Encapsulating a new Crawl Space in Surry, VA
Challenge
This homeowner in Surry, VA called us at The Drying Co./ThermalTec to have us encapsulate the crawl space of their new home, knowing that it would save them from the stress of moisture problems if they acted ahead of time. We sent out one of our expert home performance advisors to inspect their crawl space and discuss their options of encapsulation.
Upon inspection, we found that the crawl space floor was littered with debris from the construction of the home. Collecting all the litter on the ground was a flimsy 6-mil vapor barrier, a typical liner used in unsealed Virginian crawl spaces. The liner offers little-to-no protection from the moisture rising from the earth. It is easily torn and often gets bunched into a corner by service people who need to work in the crawl.
We also found that the foundation walls were made of porous cinderblocks, which allow outside air and moisture to leak into the crawl space. Open vents lined the walls as well, which are basically just giant holes in the crawl space. The idea behind the vents was that they would allow the outside air to ventilate the moisture out of the crawl, allowing it to dry, however, the moisture enters through these gaping gateways and becomes trapped under the home, increasing the relative humidity.
If the foundation walls and the open vents lining the walls are not sealed soon, the relative humidity will increase and mold and mildew will begin to form on any of the organic material found within the crawl space, such as the floor joists and girders, or the paperbacks of the fiberglass insulation. The fiberglass would also absorb any moisture in the crawl space like a sponge, and the water droplets would tear the fine fibers apart, leading to heavy and torn insulation, which would fall out of the floor joists and onto the crawl space floor, leaving the subfloor exposed.
The last thing we would want to change was the crawl space entrance itself. Wooden doors often become damaged or warped by outside conditions and weather, leading to more moisture leakage into the crawl. The door needs to be of different material and precisely measured to fit into the entrance without allowing outside influence to infiltrate.
Solution
After we evaluated the home and discussed our options with the homeowner, we proceeded to turn this dark underbelly into a usable, clean space. The first problem we addressed was the inadequate vapor barrier. Any debris and litter left behind from the construction of the home were removed from the crawl, as well as the 6-mil liner. We replaced it with a 20-mil heavy-duty CleanSpace vapor barrier, which has a 7-layer polyethylene composition, and polyester cord reinforcement, making it extremely durable. This liner was precisely cut and laid to fit the crawl space floor while being wrapped and sealed around all piers, and mechanically fastened to the foundation walls. The liner helps prevent moisture from seeping up into the crawl from the dirt floor and is made with an antimicrobial built into the material, called UltraFresh, which will keep mold and mildew from growing on the barrier itself.
Next, we cut precise foam boards to fit within the interior of the open vents, and sealed them, preventing moisture and air to freely flow through them. Then, we mechanically fastened Foamax foamboards along the foundation walls. The boards are 1½ inches thick and act as an air barrier and vapor retarder. With the foundation walls being properly sealed, the crawl space is now within the thermal boundary, and the relative humidity and environment can be controlled and monitored.
The last task was to create a proper crawl space entrance which would help in the prevention of outside influence from seeping in. We created a friction fit door, which is a custom-made crawl space door, that is designed to fit snug behind the exterior crawl space door, preventing outside air and moisture from getting any further. With the door in place and the foundation walls sealed, the entire crawl space is now encapsulated and protected from outside influence. The homeowners are better protected from the cold floor during the winter, and high relative humidity and temperatures during the warmer, wetter seasons. Their home will be more comfortable and energy-efficient because of this encapsulation.
Are you experiencing moisture issues or damage within your crawl space? Do you see an un-explainable rise in your energy bills? Or, do you simply wish to prevent serious problems from occurring within your home’s crawl space? Then give us a call at The Drying Co./ThermalTec for a free estimate! Our professional and experienced team would love to help you make your home more comfortable and save you from the stress that comes with crawl space moisture problems.
