Crawlspace Encapsulation Birmingham

Crawl spaces are some of the most troublesome areas for homeowners in Birmingham, AL. Even when vented, they can still hold moisture, and set up your home for problems such as mold growth and water damage. And that’s not all. Pests and rodents can infest this space, and turn it into their makeshift residence.

If you’re struggling to manage your situation, it might be time to consider crawl space encapsulation. Let’s look at what crawl space encapsulation is, and how it can benefit you.

What is Crawl Space Encapsulation?

Crawl space encapsulation, or sealing, is the treatment that building scientists recommend to turn a damp, dirty, and moldy crawl space into a clean, dry space where mold can’t grow.

Thankfully, crawl space encapsulation is a science we’re well familiar with. Our professionals install specialized crawl space repair products to transform any problem crawl space into a clean, dry foundation that’s an asset, rather than a liability.

Humidity Creates Problems for Your Home

Crawl spaces are already dark and warm, but the addition of moisture creates the ideal environment for mold, dust mites, and insects—including termites. Further exacerbating this issue is the open vents homes tend to have for crawlspaces. Instead of drying out the crawl space, air transfer gives mold the opportunity to enter directly from outside and raise relative humidity to higher than acceptable ranges needed for mold growth prevention. In fact, crawl space moisture can even lead to asthma symptoms!

Even though crawl spaces are closed off from the rest of the home, the moisture problems they present aren’t. Crawl spaces, especially ones with dirt floors, are highly susceptible to water and dampness during times of rain and high humidity. Birmingham is known for its sometimes damp and rainy climate. Therefore, it is incredibly important to invest in crawl space repair to ensure that you do not expose yourself to health risks due to a nasty combination: standing water and unnoticed hot air in your home.

Signs of a Crawl Space Problem

Many homes built on a crawl space foundation suffer from moisture problems, especially those in the Southeast U.S. And crawl space problems can cause issues upstairs, too.

Signs you may notice in your home's upstairs living area include:

• Musty odors
• Buckled hardwood floors
• High humidity
• Condensation and rot around floor registers
• Cold floors
• And high heating and cooling costs

Signs inside the crawl space include:

• Mold or moisture damage
• Condensation or "sweating" on air conditioning ductwork or equipment
• Condensation on pipes
• Soggy insulation
• Hanging or fallen insulation
• Insect/pest infestations
• Rotted wooden framing
• And water on the crawl space floor

Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation

The benefits of crawl space encapsulation are many. Some benefits include:

• Reduced energy costs
• Mold, dust mites, and insect prevention
• A home free from musty odors
• Increased storage space
• Warped wood prevention and cracked drywall

Just think, as long as those vents are open, if it’s 75% relative humidity outside—it will be 75% relative humidity in your crawl space. For context, mold and dust mites thrive anywhere that’s above 50% relative humidity. Crawlspace encapsulation uses high-strength, reinforced plastic membrane that's adhered with specialized sealers to turn a damp, unusable area into a clean, dry environment that can lower energy costs and even function as a storage area.

WhiteCap® is a crawl space vapor barrier encapsulation system that is proven to protect your home from unfavorable or destructive elements. Protect your family from the environment's adverse effects with this barrier, including moisture, mold, gas, and more.

Put an End to Crawl Space Problems with the CleanSpace® System

Transform your damp, dirty, moldy crawl space into a clean, dry foundation with the CleanSpace® crawl space encapsulation system. Our innovative CleanSpace® products easily outperform off-the-shelf materials used by other contractors. With us, your home receives high-quality crawl space encapsulation and repair solutions from leading crawl space repair professionals near you.

The WhiteCap® crawl space encapsulation system is a heavy-duty 20 mil 7-layer liner material, similar to a pool liner. The system is installed across the floor and up the walls, and sealed around all piers, pipes, and the like. It stops all water vapor from the walls or soil, and is very durable: You can’t poke holes in it, rip it, or pull it down off the walls when crawling around, or inspecting, the space.

And yes, you’ll have no problem crawling into your crawl space once the WhiteCap® liner is installed; it’s that clean, bright white, and nice! Also, WhiteCap® vapor barrier is made in the U.S.A.!

Southern Home Structural Specialists: Your Partner for Home Repair!

At Southern Home Structural Specialists, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence. We help customers with all kinds of building issues, from foundation repair to mold remediation and, of course, crawl space repair. Our comprehensive and tested system gives you complete peace of mind, and we do our best to give you the most bang for your buck. If you want your crawlspace to get looked at, give us a call and we would love to be of assistance.

Request A Quote Call 205.520.9777