Crawl space encapsulation can be a great way to protect your crawl space from moisture, mold, and bugs. There are many benefits to crawl space encapsulation, including improved air quality, energy efficiency, and protection against water damage and mold growth. However, it would be best if you considered the drawbacks before investing in a crawl space encapsulation.
Here are the pros and cons of crawl space extreme makeover encapsulation if you want to improve the conditions in your home.
Crawl Space Encapsulation Pros:
1. Crawl Space Encapsulation makes the crawl space less likely to have problems with moisture.
Humidity is one of the most important things to worry about in a home at all times of the year. When there is too much moisture inside, it makes it possible for mold growth and mildew. Pests are also more likely to come into a home with high humidity. Crawl space encapsulation, including a sump pump, allows waterproofing and lowers high humidity. This reduces the risk of health problems developing from a damp crawl space.
2. An Encapsulated Crawl Space System can be used to control the number of pests.
A crawl space extreme makeover can protect your home from several annoying pests. A significant benefit of this product is that it adds a layer of protection against a termite infestation. A significant benefit of this product is that it adds a layer of protection against a termite infestation. A crawl space encapsulation can stop these bugs from getting into your home. Pest control is especially true if you use a pest-specific barrier and the other things you need to do this job. You can add certain items to help eliminate rodents, wildlife, and insect problems on or near your property.
3. Crawl Space Encapsulation will cut the overall home heating cost.
Even though installing a crawl space encapsulation system costs more than average crawl spaces, a sealed crawl space will lower your heating and cooling costs over the HVAC system life. Energy saving is because the barriers a professional contractor puts up to improve the environment will make you lose less air through the crawl space and prevent outside air infiltration.
If you leave the area sealed, it will create its form of insulation. This will keep the heat from your home from escaping into the colder ground below. During the summer, it will keep the bottom floor of your house at a cooler temperature.
4. You Can Sometimes Encapsulate your Crawl Space yourself.
You can install a crawl space encapsulation system independently and save labor costs. To improve the air quality inside your home, use suitable materials. Install them with the correct crawl space encapsulation seals. Follow the rules in your local building codes to avoid putting yourself at risk of getting hurt or causing damage to your home.
You must ensure all the crawl space vents are sealed. The access door must meet the building code requirements in your area. The dirt floor must have a vapor barrier in the entire crawl space. It must be at least 6mm thick polyethylene. Every seam must be taped, and joints must overlap by at least six inches.
5. Crawl Space Encapsulation can help reduce or eliminate smells that bother you at home.
A home’s crawl space is the most significant source of bad smells. Other sources could include whether or not you have pets. A professional will clean up the area as needed to ensure it lasts as long as possible. Then, they’ll work to seal up this space under your house to keep smells from returning. Crawl space encapsulation prevents mold and mildew from growing there in the first place.
After the crawl space encapsulation installation, a strong smell could mean the vapor barrier wasn’t sealed properly. Some inferior vapor barriers have an inherent smell. Crawl space mold remediation and stain removal may have a residual bleach smell for the first few days.
6. You can create a system that heats your floor from below.
Once a crawl space is sealed off, you can install a radiant heating system for the above floor. Even though there are costs to consider with this benefit, a system like this adds another level of energy efficiency to your home and helps keep the temperature in each room more consistent. Your monthly utility bills could go down a lot due to this work.
7. Add more storage room.
An encapsulated crawl space provides extra storage because it is no longer vulnerable to significant changes in humidity throughout the year or to pests. If you have ample, easy-to-reach space under your house, an encapsulation system could cost much less than adding extra storage space elsewhere.
Problems with enclosing crawl spaces:
1. Crawl Space Encapsulation Costs are something to think about.
Crawl space encapsulation is expensive and takes a lot of work but it also increases your home’s value. Home Advisor says the average homeowner will spend about $5,500 to install this system. Depending on the size of your building and where you live, the total cost of hiring a professional and buying materials can be anywhere from $1,500 to $15,000.
You can sometimes save money by protecting your foundation from moisture and pests with a single, thin layer of vapor barrier. A dehumidifier, a sump pump, a vapor barrier, drainage trenches, and custom liners are some of the more advanced options.
2. Your new system may need insulation for the Crawl Space Walls.
Suppose you decide to get an estimate for crawl space encapsulation. In that case, your contractor might recommend crawl space foundation wall insulation. Spray foam insulation costs between $.50 and $2 per board foot. Batting ranges from $3 per roll to $300 for a more extensive area. The professional you hire may cover the crawl space foundation walls with rigid R-value foam boards.
3. There are extra costs for maintenance to consider.
After you have a crawl space encapsulation system put in, you will have to do more maintenance and inspections. Depending on how many features you bought for this upgrade, you may find that the maintenance costs can be the same or even higher than your ongoing crawl space encapsulation costs if you didn’t upgrade the crawl space. If you don’t get much rain or moisture where you live, the benefits of this product might not give you a good return on your investment.
4. Your HVAC system may require updating.
Crawl space encapsulation can reduce air movement in the rest of the house. If your HVAC system doesn’t get enough airflow, a fuel-burning furnace or heater won’t have enough oxygen to work well. You may need to upgrade or replace your current unit to ensure the temperature inside your home stays the same.
This process requires a full inspection of your ductwork to ensure no leaks could hurt the quality of your crawl space upgrade.
5. Storing things that can catch fire in your crawl space is not a good idea.
Even if your crawl space has a concrete floor, you shouldn’t store anything that could catch fire there. Gas, solvents, and chemical cleaners should stay in your garage because they can catch fire easily. If these are the only things you need more space for, the cost of an encapsulation system will no longer be a reasonable expense.
When the work is done right, you can store boxes, emergency supplies, bottled water, and other essential things in this space without worrying about pests or mold.
6. It would be best to have the dehumidifier often serviced to keep the system running well.
You can reduce the crawl space encapsulation cost on a system like this by installing a manual dehumidifier instead of an automatic one. In the long run, you might often have to empty the water by hand because you opted to save money. If you live in a place with a lot of moisture, you may need to service your new encapsulation system every 72 hours to ensure it works right. Always close and seal your foundation vents when installing a crawl space dehumidifier. The outside air will make the dehumidifier run more than necessary.
The Bottom Line on the Pros and Cons of Crawl Space Encapsulation
The pros and cons of a crawl space encapsulation system depend on your property and your budget. Sometimes, a barrier is helpful because humidity, bugs, or both make the indoor air quality less healthy. If you don’t have a crawl space encapsulation, bugs, and rodents can damage your home’s structure.
Because of the costs and to avoid making an area too dry for your floor joists, talk to a professional contractor to see if this option suits your home.
