3 Tips For A Successful Crawl Space Encapsulation
Water is one of the most destructive elements that will come into contact with your home. Managing water in its various forms is essential when it comes to preserving the structural integrity of your home. If your property features a crawl space, then moisture within this confined space could cause serious structural problems in the future.
Investing in a process known as crawl space encapsulation can be a simple and effective way to manage moisture over time. Here are three tips that you can use to ensure your crawl space encapsulation is a success.
1. Use the right materials to encapsulate your crawl space.
During the encapsulation process, a vapor barrier is installed to prevent moisture from the ground from becoming a problem for your home. Water in the soil can evaporate and raise humidity levels in the air beneath your property. This higher humidity can cause building materials to begin deteriorating, leaving your home structurally unsound.
Be sure that you are using a vapor barrier made from materials that are capable of withstanding the test of time. It can also be helpful to ensure that you are using a seal tape designed specifically for the materials your vapor barrier is made from to ensure a watertight seal in the future.
2. Take the time to thoroughly clean your crawl space.
In order to ensure that your crawl space encapsulation is a success, you need to take the time to clean out the crawl space prior to beginning the encapsulation process. This means removing all items that could potentially puncture the vapor barrier you will install, rending the barrier useless over time.
Carefully remove any rocks, excess insulation, or other debris from your crawl space to ensure your vapor barrier will provide maximum protection against moisture in the future.
3. Add a drying mechanism to your crawl space.
Once you have firmly attached a vapor barrier to your home's foundation, it's important that you maintain the correct humidity levels within your crawl space. This is typically done by adding a drying mechanism to the space.
The drying mechanism will work to remove any excess moisture from the air following your crawl space encapsulation, ensuring that existing humidity doesn't become trapped within the crawl space where it can wreak havoc on the structural integrity of your home.
Being able to successfully complete a crawl space encapsulation ensures that your home will remain structurally sound well into the future. Contact a service, like Atlantic Heating and Cooling, for more help.
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