A crawl space is a type of house foundation that is laid so that there’s an air pocket between the ground and the floor joists. The crawl space has previously had a bad reputation as condensation was often created in the air pocket which later led to moisture damage.
With today’s modern crawl spaces, you get better protection against moisture, and offer better support for the living areas above, and provide a buffer between the ground below and the house.
Modern crawl spaces need to have good protection against soil erosion, frost heave, protection against radon, good thermal insulation, and be moisture-proof.
One of the most helpful ways of sealing your crawl space is by properly installing crawl space encapsulation as this is vital to its effectiveness. In essence, this means sealing off the area and insulating the walls and floor with sheets of white plastic creating a dry crawl space.
To get a better understanding of the importance of encapsulating crawl spaces, in this post, we’ll look at what benefits it brings for your household.
Banishes Pests and Mold Growth
You simply cannot deny that unhealthy mold growth is one of the worst things that can happen to a house, and let’s not forget to mention how unsightly and smelly it is.
Mold is considered an enemy as it lurks, grows, and spreads in places that sometimes you cannot even see. Encapsulating your crawl space results in creating a moisture-proof barrier that safeguards your home from unwanted mold growth.
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Reduces Energy Costs
Although crawl space encapsulation is a pricey investment, one of the leading benefits is that it lowers heating costs for the entire household. Installing Crawl sp
Once you encapsulate your crawl space, you create an additional barrier between your home and the outdoors which makes a big difference in your cooling and heating bills. The extra layer will improve your home’s temperature control and reduce the amount of energy you consume through heating or AC usage.
Bolsters the Value of Your Home
Like most renovation projects that you start, crawl space encapsulation can show itself to be a great way of boosting your home’s resale value. If your home is somewhat older and you’re looking at the option of selling it, this can truly be something that can benefit you.
Crawl encapsulation grabs the attention of potential buyers because it means that they don’t have to undertake this task themselves. This enables you to put a higher price on your home while offering new buyers relief and peace of mind.
Improves Air Quality and Creates a Healthy Home Space
A good portion of the air we breathe inside our homes is significantly affected by our crawl space as they often hide mold, mildew, and bacteria. Sealing it off is one of the best ways to improve air quality and eradicate any potential toxins that could be lurking and spreading in that area.
Improving indoor air quality by encapsulating your crawl space should be your main priority as it can do wonders for your health, like preventing bad allergies, asthma, mold-related illnesses, providing high-quality sleep, making you more concentrated, and much more.
Improves Structural Integrity
When you have water damage in your crawl space, it can undermine your house foundation and affect your entire home as the vapor can rot the wood frames and floorings that make up the house’s structure.
Crawl space encapsulation will keep water out and also keep pests such as termites that cause severe damage to the infrastructure. Once you ensure that the soil supports the foundation dry, the encapsulation can thwart structural problems in the long run.
Extends the Longevity of Your Flooring
With wooden flooring in the house, as a homeowner, you have to do everything in your power to preserve it. These types of floors add tremendous value to your home and the last thing you want is to have a damp crawl space that can damage them.
In addition, any dampness coming from your crawl space can rot your flooring from the inside out and may require complete replacement. If you wish to solve any potential issue of moisture and extend the longevity of your floors, crawl space encapsulation is the right solution.
Final Thoughts
The last thing you want is to see your personal belongings lose sentimental and material value due to water or other types of damages to your house foundation caused by an unprotected crawl space.
When encapsulating your crawl space, you’ll also benefit as it will provide better air quality, boost the value of your home, eliminate insect infestation and reduce energy costs, which, in turn, will make you a relieved homeowner.
