Steps to Install a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier

Crawl space humidity enters through the crawl space vents during the summertime. And in the winter, crawl space vents allow frigid air into the space. Combined, these two forces mean a continuous drain on your utility bills as well as a rotting, decaying crawl space under your home. Additionally, vented crawl spaces will create an access point for insects, animals, and all types of pests, inviting infestations in your home.

All of these problems can be helped by simply installing a crawl space vapor barrier, airtight crawl space vent covers and doors, and a crawl space dehumidifier in the space.

The installation usually takes less than a day, and the vapor barrier itself comes with a 25-year warranty. Read on to see the steps we take to install a crawl space encapsulation system, or click here to sign up for a Free Estimate and inspection on a crawl space moisture barrier system in your Colorado & New Mexico home!

Step 1: Install Airtight Crawl Space Doors and Vent Covers

Sealing off crawl space vents stops the vicious cycle of moisture and cold constantly entering your crawl space and then moving upwards into your home year-round. Covering the crawl space vents and doors with an airtight seal will make the home more energy efficient. However, even with a crawl space vapor barrier installed, moisture will still enter through the crawl space walls and floors, and much of it can be trapped there.

Old-fashioned crawl space doors are not likely to be airtight. It's very important to seal the crawl space door with a newer airtight one when you seal the vents to ensure that the crawl space is completely protected from outside influences.

Step 2: Remove any Standing Water in the Crawl Space and Stop all Flooding

If your crawl space is experiencing crawl space flooding, that problem must be addressed before anything else is done. Installing a crawl space sump pump with a drainage swale that leads all water towards it is a great way to deal with groundwater flooding in a crawl space.

Plumbing failures can also leak water in the crawl space. Because homeowners will not generally enter their crawl spaces on a regular basis, crawl space plumbing leaks have been known to go unnoticed for days, months, even years!

You won't want water flooding up your encapsulated crawl space like a swimming pool, so be sure to fix all leaks before the crawl space repair.

Step 3: Encapsulate the Crawl Space

If you're interested in preventing moisture from seeping upwards from the crawl space walls and floors, it's best to install a rugged, tear-resistant plastic vapor barrier on the crawl space walls and floors in your home. The crawl space vapor barrier installed by Silver River Basement Systems is 20 mil thick and comes with seven layers of polyester cord, high-density polyethylene and low-density polyethylene. The best color for this barrier is white, as it makes the best use of available lighting.  To allow a visible area on block walls for termite inspector access, Silver River Basement Systems of CO & NM will also install a clear plastic cap on the tops of the walls, allowing vapor barrier protection while providing an installation that will still allow of inspection.

Step 4: Install a Dehumidifier in your Damp Crawl Space

Once the area is sealed off, it's a good idea to install a crawl space dehumidifier.  Homes that have had the crawl spaces saturated with humidity will retain some of that moisture in the wood even when the space is encapsulated. A dehumidifier can dry this out, while making sure that any future moisture is not trapped in the space. The SaniDry™ Crawl Space Dehumidifier, available in Colorado & New Mexico by Silver River Basement Systems, is a self-draining, and powerful enough to do the job the way you want it to.

No matter what your needs in your basement or crawl space, Silver River Basement Systems of CO & NM would like to help. For a free, no-obligation crawl space vapor barrier installation quote, call or e-mail them today! Silver River Basement Systems serves Grand Junction, Farmington, NM, Durango, and many areas nearby.

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