A homeowner in North Raleigh reached out with interest in encapsulating her crawl space. She had read about many of the benefits online and thought it would be a good fit for her home. So, she contacted Carolina Casa, and we set up a free inspection for her crawl space.
At the inspection, it was discovered that the existing fiberglass insulation was very old, damaged, and fallen in several areas. Additionally, there were unsealed airways, including the vents and penetration points where pipes and wires pass through. These openings allow unwanted moisture and pests to enter. Another issue found was the vapor barrier did not cover 100% of the ground, allowing soil odors and moisture to be introduced. Upon further investigation, the average wood moisture reading of the crawl space was 18% (the ideal range is between 8-16%). This excess moisture often leads to mold growth, wood rot, cupping floorboards, and attracts unwanted pests.
Next, we sent her a detailed report with 3 options to solve the problem. After reviewing and discussing the good, better, and best options presented, and benefits of each, this homeowner decided to fully encapsulate the crawl space.
So, we scheduled a start date and completed the work. The first step to the encapsulation was removing all the old plastic, insulation, and debris. Then, a heavy-duty Viper 16 mil vapor barrier was installed, covering 100% of the ground, wrapped up the foundation columns, and sealed at every seam with vapor barrier bond tape. Next, all airways were sealed with foam board and expanding spray foam. After that, Insul-Barrier wall insulation was installed along the crawl space foundation walls. Lastly, the dehumidifier was installed to circulate the crawl space air and control moisture levels. Our electricians installed an outlet to provide power on a dedicated GFCI breaker for the dehumidifier.
We returned 6 months later for a complimentary follow-up inspection. The crawl space was discovered to be in outstanding condition, with wood moisture levels at 14%. We changed the dehumidifiers filter and lowered the setting from 55%-50%, to ensure moisture is never a threat. The customer was satisfied with our work and decided to join our Service Maintenance Program (SMP). SMP is our crawl space protection plan that comes with annual inspections, future discounts, extended warranties, 2 company shirts and more.
Overall, the encapsulation has kept the crawl space in superb condition, and it is in no threat of moisture related issues. Such as mold growth or structural wood rot. In addition, the HVAC system will be under less stress operating in a temperate environment. Lengthening the life of the unit and lowering energy costs. We will continue to monitor the space and maintain the dehumidifier, providing updates on any changes.