When it comes to taking care of a home, most homeowners often neglect the importance of crawl spaces. They don’t go into the crawl spaces frequently, making it easy to overlook. However, overlooking your crawl spaces can affect your overall home, making it essential that you encapsulate your crawl space.
Crawl spaces are dark and wet and harbor biological contaminants, such as molds and pests. Left untreated, it can affect the indoor air quality of your home, potentially causing health issues.
What Is Encapsulation?
The encapsulation process isn’t as complicated as it may sound. The process of crawl space encapsulation refers to keeping your crawl spaces clean and dry. It involves sealing, insulation, and conditioning. In some cases, water encapsulation is necessary to keep water out of the area.
Here are some of the benefits of keeping your crawl space clean and dry:
- Minimize the risk of mold
- Promotes energy efficiency
- Clean storage space
- Minimize repairs
- Eliminate pests
Encapsulation can be a DIY project, but unfortunately, most people often do it in the wrong way. For that reason, seeking professional help can be a wise move.
Steps To Encapsulate Your Crawl Space
If you want to encapsulate your crawl space, follow the below steps:
Examine Your Property
First, you need to examine your property and your home’s layout. However, if you find poor indoor air quality, drainage, or any grading issues, it is wise to consult professionals to address the issue immediately.
Repair The Crawl Space
After examining the property, the next step is to repair your crawl space. Repairing includes removing or replacing any rotten wood. Also, make sure you get the band joists, floor joists, and girders.
Make sure to seek professional help from experts when you remove portions of the crawl space. Also, clear all the debris to start the actual work.
Seal The Vents
Once all the issues resolve, seal the vents and ensure there aren’t any gaps in the floors. You can use sealed doors, vent covers, or cement to seal the vent. By sealing the vents effectively, you can stop the moisture damage on your property. However, if they aren’t properly sealed, it can encourage mold and mildew growth, affecting your overall health.
Remove Current Moisture Barrier
The next step is to remove your current moisture barrier and replace it with a new one. Installing a thermal barrier to remove moisture can be your best bet. It can prevent any outdoor air from entering your crawlspace.
Dry Your Crawl Space
At this point, you are almost done with the encapsulation process. But this is not the end. You have to make your space dry to prevent further mold or pests. The best way to do it is to install a dehumidifier.
Once your crawl space is dry, you are done with the process. However, regular inspection is necessary to keep the area in optimal shape.
Encapsulate Your Crawl Space
The encapsulation process isn’t too complicated as it may sound. You just need to follow all the steps mentioned above to streamline the process.
To sum it up, make sure to seek professional help as experts have the right tools to get the job done effectively.
