Crawl Space Encapsulation 101: A Beginners Guide
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- čas přidán 2. 09. 2015
- Everything you need to know about crawl space encapsulation! Project installed by Bay Crawlspace Solutions of Virginia Beach, VA. View for a detailed explanation on how crawl space encapsulation manages moisture and humidity in a crawl space. Ask questions and we answer!
Free estimates for all crawl space and foundation repair related problems. We only use industry leading installation methods, we require $0 down with 0% financing options. All our crews speak English fluently. Our prices are the best, guaranteed. Call 757-460-0444 or visit BayCrawlspace.com/
Life's a Breeze at Bay!
Peter, I loved your role on The Brady Bunch. You do a good job with this too. Great video. Thanks!
LOL. He totally looks like Peter. Hahaha. Very cute!
hahahahah Good Ole Peter Brady!!
Hayley Madison funny
Ha ha ha haha
Pork chops and apple sauce 😂
Wow, That’s the cleanest crawl space I ever seen!
Great , succinct and informative video. You did a great job
An excellent presentation! Very well done! I wish you worked where I live, I'd get this for our house for sure.
Where do you live, I can do it for you 😁 I live in north Carolina , but I can travel
It is possible for a fungus to grow under a moisture barrier. Our virgin resin liner is actually treated with an antimicrobial to inhibit mold growth.
Bay Crawlspace did a great job on my crawlspace. I had a bad moisture problem under my house and it was starting to make its way in to my home. The company was real professional and kept me up-to-date on what was going on while they were working under my house. -luis nieves
Excellent video! You should have a television show. Great speaking voice, comfortable in front of the camera and confident in the job that you do to save people money.
I agree!!
Great info!
I am looking to build here in Allentown, PA area.
The lot/home can have a basement but would cost $13k more so a crawl space looks good.
The builder puts a 6mil vapor barrier and vents.
He doesn't see the need for full encapsulation.
If I chose these builder, home, how can I improve the crawl space function without spending almost what a basement costs?
What concerns should I be worried about with a 2001 Karsten K20 Estate Series mobile double wide 1,980 sq ft.
Did you fix the squeaker nails right above you? Where the flooring nails missed the joist? But seriously, can the center part of the crawl space be dug deeper, or does the whole space need to be level?
Bay Crawlspace Solutions did a great job in installing a sump pump system into our encapsulated crawlspace which had been getting flooded in each heavy rain storm. Seth and Art were extremely professional and interacted with us often as the work progressed. They removed damaged ducting, pulled back the vapor barrier, installed a french drain system that flows water to the sump pump well where it is pumped out through the discharge line that they installed through the foundation and away from the house. A lot of attention to detail as well as very clean and conscientious in that they did. They also captured before and after photos of the work areas as well - a very nice added touch. I would highly recommend them for sump pump installations.
Helpful? -Bud Jewett
Nothing like carefully curated reviews from the actual vendor. LOL
Even if I had my house frame built out of steel I still would use tarp for crawl space for the ground and cover the floor insulation on the top to keep insulation from getting moisture in it and the house skirting with tarp up against it and would insulate my pipes to prevent them from freezing in winter
what do you use to seal the plastic to the stem wall?
How much does it cost to encapsulate 1400 sq ft of crawl space
What model hygrometer is that or brand?
great video, sad you dont service in tn. question where can i purchase a reader to read amount on moisture ? video looks like you install sensor in crawspace and reader in house,is it wireless,cause video no need to go into crawlspace. and why did you choose santafe ?. thanks for a great video and your time
Typically you can purchase a wood moisture meter and a hygrometer and most major hardware stores or online. We do recommend installing a wireless hygrometer with a sensor in the crawl space to monitor the conditions without having to physically go down to the crawl space. We use Santa Fe dehumidifiers because they perform extremely well and have minimal service issues. They are known for their longevity and the manufacturer has been great to work with for us.
Too bad you're not in Winnipeg! Good video thanks
Do you recommend any one in northwest Iowa?
good job.
I live in the Fredericksburg Va area do you recommend anyone in the area? Thanks
Is it necessary to remove the insulation between the floor joists after encapsulation. Could you explain the benefits? Seems like you would need insulation to help uh insulate the floors.
Great question, it is not absolutely necessary but it is beneficial as long as the duct work is in the crawl space. When it's gone, it greatly reduces the likelihood of rodent infestation and also helps with early identification of plumbing leaks. Also, for many crawl spaces we encapsulate, the moisture has already damaged the insulation so it makes the space much more attractive and comfortable.
Looks like the builder missed the joists when putting down the subfloor.
Wish y'all did work in Raleigh!
What do you do to seal the crawlspace entrance and the plumbing discharge pipe in a brick foundation?
