Crawl Space Encapsulation
Not only do we take care of all your pest control needs at PESTSHIELD but we also do crawl space encapsulations! Crawl space encapsulations are done to eliminate wood decay fungi and excessive moisture which lead to rotting floors. The crawlspace is sealed and dehumidifiers are installed and sump pumps are also sometimes needed to remove excessive moisture. Controlling moisture is necessary to eliminate fungus and mold. Call us today for a quote.
Protect Your Most Valuable Asset
Crawl Space Encapsulation Explained
The goal of crawl space encapsulation is to create a vapor barrier that stops moisture from having access to the area under your home. With a quality encapsulation, you can turn a damp, moldly crawl space into an area that is dry, clean, and free of mold and other potential problems. In essence, it serves as an instant and long-lasting crawl space repair.
With encapsulation, thick plastic is placed on the crawlspace floor to create the desired vapor barrier.The plastic should run up the foundation walls but should not cover the ceiling of the crawl space. Otherwise, if a water line springs a leak, it could drip for a long time before the problem becomes obvious. Finding the leak’s location could be difficult as well.
Additionally, this floor, wall, and ceiling type of encapsulation makes it impossible for future termite inspection. Without a visual way to determine if termites are present, your encapsulated undercrawl could cost you down the road.
When it rains in East Tennessee, it pours. This isn’t a problem unless you have a moisture problem in your crawl space. Then you’re at risk for all sorts of problems, from mold growth to termite infestation to mice and other pests moving in.
But a high moisture level doesn’t have to push you out of your home. Crawl spaces can be given a second chance with crawl space encapsulation.
Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation
There are many reasons residents of Cleveland, Chattanooga, and other areas of East Tennessee have chosen to encapsulate their crawl spaces. A few reasons people are turning to crawlspace encapsulation include:
• Better Air Quality—According to research, as much as 40% of the air in your home passes through your crawlspace first. That means you’re breathing all the allergens, mold, moisture, and dust in your undercrawl every day. A vapor barrier instantly improves your indoor air quality, not to mention reducing any foul smell that may be coming from the soil.
• Reduced Radon Gas—Rising from the soil, radon is a serious concern that also affects the quality of indoor air of your living space. The United States Environmental Protection Agency found exposure to radon’s harmful gases to be the top cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. With a sealed crawl space, radon can’t enter your home.
• Destroyed Insect Habitat—Termites, roaches, ants, and other pests need water for an attractive living environment. With a vapor barrier installment, you cut off moisture from the soil. This makes your home inhospitable to insects, reducing your need for pest control.
• Moisture Damage Prevention—Every part of your undercrawl benefits from a dry, clean area. From floor joists to band joists to foundation piers, your undercrawl does best without moisture.
• Lowered Energy Bills—Look in your undercrawl and you may find damaged air ducts. This allows the passage of air from your undercrawl into your home through the air ducts. This can result in a foul smell and cause your air conditioning and heater to work overtime. A moist crawl space with high relative humidity raises heating and cooling costs. An encapsulation project can change that, setting you up for increased energy efficiency.
Considering Crawl Space Encapsulation?
If you’re ready to encapsulate your crawl space, contact us today to get started!
Located in Cleveland, Tennessee, we service the areas in and surrounding Bradley County, Hamilton County, and Knox County, and we’re ready to help improve your home’s value and your good health with crawl space encapsulation.
Crawlspace Encapsulation Services
If you’re ready to make your crawl space clean and healthy, Pest Shield’s crawlspace encapsulation may be just what you need.
The first step our experts take is to evaluate your crawl space to determine an appropriate plan to meet your home’s needs and your budget.
If your undercrawl access door is damaged, this is fixed immediately. Otherwise, your damaged door allows water to enter freely, along with cats and other critters that could damage the plastic vapor barrier installed during your encapsulation.
If your undercrawl has moisture accumulation or standing water, we determine how the water is entering. We then find a way to stop water from entering again, which protects against future moisture damage. If necessary, a sump pump is installed to keep the water out of the crawlspace in the future.
Damaged crawl space insulation is removed, and ripped and torn HVAC duct work is sealed and if necessary, replaced.
Mold remediation is performed to rid your undercrawl of any mold due to moisture issues.
Thick plastic (9mm or 15mm—whichever fits your needs and budget) is spread across the crawlspace ground and made into a single unit with quality seaming tape. The plastic is run up the crawlspace walls and secured within 2″ of your home’s sill plate. Crawl space vents are closed and sealed to make it easier to manage your crawl space humidity levels.
A crawl space dehumidifier is then installed to further improve crawl space humidity levels and prevent any poor quality air from entering your home.