CALL FOR SAME DAY ESTIMATE OR SERVICE 719-388-8509
THE BENEFITS OF INSTALLING A CRAWL SPACE VAPOR BARRIER
CRAWL SPACE VAPOR BARRIER FROM AMERIDRI ON VIMEO
If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of installing a crawl space vapor barrier or another term used is encapsulated crawl space, then you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’re going to give you some useful guidance on the subject, and ultimately explain some of the key benefits you’ll experience from having a crawl space vapor barrier professionally installed. In most cases, installing one of these barriers is a very wise and cost-effective decision to make – but few people are fully aware of the wide range of benefits these barriers provide. Many homes in Colorado Springs have crawl spaces and most do not have proper moisture or encapsulated crawl space properly installed.
There’s no denying that a professionally installed crawl space vapor barrier has numerous benefits to offer, and it’s certainly worth the small expense having one installed. The following are the 6 benefits that I believe are the most important.
Top Benefits of a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier
BENEFIT 1 – REDUCE MOLD GROWTH
Of course, one of the biggest reasons why you may be considering the installation of a crawl space vapor barrier is due to the occurrence of mold. This can quickly become a difficult problem to contend with, especially if you let it get out of control – because mold can cause untold damage to your property, not to mention the risk it poses to your health.
A fully cleaned and encapsulated crawlspace will stop the vital nutrient required by all mold to survive – and that’s water. By eliminating the moisture in your crawl space, any mold that’s grown will quickly go dormant, and the chances of it coming back will be severely reduced. Of course you will want to also have any dormant mold mitigated so you are left with a clean space.
Crawlspace Moisture Barrier Installed
BENEFIT 2 – REDUCE ODOR
AmeriDri gets calls several times a month due to the homeowner can’t figure out where a bad odor is coming from. Have you ever experienced strange or unpleasant odors coming from your crawl space? If you’ve been unlucky enough to experience this, then you may be surprised to learn that one of the common causes for these smells is mold growth. As we mentioned previously, a vapor barrier is a highly effective way to eliminate mold – and it will also go a long way towards reducing any strange or foul odors, too.
BENEFIT 3 – IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Something many people fail to realize is that the high moisture level that occurs in the crawlspace can have a surprising and significant effect on the temperature of your home. In fact, improving your energy efficiency, and therefore lowering your energy costs, is one of the key benefits offered by the installation of a vapor barrier that has been properly installed with at least a 10 mil product and completely sealed to the foundation and the vapor barrier must also be taped at all the seams and also sealed around all protrusions and plumbing pipes to adequately seal the dirt floor from the rest of the space.
The simple act of installing one of these barriers will allow you to effectively seal the area, which greatly reduces the amount of moisture that can develop. Of course, thanks to the reduction of moisture, you can expect your home to be far better insulated and cheaper to heat. Another benefit is the clean, dry area you now have for storage.
BENEFIT 4 – PROTECT YOUR FLOORS
Did you know that the moist soil at the bottom of your crawl space can actually lead to moisture rising up into your home? This phenomenon can often lead to expensive repair bills later on down the line, not to mention the mold problems that can occur due to the high humidity. If this happens, you’ll be kicking yourself for not taking the step of adding a crawl space vapor barrier at an earlier date.
Fortunately, a well-insulated crawl space will go a long way towards preventing any moisture from rising up into your home, and it’ll also make it much easier to control the overall ambient temperature of your home, too. What’s more, this temperature control applies to both the summer and winter seasons – so you’ll be experiencing the benefit all year round.
BENEFIT 5 – PROTECT YOUR PIPEWORK
Hiring a professional to install an adequate barrier can actually reduce the likelihood of experiencing a burst pipe. There’s no denying that burst pipes can be a real nightmare to repair, and it can also become quite expensive as well to dry out the space after a pipe burst. Luckily, the barrier will encapsulate the cold ground and will help to reduce the chances of this occurring in the first place.
BENEFIT 6 – MAINTAIN STRUCTURE INTEGRITY
Keeping your crawl space in good condition is a wise choice, but it’s not always an easy thing to do. However, one of the easiest ways to boost the overall structural integrity of your crawl space is to install a vapor barrier. Not only will this give you a secure grounding for your crawl space, but it will also prevent the moisture of your soil from eroding the general structural integrity of the space.
So now that you’re aware of the vast benefits offered by a crawl space vapor barrier, it’s easy to see why they come with such a strong recommendation. In most cases, the pros far outweigh the cons – and there’s really very little disadvantage to installing one of these barriers, other than the initial cost of having to purchase one.
Of course, this small cost pales in comparison to costs you could face when water starts entering your home from the crawl space. What’s more, you may even find you make all the money back thanks to the reduced heating bills you’ll benefit from. Another big benefit is the cleaner air you will be breathing in your home.
Additionally, if you’ve noticed that your crawl space is prone to moisture and dampness, then it’s very important to install a barrier of some kind – if only to reduce the likelihood of a serious problem from occurring later on down the line. Taking the time to prevent these problems is certainly a preferable option than trying to contend with the expensive and time-consuming process you may have to undergo in the unfortunate scenario of a mold situation becoming unmanageable, or something even worse.
Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Conclusion
It’s safe to say that installing a crawl space vapor barrier is a great investment if you care about protecting and maintaining your crawl space. Regardless of whether you’re aiming to combat a mold problem, get rid of water in your crawl space, maintain a stable temperature in your home, or merely maintain the structural integrity of your crawl space – it’s certainly a wise decision to install one of these barriers as soon as possible.
To get information on all things related to your home environment go to our website at https://ameridri.com/ and at the far right of the menu bar click on our blog section to get to all our blog posts.