Good question Chris, we recommend a well-sealed crawl space access door and depending on the hole in the brick foundation, we might use concrete, mortar mix, or spray foam.
do you use a sealant on seams and against piers and foundation, or just tape and rivets? Asking because most sealants are polyurethane based and have nasty chemicals in them that linger and off gas. Would love to know if the barrier install is effective with only tape and no sealant. thank you
futurist philip we use a special waterproofing tape on the seams and a heavy duty caulk on the piers. The seams, piers and walls are all treated differently. The nastiest thing we use is an adhesive spray foam.. no gassy-mess but you don’t want it on your skin!
this guy is a straight shooter, a total chad
thank yo very much for video and your response. your great except in one condition,, your not in tn. sad !!!!
I noticed no insulation between joists. Do you remove batt insulation from floor joists when encapsulating?
if they insulate the walls, yes the take floor insulation out.
I’m in Atlanta having my crawlspace encapsulated I don’t have insulation between my floor joists or against my interior crawlspace block wall. 🤷🏻♂️. That being said if there is a mold problem then I would think it certainly needs to come out.
Any chance you're willing to service Muskoka, Canada? It's nice this time of year..
Very sorry but we only service a 60 mile radius around Virginia Beach.
Great video - do you have any recommendations for the Sacramento Ca area? I need my basement done.
Thanks for the complement! Unfortunately, no recommendations for your area. Good luck!
Hi will mold grow underneath the moisture barrier?
I think the point you may be missing is that as long as the humidity is controlled the mold will go dormant. I’m currently having my crawl space encapsulated currently. That liner is next to my ground and comes up my interior cinder block walls and up my cinder block stacks. The mold growth happens on the rafters and wood not really one the cinder blocks or dirt floor. Just my thoughts.
Hey thanks for the video. I'm in PA and have a nasty ass crawlspace. What should I look for and ask for when hiring a crawlspace company?
I would say every job is different and you should 1st educate yourself on the problems, get multiple estimates, and go with a company that you feel confident will get the job done right, the 1st time, for the right price.
Great informative video thumbs 👍, I wonder can I use epdm rubber to do this project?
Thanks! I would think it would do the job but probably be overkill for the application and extra time consuming to seam all the joints.
@@BayCrawlSpace thanks for your fast reply, I have the material I honestly I want to do it myself, I'm a roofer and I can do all the seams and everything else's it's almost like doing a roof, I was just asking if it was safe to use in/on a crawlspace thank you....
Can I staple the vapor barrier up on the beam, floor joist in the crawl space instead of laying it on the ground?
Good question. I would NOT recommend doing that. It can trap moisture and block visibility of the potentially wet, damaged floor structure.
Does this help insulate cold as well?
Kevin St Croix Sure does
Are you worried about the air in the crawl space? I am told doing this does not change the air quality at all and can increase Aspergillosis. Do you have any evidence of air quality before and after? Think about the air in here that never gets exchange with fresh air. Don't you need a vent fan? What about Radon?
cost per square foot?
Where can I get the 12mil material and the tape?
DSTWeldingServices try crawlspacerepair.com
Does insulation need to be run on just the walls or between the joists?
If the crawl space is vented, homes should have insulation between the joists. If the crawl space vents are sealed, it must meet several requirements, including 'insulating the thermal barrier of the home' which can include the crawl space walls or between the joists.
Do you guys service the Charlotte, NC area or have a recommendation of a company?
We do not yet service the Charlotte, NC area. Sorry we do not have any recommendations either.
Apple Drains of Charlotte
Realize this video is super old, but have you ever encountered an extremely low crawlspace from a early 1900s house? Mine is a few inches shorter then this one but lord ive had problems getting anyone in there to even look at it. I thought about just dropping a compact dehumidifier in there but encapsulating doesnt seem possible.
Unfortunately, some houses are harder to encapsulate. The entire space must be accessible and the perimeter stem walls must be able to be sealed. Installing a dehumidifier is not advised unless you can seal the vents and walls PLUS install a professional vapor barrier with complete ground coverage.
Could you tell me how much an average cost of incapsolating a 1200 sq ft crawl space would be? I don't live close to you all so I was wanting an idea before I call someone.
Seth, the price really depends on the condition of the space, the products used, the company, etc. We wouldn't want to set the wrong expectation. Good luck with your project!
Can the barrier get mold under side (touching the dirt). ?
k san many liners can but the Guardian Liner we use is manufactured with an antimicrobial
I am in Northern California.
Can u have an email address where I can send details of my question?
Okay, explain something to me please. When you checked the wood moisture and found it to be at 23%, you said the moisture level is too high and will allow mold to grow. Why are the moisture levels too high in a project you just completed ?
