Crawl Space EncapsulationThousands of homeowners across Wisconsin and Northern Illinois have open crawl spaces underneath their homes. The problems with unsealed dirt or gravel crawl spaces are sometimes overlooked due to most owners ignoring that space. What most homeowners don't realize is that 40% - 50% of the air inside of their home rises up from the crawl space. This means that all of the mold, mildew, radon gas, volatile organic compounds (VOC's), and moisture will make it into your living space one way or another if that crawl space is left open and uncared for. Unsealed crawls paces can lead to structural issues in your home due to the amount of moisture being released and can allow for a breeding ground of mold, unwanted pests, and small animals. Thankfully, open crawl spaces can be sealed to prevent such issues from occurring within the home, this process is called crawl space encapsulation. Crawl space encapsulation is done by sealing a vapor barrier to the open soil or gravel and to the walls of the crawl space to prevent moisture and other soil gasses from getting inside of your home.
In business for over 24 years, we have the experience and durable materials necessary to tackle any crawl space encapsulation, crawl space repair, crawl space sealing, or crawl space ventilation project. We take pride in helping residents of Wisconsin and Northern Illinois improve their indoor air quality. Give us a call today for a free in person estimate! What are the Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation? After a crawl space encapsulation project has been completed, most homeowners will notice a drastic reduction in basement smell, moisture, unwanted pests, and aesthetics. Mold and mildew growth, wood rot, and humidity will all be drastically reduced within the home, and if paired with a radon mitigation system, the radon levels will be reduced to a safe and livable range. |
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Crawl Space Repair and Sealing Services
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Improving your homes indoor air quality and moisture issues is something that can be largely accomplished by simply sealing your open dirt or gravel crawl space. Here are a few common issues with unkempt crawl spaces that lead to homeowners giving us a call:
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If you currently have an encapsulated crawl space that is starting to rip or tear or experiencing any amount of damage, we also offer repair services to patch or replace those existing barriers. We will come to your home free of charge to assess the damage and offer you a quick and proposal to fix your damaged crawl space. Call now!
Crawl Space Ventilation Services
(Sub-membrane Depressurization)
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In many cases crawl space encapsulation paired with a a mitigation system is necessary to keep both moisture levels low in the home, and the majority of radon gas out indefinitely. After the crawl space has been sealed, a sub-membrane depressurization system can be applied to draw out the rising soil gasses from under the mat. Sub-membrane depressurization systems are very similar to common radon mitigation systems with a different type of collection point. We use schedule 40 PVC piping (to prevent condensation) and the industry leading Festa AMG mitigation fan models for all of our depressurization systems. After sealing the crawl space down air tight, the piping is inserted underneath the vapor mat and routed to the exterior to vent out into the air to dissipate. Not only will radon gas be vented out of the system, but also around 2-4 tons of moisture a year! Actively drawing out moisture and radon from under your sealed crawl space almost guarantees that your indoor air quality will improve drastically for years to come. Give us a call today for a free quote!
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An unsealed/unmitigated crawl space with mold formation
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Crawl Space Encapsulation FAQ's
Why Should I Worry About the Humidity Levels in My Crawl Space?
Excess humidity within the crawl space can lead to a bevy of structural issues underneath your home with the biggest being wood rot. You may experience sagging and soft floors above your crawl space, and if you go to sell your home, the value may plummet due to structural issues found in the home inspection. Elevated humidity and moisture levels also can lead to mold formation which can cost thousands to mitigate once formed. Not to mention the dangers of breathing in the mold spores on a daily basis.
Will Crawl Space Encapsulation Help with my Musty Basement Smell?
Absolutely. Most homes with an open crawl space that are experiencing a musty/dingy/moldy smell throughout the rest of the home or basement can be fixed by sealing off the crawl space. As mentioned before, crawl spaces can be a major source of mold growth as they provide all of the ingredients necessary for mold to form (moisture, humidity, and organic material). When mold is present within a crawl space, the smell will not be contained in that space for very long. By sealing off that entry point for moisture to get into the crawl space, mold cannot grow and that terrible smell will never emanate.
Will Crawl Space Encapsulation Save me Money on my Heating and Cooling Bills?
Yes. It has been shown that encapsulating the crawl space and improving insulation can save homeowners up to 20% in their heating and cooling bills. When your crawl space is left open, much of your homes air can immediately escape into that space like an open window. By sealing that space off, your home will be much more efficient. If your home feels muggy in the summer and your floors are freezing in the winter time, your crawl space is most likely the culprit.
How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost?
Every home and crawl space is built different, so the pricing is dependent on the size of the crawl space, the amount of debris inside, the number of crawl spaces present, and the materials necessary/ requested. According to Home Advisors the national range is $1,500 to $15,000 with the average being around $5,500 for proper crawl space encapsulation.
