Crawl Space Encapsulation

Crawl Space Encapsulation Charlotte, North Carolina

Crawl Space Encapsulation Charlotte, NC

Are you seeking crawl space encapsulation services in Charlotte? Both new and old residential buildings in North Carolina often come with a crawl space instead of a basement. This home design, combined with the naturally hot and humid environment, makes your home susceptible to water damage. Our experts are ready to help you with crawl space encapsulation in Charlotte, North Carolina. This process starts with basement and foundation waterproofing.

Need a crawl space encapsulation in Charlotte? Please reach out to the experienced professionals at 704-270-2721 today!

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Charlotte Crawl Space Encapsulation Charlotte: Estimated Cost

A homeowner can expect to pay an average of $5,500 for crawl space waterproofing in Charlotte, North Carolina. The total cost of supplies and labor range from $1,500 to $15,000. Obvious factors for price include size and current condition of the crawl space, contractor rates, and materials used.

In North Carolina, and Charlotte more specifically, it is far more common for a house to have a crawl space instead of a traditional finished basement. Combine that with the more hot and humid conditions on the coast and you have yourself an elevated risk for moisture damage.

Left unattended, the moisture can threaten the integrity of the home’s foundation and result in the need for a new foundation. Older residences with vented crawl spaces, as opposed to sealed crawl spaces, are also in danger.

Foundation Wall Insulation

Based on the size of your crawl space and it’s ventilation, you will need an insulation service. Spray foam insulation is priced between $0.50 and $2 per board foot.

Vapor Barrier Prices

A vapor barrier is the final component in crawl space encapsulation and acts as a plastic sheet that lines both the ground and walls to stop moisture from penetrating. The thickness of a vapor barrier ranges from 6 to 23 millimeters.

The thinner and cheaper barrier can rip easily so if your budget allows for it we suggest going with 20 millimeters or thicker. The cost for that vapor barrier is between $0.50 to $0.70 per square foot.

Drainage System

Depending on if your crawl space is above or below ground you might need a sump pump to control groundwater and heavy rainfall levels. On average, sump pump installation costs $1,100. It’s important that your sump pump is powerful enough for your residence.

Dehumidifier

Charlotte, North Carolina homeowners deal with high humidity and will most likely need more than just a vapor barrier to prevent moisture buildup. A dehumidifier, not including installation, can cost between $780 and $1,000.

Crawl Space Encapsulation Process

Below, we cover what to expect when you contact professional crawl space encapsulation technicians for a service:

1. Determine if your crawl space can be encapsulated in its current state.

Big problems can arise if the crawl space encapsulation is done improperly or without prep. Before and work begins all water and mold issues must be handled first.

2. Mitigate all drainage, mold, or combustion problems.

A poor drainage system and insufficient grading allows water to seep into the crawlspace. If you are seeing standing water in your crawlspace, you will need to work with a structural engineer to fix the problem before moving forward with encapsulation.

If you have mold in your crawl space, all the encapsulation will do is trap the mold inside your floor and joists. Therefore, make sure all the mold is removed before proceeding.

If your appliances emit carbon monoxide then encapsulation can result in harmful gases from the appliances flowing back into your home through whats called a backdraft. An inspection is always done before hand to make sure this kind of issue isn’t happening.

3. Install plastic vapor barrier and seal the floors, vents, and walls.

The next step is to install a plastic vapor barrier that covers the floor of the crawlspace and up the foundation walls. This helps keep moisture out. We avoid the thin variety of vapor barriers as they are much more likely to tear.

4. Insulate the foundation walls.

Once the vapor barrier has sealed all the floor and walls, the next step is to add insulation. Depending on your unique situation, your two options for insulation include spray foam or foam boards.

To best seal air leaks through band joists, spray foam is the best option.

5. Install standalone dehumidifier.

Even in completely sealed crawl spaces, a dehumidifier might be necessary to keep humidity below 50% which is ideal. Because it’s turning water vapor into liquid water, there’s got to be a way to drain it to outside.

