Should I Get Crawl Space Encapsulation? | PIERMAN Foundation Repair Oklahoma

While it’s no secret that the air we breathe in our homes significantly impacts our health, it’s not always easy to control. Numerous external factors can impact the overall air quality in your home, but none are more significant than a crawl space.

 

A significant portion of the air you breathe in your home comes from your crawl space. Imagine, then, how the quality of that air will affect your lungs. What if it were moldy and infested with vermin and insects! This is where crawl space encapsulation comes into play. Continue reading to learn more about this process and how it can benefit your home.

 

What Is a Crawl Space Used For?

 

Why do homes have crawl spaces in the first place? Isn’t it just a space between the ground and first floors of your house, ranging in height from about 1 to 3 feet?

 

You can find crawl spaces in a majority of older homes, but they are only found in a small percentage of newer homes built today. The original intention for the space below these homes was to provide easy access to the underside of the house for installing or repairing certain utilities. Plumbing, electrical wiring, HVAC installation, and ducting are all examples of this.

 

Your crawl space also serves an aesthetic purpose. It’s the ideal location for concealing all the utilities mentioned above so that your home appears more appealing from the outside. While this space may easily appear pointless to many homeowners, it does serve a purpose. (Remember that the same does not hold true for crawl space ventilation! This practice is counterproductive for keeping the space below your home dry and healthy and should be reverted whenever possible.)

 

When Should Crawl Space Encapsulation Be Considered?

 

Assume you move into a new house and discover it has a crawl space. If the area is not encapsulated, you should consider this before any problems arise. When it comes to health hazards in the home, prevention is always preferable to cure.

 

However, if you’ve lived in your home for a while and it’s on the older side, you should think about encapsulation when:

 

• You have recurring mold and mildew issues in your home. 
• You have soft or separating wooden floors. 
• Your home cooling or heating costs keep rising. 
• Your insulation is wet and ineffective. 
• You have recurring condensation and dampness issues in your home. 
• You have a pest or insect problem.

 

But, before you contact a contractor, there are a few things you should think about. If you have a bulk water problem, such as standing water or water stains, you must address it before encapsulation.

 

If you have an insect problem in your home, you should contact pest control to determine the severity of the problem. If they discover you have a termite problem, they will limit how much of your crawl space you can encapsulate.

 

Back-drafting must be considered if combustion equipment is housed in your crawl space. Before you completely seal up this area, you must be certain that it is ready for it.

 

What Are the Advantages of Encapsulating Crawl Spaces?

 

When it comes to any major home improvement project, you may naturally want to know whether the cost is worth the investment. Allow the following advantages of crawl space encapsulation to speak for themselves:

 

1. Lower your heating and cooling bills

 

Adding another layer of insulation to your crawl space creates an additional barrier between your home and the elements. This additional layer will improve your home’s temperature control, reducing the energy you use for heating or cooling. Overall, this assists in regulating or even lowering your monthly bills.

 

2. Remove Mold Growth

 

There’s no denying that mold growth is unhealthy, not to mention unsightly and smelly. Mold is also quite dangerous because it lurks, grows, and spreads in places you may not know. By encapsulating your crawl space, you create a moisture-proof barrier that keeps mold at bay.

 

3. Keep the creepy crawlies at bay.

 

Insects like roaches, mice, and rats love to breed in your crawl space. It’s also a convenient point of entry into your home. You can eliminate the risk of insect infestations and rodent and vermin problems and keep your home safe and clean by sealing up your crawl space.

 

4. Increase the Value of Your Home

 

Crawl space encapsulation, like many other home improvement projects, can increase the resale value of your home. This is especially true if your home is older and you intend to sell it in the future.

 

Potential buyers like encapsulation because it eliminates the need for them to take on/fund the task themselves. This means you can ask for a higher price for your home while also providing new buyers with the peace of mind.

 

5. Improve Air Quality and Make Your Home Healthy

 

As previously stated, your crawl space/basement affects a significant portion of the air you breathe inside your home. One of the most effective ways to improve air quality and eliminate potential toxins growing and spreading in a crawl space is to seal it off. Improving indoor air quality can benefit your health, including allergy relief, improved sleep and concentration, and much more.

Heard Enough And Ready To Increase Your Quality Of Life?

 

Look no further than PIERMAN Foundation Repair to help you achieve a healthier crawl space for a healthier home. Our professional crawl space encapsulation services will clear up your moisture related issues under your home and provide you with cleaner air throughout the living spaces in your home. Give us a call today at (580) 453-0330 and ask for more information regarding our services.