Crawl space encapsulation is a process that involves sealing your crawl space to keep it clean, dry, and intact. But while this service is highly beneficial to those who own crawl spaces, many people question whether or not crawl space encapsulation is worth the cost.
Since crawl space encapsulation is not a service that most people fully understand, it isn’t easy to understand its value. In this article, we aim to provide you with a better understanding of the many advantages crawl space encapsulation can provide.
By understanding those benefits and weighing them against the cost of crawl space encapsulation, you’ll have a clearer idea of whether or not this service is right for you. Read on to learn everything you need to know about whether crawl space encapsulation is worth paying for.
Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation
As we hinted at in the introduction, crawl space encapsulation has several distinct benefits. Only by recognizing and understanding these benefits can you determine the actual value of an encapsulation service. The sections below highlight a few positive outcomes of crawl space encapsulation that you should keep in mind.
Moisture Control and Elimination
The primary purpose of crawl space encapsulation is to control and eliminate excessive amounts of moisture in your crawl space. This is done by installing a vapor barrier on the floor and walls of the crawl space to prevent moisture from entering the area. Keeping moisture out reduces condensation and humidity and offers the following benefits:
Reduction of Mold and Mildew
By reducing the amount of moisture in your crawl space, you’ll also discourage the growth of mold and mildew. Rampant mold and mildew can cause significant damage to the structure of your home. They can also create unclean air that triggers asthmatic reactions. By discouraging mold and mildew growth, crawl space encapsulation will allow you to breathe clean air in your home and decrease the need for mold and mildew remediation services.
Pest Prevention
The barrier preventing moisture from entering your crawl space also helps keep out pests. When your crawl space remains unencapsulated, it often provides the perfect location for unwanted critters to come in and make a home for themselves.
Pests are not just a nuisance; they can also cause damage to your home that you’ll eventually need to repair. Rather than dealing with pest-related problems after they have already taken place, if you choose to encapsulate your crawl space, the presence of pests won’t be an issue for you at all.
Preservation of Structural Integrity
Moisture in the crawl space can cause things like wood rot which can, over time, compromise the wooden support structures in the crawl space. Encapsulating the crawl space helps reduce the number of repairs needed to keep your home in good condition.
Increased Storage Space
Another fantastic benefit of crawl space encapsulation is that your crawl space can become a convenient storage location after the encapsulation services are complete. Since an encapsulated crawl space is dry and capable of keeping pests out, you can safely store your belongings there.
Finding additional storage space can benefit most homeowners–but without encapsulation, crawl spaces often do not adequately keep your items safe from damage. Encapsulation essentially guarantees that you’ll have a dependable storage space that is both safe and dry.
Greater Energy Efficiency
Our final benefit of crawl space encapsulation is one of the more unexpected ones. By encapsulating your crawl space, you’ll likely also be helping your home become more energy efficient.
The airtight nature of an encapsulated crawl space makes it more difficult for outside air to get into your home. This means your heating and cooling systems won’t have to work as hard to keep your living spaces comfortable, ultimately leading to a more sustainable home and lower energy bills.
How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost?
Now that you know the main benefits of crawl space encapsulation, it is time to compare those benefits to the cost of this service. As you might expect, crawl space encapsulation costs can vary depending on several factors, including the size of your crawl space.
According to some recent estimates, the average crawl space encapsulation cost is just over $8,000. However, these projects typically fall within a range of about $1,500 at the low end, and up to around $15,000 at the high end.
In addition to those monetary costs, you’ll also need to invest some time into your crawl space encapsulation project. This will include seeking the best crawl space encapsulation team and setting aside time for the process.
At first glance, some may be quick to decide that crawl space encapsulation is something that calls for too much time, money, and effort to be worth it–but since encapsulation can prevent many costly problems in the future and comes with other advantages as well, many who choose encapsulation find that the benefits outweigh the costs in the long run.
A Few Signs You Might Need Crawl Space Encapsulation
If you are still on the fence about encapsulating your crawl space, it can be helpful to understand the signs indicating that this service is necessary for you. While encapsulation is a viable preventative measure even if you don’t have any crawl space issues, the signs below highlight that encapsulating your crawl space is something you should consider doing sooner rather than later:
- Standing water in your crawl space
- Excessive moisture in the form of humidity or condensation
- Visible mold and mildew accumulations
- Signs of pest infestations
- Dank scents that seep into your home
Each warning sign makes it all the more likely that crawl space encapsulation is worth your time and money. When left unattended, moisture and pests can lead to significant damage, which may be shockingly expensive. Fortunately, crawl space encapsulation proves to be one of the best ways to prevent such damage.
Want to Learn More about Crawl Space Encapsulation?
Although the article above lays out some of the most essential points about whether or not crawl space encapsulation is worth it, there’s a good chance you might have more questions. If so, we invite you to contact our team to learn more.
At HydroHelp911, we serve Charlotte, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas with crawl space encapsulation, waterproofing, and crawl space repair services. Our expert team will help you decide whether crawl space encapsulation is right for you. If the answer to that question is “yes,” we’ll also be ready to provide you with a free estimate and the best crawl space encapsulation service you can find in the area.
