Crawl Space Encapsulation

What crawl space encapsulation is

Encapsulation is a sealed-crawl-space approach used throughout the Carolinas. A heavy, durable barrier covers the exposed ground and runs up the foundation walls so soil moisture can't rise into the space. The vents and gaps that let humid outside air in are sealed, and the remaining air is dried so the space is easier to keep dry through the seasons.

The result is a crawl space that looks and feels more like part of the house than a dirt cave — cleaner, drier, easier to inspect, and far less friendly to mold and pests.

What's involved

We start with a free inspection and deal with any active water first — a barrier over standing water just hides the problem. Where needed, that means adding drainage before sealing. From there a typical encapsulation includes:

• Clearing out the space and removing damaged material
• Installing the ground-and-wall moisture barrier — see crawl space vapor barrier
• Sealing vents and air gaps to keep humid outside air out
• Drying the air with dehumidification
• Cleaning up existing mold and the moisture behind it