What is Crawl Space Encapsulation?

Crawl space Nashville TN encapsulation is a relatively new method for protecting the home from the elements (and also from yourself!) and is gaining in popularity every day. It is important to understand what this product does, how it works, and how to best use it to protect your home.

The method involves using a heavy-duty polyethylene crawl space encapsulation membrane to completely envelop the interior of a crawl space, protecting it from water vapor exchange, vermin, mold, mildew, and pests. This membrane is applied over the walls, floors, and occasionally even the ceiling of the crawl space, then laid out over the garage or on the exterior foundation wall. After an area has been encapsulated, a special air gap of one to three inches is created to allow moisture and air flow to escape. If the gaps are not present, a waterproof vapor barrier is laid in place to prevent rain, sleet, snow, hail, or other weather damage.

The key benefits of crawl space encapsulation are that it seals the space from outside water, protects from penetration of mildew and mold, and prevents damage to foundation walls. It is effective for a wide variety of crawl space moisture issues, including: hydrostatic pressure, soil compaction, electrical service interruption, roof leaks, foundation wall collapse, flash floods, sewer mold, and industrial mold. It is very effective in all of these areas because it creates a tight seal against outside moisture, prevents water migration, and captures and eliminates moisture within the structure. Another benefit of this product is that it can be added at any time to current foundation walls to remedy existing problems. In most cases, these products are applied after foundation walls have begun to crack, cave in, or fail.