What to Expect During the Crawl Space Encapsulation Process
The primary purpose of Crawl space encapsulation in North Texas is to control vapor (humidity/moisture) in the crawlspace. Vapor above safe limits can cause excess organic growth, like mold, and cause sever lumber damage, weakening the structural integrity of the foundation system – think of the lumber like a sponge for vapor, a food source for the organic growth. Additional benefits of encapsulation are a healthier crawlspace leading to improved indoor air quality.
The installation is relatively quick, typically less than a week and will have minimal impact on your daily activities. The professionals at Align Foundation Repair can answer any questions you may have when you contact us for your free estimate. Read on below for what to expect from crawl space encapsulation
Crawl Space Encapsulation Step-By-Step
Most crawl space encapsulation projects follow these five steps:
- Cleaning out the crawl space itself – We’ll remove clutter and debris.
- Performing repairs – This step is only needed if we find damage to structural system. An estimate of damaged lumber is provided prior to install, generally along with the proposal for the vapor barrier.
- Laying out the vapor barrier/retarder – This is the most essential step in the encapsulation process – the material is rolled across the ground and attached to the piers and foundation walls with a dual adhesion system. We lap each layer and join the seams together with a low perm acrylic tape. The pressure-sensitive tapes provide maximum adhesion for a long-lasting seal.
Align only uses vapor barriers that conform the American Concrete Institute (ACI 302.2R-06) not allowing a permanence value over 0.010 PERMS. Which allows it to be called a vapor barrier. All vapor barriers are vapor retarders, not all vapor retarders are vapor barriers. This is very important to complete a quality install.
Steps 4 and 5 are optional – WHY? A lot of times the excess vapor is primarily caused by soil moisture evaporation, if the vapor barrier alone resolves this without creating other issues, then the passive ventilation systems can be considered adequate. Drainage correction is typically recommended at a minimum with encapsulation. This reduces the need for additional mechanical systems, lowering cost and maintenance, while still providing high level of benefit.
- Sealing vents – Sealing off passive vents is done when vapor levels are still high meaning the vapor barrier and passive ventilation are not sufficient enough. This step has to be accompanied by mechanical dehumidification, ventilation, and drainage.
- Installing a heavy-duty dehumidifier and/or sump pump –This allows for complete control of the vapor levels under the home. This is the most ideal situation because we have full CONTROL of the crawlspace and is the most beneficial way of install. However, this does require additional maintenance and may not be required or necessary depending on site conditions.
We gain entry to your crawl space either through the existing access door or by tunneling under the foundation. This means you won’t have to worry about dirt and debris being tracked through your house or disruption to your daily life. The work itself typically takes no more than 2-5 days.
What You Can Expect Once the Job Is Complete
Once we’ve finished our crawl space encapsulation services, you can look forward to the following benefits:
- Cleaner, fresher air inside your home – since most of the air circulated by your HVAC system comes from your crawl space.
- Protection from moisture-related problems throughout your house – including the crawl space itself, where your floor joists are vulnerable to warping, splitting, or buckling from overly humid air.
Crawl Space Encapsulation Dallas
We’d love to tell you more about the benefits of crawl space encapsulation in Dallas. Contact us today for your free quote. We can soon help you to have a cleaner, safer, healthier place to call home.