Is your vapor barrier old, torn, dirty, or missing altogether?
Request a Free Inspection today. Our Moisture Intrusion Specialist will visit your home and determine if your vapor barrier needs to be repair or replaced. We evaluate each home with a problem solving approach, and we pride ourselves on providing you with a range of affordable options to suit your goals and budget.
Benefits of a Vapor Barrier System
The vapor barrier in a crawl space plays an important role in contributing to a home’s durability, energy performance and health, but must be installed correctly in order to function properly. Exploring the difference between homes with and without vapor barriers can help reveal the benefits of a vapor barrier system.
In a vented and unfinished crawl space, moisture from the soil, standing water, or leaks creates very high humidity. Moist outside air can enter through vents, adding more moisture. In this super-moist environment, mold will grow on wood and paper-backed fiberglass batts, wood will begin to rot, and steel, such as within ductwork, water heaters, or HVAC equipment, will rust.
A vapor barrier system is intended to prevent the above mentioned damage. When an effective crawl space vapor barrier is combined with sealed vents, the entire treatment is often referred to as “crawl space encapsulation.” Encapsulation is the recommended treatment because it eliminates moisture-related problems such as mold, while also significantly improving home energy performance.
Composition of a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier
A vapor barrier is an impermeable membrane. This effective barrier is created by overlapping different sheet materials and sealing the seams with tape and/or caulk. The barrier that covers the dirt floor is typically thick, durable plastic sheet material. If a crawl space is constantly filling with water, then a waterproofing system such as a drainage pipe or sump pump may need to be installed prior to the vapor barrier installation. This will ensure the leak problems are corrected as opposed to covered up.
Once vapor barrier installation is completed, you won’t need to worry about the damaging effects of mold, the presence of insects and other pests, and the energy-sapping effects of an unsealed crawl space.
Solutions
You are a unique individual, living in a unique home, on a unique piece of property.
This is why Green Frog believes that your water issue deserves a unique solution.
