Why Crawl Space Encapsulation?

Why Crawl Space Encapsulation?

Crawl spaces with puddles on the ground or with excessive humidity above 50% is the result of inadequate moisture control.  Unless the crawl space is engineered to repel all the ways excessive moisture enters, mold infestations and critters looking for shelter will cause ill health and havoc to the inhabitants of the home.

A Crawl Space Encapsulation builds a protective envelope around the home, protecting it from the ground beneath and the world outside. Professional encapsulation stops water vapor, radon and Methane (decaying plants or dead animals) from polluting the living space. Plus, it prevents critters and insects from entering and thriving under your home.  Hero Mold Company’s method of Crawl Space Encapsulation is demonstrated successful with low humidity readings to prevent excessive moisture and all the nasty problems that come with it.

Crawl Space Encapsulation Method

• Inspect the crawl space for ground water troubles and remediate.
• Crawl Space Cleanout of all debris.
• Remove Insulation from the floor joists.
• Repair all damaged building materials- rotted wood joists cracked foundation block.
• A high-quality vapor barrier that is flexible and puncture resistant is laid to cover the ground and fashioned to run partly up the crawl space foundation.
• Special tape will seal the edges and seams of the barrier membrane to seal out water vapor and gasses from the earth.
• All Vents and holes into the crawl will be sealed.
• The foundation walls are insulated with foam boards to protect from outside heat gain or energy loss.
• Residual Humidity is removed by installing a dehumidifier.

Cross Vented Crawl Spaces Problems:

Humidity Sources in Crawl Space

The earthen floor in a Traditional Crawl Space’s is covered with a vapor barrier to hopefully control the constant water vapor that rises from the soil but it really doesn’t work as well as theorized.  The accepted practice is to place thin polyvinyl sheeting strips blanket like over the ground. These strips are supposed to slightly overlap each other and are laid to stop short of the outer walls. The rim of bare earth around the perimeter is put there just in case a water or sewerage pipe bursts the flow will have a way to ground.  However, water vapor escapes the vapor barrier readily through the overlapping seams and through the bare earth.  This water vapor contributes greatly to the humidity level in the crawl space.

Theoretically the Crawl Space vents in the summer are opened to remove humid air- nice in theory but doesn’t happen in the real world.  Humidity will only lessen in the crawl space if the humidity outside is lower- which hardly ever happens in southern climes like North Carolina.  Crawl Space vents in cold weather are closed to prevent energy loss but these spaces are often so full of holes from plumbing and cabling that it’s a wash. Plus, in addition the insulation pushed between the floor joists is in most cases inadequate, damaged or missing and really doesn’t contribute to energy savings.

Grading of the land mass surrounding the home must direct storm water away from the home but many times subsequent plantings over the years have misdirected storm flow into the home’s foundation.

Sagging Crawl Space Insulation

Fiberglass insulation is pushed between the floor joists to prevent energy loss from the home above. Sometimes this insulation has a paper backing which is unfortunate because mold is very attracted to paper and will readily grow on it.  This insulation acts like a giant sponge soaking up excessive humidity and when heavy with moisture it’s often found sagging or fallen to the ground.  Fiberglass insulation is an ideal shelter and breeding ground for mold and insects and doubly so if its moisture filled.  Crawl Space Encapsulation has proven to be the most successful treatment aimed at preventing mold, mildew, insect infestations and expand energy savings.

Warped Floors & Doors

Once the insulation between the floor joists in the crawl space falls to the ground, humidity has a clear path into the home above.  This destructive humidity will warp the homes main level wooden floor or its plywood subfloor and soon mold could bloom in the flooring bringing even more misery to the family.  Controlling the Crawl Space humidity is effort and money well spent to stop structural damage to your home.  Hero Mold Company will gladly inspect your home for humidity troubles- you need only contact us.  Information about our Rotted or Damaged wooden floor Services

Musty Smell in Crawl Space

The musty smell in your home is indicating mold or mildew is present- not necessarily in a large amount because mold is an odor that humans find easy to smell.

Mold needs 3 favorable conditions to thrive and all are found in the Traditional crawl space.

• Excessive Moisture due to plumbing leak, ground water flooding and humidity above 50%.
• Food Biological- what once lived: Wood, paper and dead plants and animals.
• Temperatures ideally between 70 and 90 degrees.

It takes as little as 24 to 48 hours, for a mold infestation to get going.  Mold growth at first is slow and then rapidly multiplies.  For example, one mold spore divides into 2 then 2 into 4 to 8, 16, 32 and pretty soon 500 to 1000 to 2000…  The growth will start slowly on the wet surface then go dormant once the surface dries without anyone noticing a problem. The next time the surface gets wets again the mold growth continues as if it never stopped but then it will begin to multiply very rapidly.  Often Homeowners will notice a musty odor during the summer coming up from the crawl space that fades when winter comes but each year it’ll get worse till it explodes into health problems for the family.

Crawl Space Encapsulation Health Benefits

Indoor air quality studies have shown that 50 to 70% of air in our homes rises from the crawl space.  Crawl space air can be swarming with mold spores, nasty odors, dangerous gases (Radon) and bacteria. Contaminated air is pulled upwards into the home eventually traveling out the attic vents.  Once the crawl space is encapsulated, a big source of polluted air is removed from the home.

Hero Mold Company will quickly answer any calls, emails, or texts. Give us an opportunity to prove we can fix the mold issues in your home at a fair budget value price.  Locations we Serve in North Carolina go here