Crawl Space Encapsulation
The full version of a crawl space job. Ground, walls and seams sealed into one continuous envelope, so the space.
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Class I barrier
Vapor Barrier
Heavy sheeting laid across crawl space ground and up the walls, with the seams sealed. It is not insulation, it is what stops the ground pushing damp into the house above.
What it is
The plain
The plain
version.
Bare earth under a house gives off moisture continuously, and that moisture travels up into the floor, the framing and eventually the rooms you use. A barrier is a sealed sheet laid across the ground and run up the walls to stop it at the source.
It is often the first thing we recommend in a crawl space, because insulating over a damp floor traps the problem rather than solving it. Once the ground is covered and sealed, insulation above it can do its job.
- Type
- Class I barrier
- Covers
- Ground and walls
- Seams
- Taped and sealed
Straight answer
When we use it,
When we use it,
and when we do not.
No material is right for every job. This is where a vapor barrier earns its place, and where we would suggest something else.
A good fit for
- Crawl spaces with exposed earth
- Musty smells coming up through the floor
- Before insulating any crawl space
- Homes where the floor is always cold
We would suggest something else for
- Attics, where the issue is heat rather than ground damp
- Walls above grade
- Standing water, which needs drainage first
Common questions
About a vapor barrier.
If yours is not here, ask us on the phone.
01Is a vapor barrier the same as encapsulation?
Encapsulation is the fuller version. A barrier covers the ground; encapsulation seals the ground, walls and seams into one continuous envelope. We will tell you which your crawl space actually needs.
02Will it fix a musty smell?
It deals with the usual cause, which is moisture coming off bare ground. If there is standing water or a drainage fault, that has to be sorted first or the damp simply finds another way in.
03How long does it last?
The sheeting is durable and stays put once sealed. What shortens its life is being walked on repeatedly or torn during other work under the house.
04Does it need insulation as well?
Often, yes, but in that order. The barrier goes down first so the insulation above it is not sitting in damp air.
Compare
The other
The other
materials.
We fit all five, so the recommendation depends on the space rather than what is on the truck.
Blown-In Cellulose
Recycled paper fibre, treated for fire resistance and blown in loose. It is what we reach for most often in attics,.
Read moreFiberglass Batt
Pre-cut rolls that fit between studs and joists. Straightforward, well understood and the most economical option when.
Read moreOpen-Cell Spray Foam
Foam that expands on contact and sets soft and light. It seals into shapes nothing else reaches, which makes it the.
Read more
Free · No obligation
Not sure which
Not sure which
material you need?
We inspect it, photograph it, and tell you straight what it needs.
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Mon–Fri · 8am–6pm · Serving the Wasatch Front since 2015