Good question. If we just completed the project, the humidity in the air & moisture content in the wood would be very similar to the day before the encapsulation was installed. Once the crawl space is encapsulated & closed up, the dehumidifier can begin removing moisture from the air, which will in turn, reduce moisture content in the wood. For a wet crawl space, it can take up to 2-4 weeks before the humidity is lowered to a healthy humidity and the wood moisture is down to a dry healthy level. Once achieved, the dehumidifiier just runs to maintain the healthy humidity & that keeps the wood moisture content low.
Do we still need floor insulation if we have this system?
Nope. If the foundation vents, walls, and rim joists are insulated, you do not need floor insulation.
how much does it cost to have a crawl space done ?
Hi, recently i've had this done by a different company, it cost me $4000, the guys who did this for me told me mold needs 50-60% humidity to grow, i've researched this and it is true moldblogger.com/top-3-things-mold-needs-to-grow/
Does this type of system seal out radon gas.
Radon gas isn’t an issue in the Southeast VA or northeast NC regions so we’re not experts on Radon, but most experts seem to agree that crawl space encapsulation acts as a passive radon reduction solution.
I see some companies rec keeping one vent open with a fan blowing air out. Is that necessary?
Nope. We don’t recommend that. We recommend sealing all foundation vents when performing a full crawl space encapsulation.
Ah ok. They mentioned it was for radon and soil gases. But the code they mentioned I looked up and def didn't say exhaust fan was required. Thanks
My dehumidifier spins my meter. The most costly appliance I have?
It’s important to have the crawl space properly sealed and the unit be on the proper settings to prevent this unnecessary issue
AND . . how old is the house . . no one ever mentions that and IT DOES matter.
why not pull air out of the attic and blow it down into the crawl space all year around
Do I need a dehumidifier in alaska we get 50 below the water it gathers might freeze
Great question. I think it would depend on the humidity in the crawl space. I would recommend researching local companies that are familiar with the best practices in Alaska.
@@BayCrawlSpace is it a bad idea to install several layers of r tech foam board directly against the floor between the joists instead of fiberglass or would that trap moisture against the floor?
@@philipdove1705 The challenge I see with that approach is keeping the foam board in place without gluing or mechanically fastening it. I'm not sure if fiberglass performs poorly in your local conditions to know if the alternative approach would be better. At BAY, we foam board insulate the walls and vents which works great for us locally. But with crawl spaces, if you seal them, a dehumidifier is necessary.
@@BayCrawlSpace the issue I'm having with fiberglass is we have 24" spaces between the 4×6 joists and all the r19 fiberglass is sagging in the middle . I was thinking by cutting foam to tightly fit it might keep the floor warmer. I just dont know if it will cause rot issues by moisture resting between the floor and the top of the foam.
how much did that job cost? I have a 800sqft house and the company i contacted charged me 89 dollars for the inspection and quoted me 14 thousand dollars to fix my band sill and sister a few joist with pressure treated wood. and that's just for a small section under my bathroom.
This job was installed over 2 years ago. It probably cost around $6,000-6600 for full encapsulation, dehumidifier, electrical, etc.
wow...did that include the beam and joist repairs?
Lakario Davis your band and sill are to separate things. You said it was small. Each joist sistering should range between $100-$300. Let's say band and sill are the most difficult ever with siding, bushes , a tree, garden gnomes, close neighbor, a steep hill, rattles snakes, dangerous watch dog, 3rd grade bully, and a waterfall. So hit yourself another 4k. I think at 14k you could build half that house yourself with premium finishes if you know how.
My man I dried in my 1250 sq ft house for $14k that included footers, block work, encapsulated my crawl space, floor joist, subfloor, studwalls, wall sheathing, roof joist, roof sheathing, metal roof, house wrap, siding, windows, exterior doors.. I think the vinyl siding pushed me up around the $16,500 mark.
Sister the joist yourself for under $30 each, band sill is a little work but about $1.00 a foot cost if you do it yourself.
Do you install insulation?
Kyle Donne yes we do. We either insulate the floors with fiberglass batte insulation or the walls with foam board depending on the circumstances
Bay Crawlspace and Foundation Repair great! I will be in touch to arrange for an estimate. I have a vapor barrier and dehumidifier installed. I just need rigid foam on the walls.
I hear you say how you found moisture in wood and replaced wood, and how you can now monitor moisture content but, where did the moisture come from? Meaning, was it a leak from a pipe, poor drainage in landscape, or what? I would think you would first look for the root of the problem correct? Then once you fix that problem and replace all areas damaged, then you should be ok, correct? Please correct me if I am wrong...
