involves several steps, including the ones in the list below:
- Removal of any standing water: If standing water is in your crawl space, the first step in the encapsulation process will be to remove it.
- Structural repairs: After removing standing water, the next step is to repair any structural elements that have experienced damage due to rot, mold, excessive moisture, or any other source.
- Vapor barrier installation: The main step in encapsulation involves covering your crawl space floor and walls with a vapor barrier. This barrier will lock moisture and pests out of your crawl space to ensure they never present a problem for your home again.
- Dehumidification: A wise final step in the encapsulation process is to set up a dehumidification system. This system will allow you to monitor and set an ideal relative humidity level in the crawl space.
Following those steps leads to a fully encapsulated crawl space that will likely remain free from moisture-related issues for a long time. As you’ll see in the next section, plenty of other benefits come from encapsulation as well.
Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation
- Complete moisture control: Excessive moisture is one of the most common problems with crawl spaces. High humidity and standing water lead to structural damage, poor air quality, and many other issues. Encapsulation is the best way to keep your crawl space dry and free from those common issues.
- Pest infestation prevention: Encapsulation won’t just keep water out. It will also keep out most animals and insects that threaten to infest your home.
- Reduced mold and mildew: Since encapsulation helps control moisture, it also discourages the growth of mold and mildew, both of which are harmful to your health, especially if you have asthma.
- Improved air quality: By reducing mold, mildew, and excessive air moisture, encapsulation contributes to better air quality, making your home a healthier living environment.
- Greater energy efficiency: Crawl spaces that are not encapsulated are vulnerable to the extreme temperature changes that can occur outdoors. Crawl spaces that have undergone encapsulation are less affected by these changes, which places less stress on your heating and cooling systems, ultimately leading to lower energy costs for your home.
- Preservation of structural integrity: When the structural features of your foundation are exposed to the elements, they degrade more quickly. Encapsulation will help your foundation remain intact and last longer without needing repairs.
- Increased storage space: After encapsulating your crawl space, you can use the area to store things like tools and holiday decorations without worrying about water damage.
How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost?
The average cost of crawl space encapsulation in the United States in 2024 is around $15,000. However, that cost can vary based on several factors, including the size of your crawl space and how many repairs your foundation requires before the encapsulation process begins.
Want to Learn More About Crawl Space Encapsulation?
Given the cost of crawl space encapsulation, many quickly assume this service is not worth it. However, the many benefits described in this article reveal that the long-term benefits of crawl space encapsulation are well worth the initial cost.
Still, encapsulating your crawl space is a big decision. As such, it helps to have some guidance from a professional with experience encapsulating crawl spaces. At Regional Foundation & Crawl Space Repair, we are experts in all matters related to crawl spaces. We serve commercial and residential customers throughout Eastern North Carolina with crawl space encapsulation and much more. To learn more, visit our website to schedule a free estimate today!
