Crawl Space Repair & Encapsulation

The biggest culprit that leads to these issues has to do with the way your home was constructed. While it is outdated, building code traditionally has called for crawl spaces to have open vents for air drying purposes. This sounds all well and good, but in reality, it is harmful to your house and your family. 

Open vents are invitations for outside air, water, pests, and rodents to come inside and wreak havoc on your crawl space and home. Would you feel comfortable knowing these nuisances are under your loved ones’ feet?  

More than half of the air you are breathing in your house comes from the crawl space. So, whatever is in the crawl space, like mold and allergens, also is in the rest of your home and affecting you.

READ MORE ABOUT THE STACK EFFECT>

Think of your house like a chimney – air enters at the bottom, rises through the structure, and is expelled at the top. Air pressure also is a factor. Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. When there is a greater difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, the more significant this airflow becomes. (Source: Fine Homebuilding) 

While you can’t see airflow, it might help to see this in action to get a better understanding of the stack effect. The Cold Climate Housing Research Center has several YouTube videos, including ”Your Nothern Home: Stack Effect” that illustrates the stack effect. 

Here are some other problems that result from open crawl space vents and the stack effect: 

• Water intrusion
  Any kind of water in your crawl space – whether it comes from the ground, through walls, through vents, or from plumbing leaks – is a problem. Standing, leaking water invites pests and promotes mold growth, and it can weaken wood and corrode metal support systems.
   
• High Humidity
  Along with leaking water, humidity is a major issue affecting homes. Humidity above 50% contributes to mold, unpleasant odors, failing support systems and more.
  
  High relative humidity and moisture is common in crawl spaces. These conditions promote mold growth, especially on organic materials like wood and insulation. Any crawl space moisture also can enter other areas of the home through wall, ceiling and floor cracks, and contribute to mold growth there. (Source: EPA)

• Wood Rot and Sagging Floors
  You’re probably well aware of how oppressive the North Carolina humidity can be. Your home is no stranger to its effects, either. When water, moisture, and humidity are present in the crawl space, this is a recipe for structural issues. As wooden beams and other supports are exposed to water and humidity, they can easily rot and begin to sag. These systems will no longer be able to support the above floor, and the floor will develop soft, bouncy spots and begin to sag.
   
• Energy Loss
  Open crawl space vents allow hot air to enter during the summer, causing your air conditioner to work overtime to cool the rest of the house. And the same happens with cooler wintertime air that makes your furnace struggle to keep up in maintaining a comfortably warm living environment. Floors often may feel cold because of the cooler air from the crawl space underneath. Rather than wasting money on high energy bills, close the crawl space vents for better energy efficiency! 

Here are a few additional questions we hear from homeowners like you, wondering what they should do about the issues they notice with their crawl space: 

• Should you seal a crawl space? 
• Is crawl space encapsulation a good idea? 
• Does my crawl space need insulation? 
• Do I need a vapor barrier in my crawl space? 
• Should I dehumidify my crawl space? 

The answer to all of them is, you guessed it, YES! 

But before you grab your keys and head out to your local home improvement store, pause for a moment. You may be very handy, but crawl space repair projects are not meant to be knocked out by you and a friend in a weekend. We have seen what can happen with do-it-yourself work, and it’s not always pretty. Especially when it comes to real estate transactions, things like quick fixes could raise red flags and you’d have to spend more time and money to fix them. 

So, don’t waste your energy and finances on temporary quick fixes. Make sure your crawl space is fixed the right way the first time by a reliable contractor with trustworthy solutions. 

Especially after learning a little more about how dangerous and disgusting crawl spaces can be, aren’t you motivated to take charge and clear this area of unhealthy nuisances? There are so many ways that having a cleaner crawl space will benefit you and your family. Here are just a few perks: 

• Health and Quality of Life
  It’s possible that your home could be making you sick. By cleaning out and sealing the crawl space from outside nuisances, you are taking a huge step in ensuring the health and safety of your home and your loved ones. A mold-free, allergen-free, pest-free crawl space allows you and your family to breathe easier. Steps like installing a dehumidifier also will help with better air quality.
   
• Structural Integrity
  Crawl spaces with water intrusion and humidity that impacts the support system under the house are not structurally sound. When you address the water and shore up the supports with more sturdy options, your house will, in turn, be more structurally stable.
   
• Energy Efficiency
  A crawl space that is properly sealed in insulated does not require as much energy usage. Unvented crawl spaces are estimated to use 15 to 18% less energy for heating and cooling while reducing humidity by over 20% when compared to vented crawl space homes. (Source: Hunker – Code Requirements for Crawl Spaces)
   
• Functional Space
  A crawl space that is clean, dry, and properly sealed and insulated is an ideal area for storage. You’ll no longer have to worry about any of your belongings being damaged by water, mold or pests.
   
• Real Estate Value
  Your home’s appraisal value can depend on a variety of factors. However, structural integrity, water issues, and other problems such as with crawl spaces are important areas you need to be aware of. If you are selling your house, you must fill out the State of North Carolina Residential Property and Owners’ Association Disclosure Statement to the best of your ability. North Carolina law requires sellers to identify any known defects in their property before a purchase contract is signed. This sets clear expectations so there are no surprises for the buyers, and it helps protect you, the seller, from litigation. (Source: Nolo) 

This is by far the most common question we hear. And rightly so. Your home is a significant investment, and you want to make sure you’re investing in the right kinds of solutions that will work right the first time to effectively protect your home. 

To give you an idea, HomeAdvisor states the average cost of crawl space repair is $6,000, with a wide range depending on the exact problem, size, accessibility and what’s being removed. 

That being said, if you call in to ask or search our site with this question in mind, you aren’t going to get a clear idea right off the bat. We understand how frustrating it can be to not get a straight answer right away. But there is a lot to consider when talking about repair work. 

First off, it’s important for an inspector to physically visit your house and look at the crawl space. It’s not fair to you to just give a ballpark estimate without seeing what’s going on. 

The cost also depends on specifics like the square footage to determine how much material will be used, as well as the extent of any damage. 

Every home is different, and each project requires different solutions.  So, what worked for a friend or family member might not necessarily be what your home needs. 

Be sure to have an open and honest discussion with your contractor of choice regarding cost. Most companies should be able to take your budget into consideration and work with you on payment options.