From what I understand, the moisture comes from the dirt underneath the crawlspace absorbing water. As that water evaporates, the only place it can go is under the house and along the wooden beams. The encapsulation prevents that moisture from coming through. So essentially, the encapsulation is the root problems solution
Hi , question how much is for this project ???
Tony MTA it depends on the size of the project. It starts around $4K including everything from electrical to the dehumidifier install and everything else mentioned
Ok , thanks ! U have people here in Chicago to do this job ???
No sorry we don't. We're only servicing Southeast VA and Northeast NC at the moment.
Would love if you all came to Harrisonburg, VA!
Sebrina Whetzel I actually attended JMU but unfortunately we do not service Harrisonburg at this time.
How much do you charge
Kevin Compise it ranges from about 4300 and up depending on size of the space which includes the dehumidifier, electrical, and everything else
Bay Crawlspace Solutions thanks
Anyone regret buying a house with a crawl space? Did you wish it was a full basement so you didn’t have to mess with all the crawl space issues?
Euphoric Rain - the new home I’m building has a conditioned crawl space... an insulated (spray foam) sill wall + a slab so *_nothing_* will be getting in there (and I get a 3’ basement in Florida :)
Have a basement. Nothing but problems with moisture. Sump pump quite working, basement flooded. Had to get a backup pump put in just in case. Depends on where you live if there is a high water table. A properly installed crawl is better than any mediocre basement install. I hate having a basement. Have a first floor laundry. Only use it for storage. Really, the only thing it’s good for is for sheltering in a storm. Depends on where you live. Having a basement could be good. It could also be bad.
10010100110 01101011001 - it depends on where you are... in the south a crawl space is just asking for yuck...
Don’t have many options in South Carolina just have to suck it up
Basement has more problems than a crawl space
Blake, you look like Mike Trapp from Collegehumor.
Wonder whats the cost
I got an estimate to encapsulate my crawl space for $12,000.
Number doesn't work anymore?
Our number works fine. Call 757-460-0444
@@BayCrawlSpace thanks
This is a realistic crawl space that isn’t like 6’ high to work in.
If you have a concrete floor in your crawl, is encapsulation needed beyond closing vents?
Joe Lynch not a full encapsulation sir but sealing the foundation vents and installation a dehumidifier still may be necessary if you have moisture problems. The purpose of the liner is just to control the earths moisture so with concrete floors you should not be exposed to moisture from damp earth
Can I use 6 mil plastic?
Winner for Life I would not recommend a 6 mil liner for a conditioned crawl space
Is there a reason why not?
Winner for Life i work for a different company. The lowest we do is 10 mil which tears easy from rocks or standard crawling. if your gonna invest money you better make it worth it.
Don't suppose you know of a trustworthy company in Middle, TN? Been here 3 yrs now, had a company tell us we need ours encapsulated; every company is now telling us different things; who do you trust? Also companies are wanting from 8,500 - 14,000 for our 1250 sq foot home. E
We have a great relationship with United Structural Systems. I can't promise you're within their service area but their people are great. We charge much less than your companies but we've worked on keeping our prices lower.
Frig $8500.00 on the low end what the hell materials couldn’t be more than $1000.00
Damn I almost worked for you guys. When you notch your new joists to make them fit you have not helped the floor. It's just the same size as the old joist which has collapsed due to rot and shrinkage. So your new joist is really doing nothing but sitting there cuz it's not reaching the subfloor
I’m the President and do all hiring. I don’t recall interviewing with you but thanks for your interest. I’m not sure to what you’re referring. This video is about crawl space encapsulation, not joist sisters. We warranty 100% of our work so if there’s a job done improperly, let us know and we will repair again for free.
When he's laying beside the dehumidifier you can see a joist in the background that has a huge notch in it which has been sisstered with a newer joist and he also does talk about sistering joists
Every encap receives free porkchops & applesauce!
Whoever built that floor above you missed the joist with their nails.
This guy tried putting a crawlspace door on a slab house.....
Yet we’re still building houses with vented attics and crawl spaces... we *_really_* need to radically change building practices in America.
orion khan what would you suggest?
@@BayCrawlSpace I would suggest starting encapsulation process before the floor trusses and or joists are even installed. That’s a good start.
54 competitors didn't like this video.
Crawl space customer 101***
Did he say 12 milimeter? Its more like 1.2 mm. 12 milimeter is 1.2 cm which is very thick! Almost 1/3 inch.
It's actually 12 or 20 mils. Mils are a measurement unit used to gauge the thickness of plastic. A mil is equal to 0.001 inches
creepy
Yeah.... people don't believe in doing stuff like this in Michigan, which is why most houses here are pieces of shit.
Do you still need insulation to add it after you this?
We insulate the perimeter walls when we encapsulate crawl spaces so fiberglass floor insulation is not needed.