Raising a family can be challenging but rewarding. But there are ways to make it easier on yourself, especially since with each person in the household comes their own collection of belongings. Whether you have a child or multiple children, it can start getting crowded after years of birthdays, school supplies, seasonal events, and more.
But if your home is one with a dirt crawlspace, then you have an extra storage space that’s just waiting to be used. But before you start putting things in boxes and containers to neatly store away, you’ll want to consider making sure your crawlspace is prepared for storage use. A dirt crawlspace not only has the potential to be messy, but it can lead to a variety of problems related to excess moisture.
The solution to this comes in the form of crawlspace encapsulation.
Why Does My Crawlspace Need Encapsulation?
Dirt crawlspaces were originally meant to protect your Virginia home from moisture and the soil beneath. But they can become traps for that moisture, especially in humid climates, and areas with frequent rains. With excess moisture in the crawlspace, a variety of problems may spring up affecting your crawlspace, and your home, and they would also affect anything you might try storing in there.
Here are some of the problems you may face when you have a damp crawlspace:
- Wood rot
- Mold growth
- Termites
- Rodent pests
Both wood rot and termites can leave homes damaged as they consume the wood.
Pests like cockroaches, mice and rats will range into your living spaces as they forage for food. Their droppings and urine can contain allergens and diseases. They can contaminate any food they touch, requiring you to dispose of those food items.
As for mold, there are several kinds that you may encounter in your home. In a damp crawlspace, they will often grow on any wooden structures as moisture activates their spores. But as the mold spreads and releases more spores, those spores can get sucked up into the rest of your home via the Stack Effect (or chimney effect).
What Does Crawlspace Encapsulation Mean?
The purpose of crawlspace encapsulation is to keep that excess moisture out so that the problems above do not happen. The main component is a vapor barrier lining that should cover the crawlspace floor, any wooden supports, and the crawlspace walls.
Depending on your crawlspace’s situation, you might need a crawlspace dehumidifier to control the moisture levels in your crawlspace better.
Should your crawlspace also be flooding with groundwater, especially whenever it rains, it is recommended that you also consider crawlspace waterproofing to control any intrusive groundwater.
An Encapsulated Crawlspace Means Possibilities
Once your crawlspace has been encapsulated, it can be used as a safe and dry storage space for anything you and your family may not be using.
Moreover, since it’s good enough for safekeeping your belongings, your encapsulated crawlspace can be repurposed into whatever you desire. Here are just some of the projects that homeowners have done with their encapsulated crawlspaces.
- Play space for young children
- Indoor gardening space
- Wine cellar
These are just a few ideas that some creative homeowners have done to their encapsulated crawlspace.
How to Find a Reliable Crawlspace Company
There are a lot of companies and contractors out there who offer services in crawlspace encapsulation and crawlspace waterproofing. But while you’re doing your research, you should take care to ensure that a company meets at least these requirements.
- Decades of experience
- A strong warranty
- Company is licensed and insured
- Many positive online reviews
Your crawlspace is just as important as any other part of your home, especially once it’s been encapsulated and is ready to be used. By choosing a crawl space encapsulation service that meets the above requirements, you can feel more confident about your crawlspace being properly protected from outside moisture. For a licensed and insured company with over 60 years of experience in encapsulating and waterproofing crawlspaces, consider giving ’58 Foundations a call!