In a crawl space, often that means installing a condensate pump, though it’s also possible to use gravity to drain it into a sump pump, if one has been installed.

Crawl Space Encapsulation Pros & Cons

There are multiple pros and cons tied to investing in a crawl space encapsulation service. Of course, there are many pros to calling a crawl space professional to perform the service, however, some drawbacks may include upfront investment, cost of the foundation wall insulation, and additional maintenance. Please see our complete list of pros and cons below:

Pros

Lessens/Eliminates Moisture Problems In The Crawl Space
Humidity is a problem that every home faces and with the help of crawl space encapsulation, you can eliminate any moisture issues which may arise. This not only protects your home from mold and mildew, it also promotes a long life for the structure of your home.
Prevents Any Future Pests
High humidity areas like Charlotte, North Carolina are associated with pest problems. If installed properly, crawl space encapsulation can protect you from pests like termites, rodents and other wildlife.
Reduces Overall Heating Costs
Over the lifetime of the product you can expect reduced heating costs because you will no longer be losing air to your crawl space.
Reduces/Eliminates Odors In The Home
One of the biggest contributors to foul odors in your home is the crawl space. The encapsulation process will include cleaning and prepping your crawl space. After being professionally sealed, your home will no longer linger with smells associated with mold mildew.
Additional Storage Space
By encapsulating your crawl space, you are creating a dry and sanitary environment. If you have easy access to your crawl space through a door of some sort you can use your new space for any additional storage needs you might have.

Cons

Upfront Investment
According to Home Advisor, the average homeowner can expect to pay $5,500 to install this system.
Cost of Foundation Wall Insulation
If you get an estimate for encapsulation, your contractor might suggest installing foundation wall insulation to help you benefit more. The product is usually composed of spray foam and costs between 50 cents to $2 per board foot. Batting prices are either $3 per roll or $300 for a larger area. The insulation is R-value foam board based on local building codes.
Additional Maintenance
After your crawl space encapsulation system has been installed, you will need additional maintenance and inspections throughout the year. The cost of maintenance will be dependent on the amount of features you went with during the installation process. If you live in a geographic region that doesn’t see a lot of rain or moisture, unlike Charlotte, NC, then the sealing advantages of this product might not give you the return on your investment that you need.
Might Need To Upgrade Your HVAC System
Crawl space encapsulation will limit the amount of air movement throughout the home. This increases the efficiency of your home but at the same time might not allow enough oxygen for an older combustion-based furnace or heater to run normally. Of course, this means you may need to upgrade your HVAC system to ensure the temperature levels in your home stay comfortable and consistent.

Crawl Space Vapor Barrier

The job of the crawl space vapor barrier is to slow or even prevent the evaporation of ground moisture into the crawl space. This, combined with a full waterproofing system, can completely eliminate any moisture or water problems in a crawl space. No more rot, rust, odors, insects, or pests!

By stopping air movements from the ground, you are doing a better job controlling the temperature of the living space above. This can result in more comfortable living conditions and lower energy bills each month.

Additionally, vapor barriers used for crawl space encapsulation can block a lot of the movement from harmful gases like Radon from the soil.

About The Fresh Air Companies

If you are looking for stellar crawl space encapsulation in Charlotte, The Fresh Air Companies’ experts certainly fit the bill. We devote as much as time as is necessary to complete crawl space encapsulation in your Charlotte, North Carolina home. Just be sure to call us for your free estimate. Our expert team is eager to help you as they have with their clients since being in business. Contact us soon!

Why Choose Our Team?

What makes Fresh Air Technologies stand out from the crowd? Our crawl space encapsulation company has been helping Charlotte area homeowners solve their Charlotte crawl space issues for over 20 years.

Jay Lanzy, Principal Owner of FATech, was trained as an Environmental Geologist with over 20 years of environmental consulting experience. Every crawl space encapsulation project is carefully planned with written protocols prepared for every job. The health and safety of the homes’ occupants are of utmost importance to us.

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