The Average Crawlspace
Most crawlspaces are prone to to moisture problems. Moisture can enter the crawlspace area in one of three ways:
- Liquid or bulk moisture from the outside
- Vapor introduced from the unsealed dirt
- Vapor introduced through the crawlspace vents from the outside
To most people's surprise, what's in the crawlspace is also in the house! Up to 40% of the air we breathe on the first floor of our home comes from the crawlspace. We find that most crawlspaces are connected to the living space via holes, cracks, and gaps that allow crawlspace air and moisture to enter your home, introducing contaminants and decreasing air quality. Unsealed crawlspaces are the main source of high moisture levels in the home.
In many cases, the home's ductwork is located in the crawlspace. Leaks in this ductwork can actually vacuum the crawlspace air up into the house, every time the system turns on.
A Crawlspace Vapor Barrier System is the Answer
When moisture is uncontrolled in a crawlspace, it moves into the structure of the building. At 14% wood-moisture-content, wood becomes appealing to termites. At 20%, surface mold begins to grow. At 30%, it begins to rot.
Sealing the crawlspace from the earth and outside air is the solution to moisture and dampness in the home. Some contractors and homeowners will simply put down a thin, non-UV-resistant plastic liner, like a 6-mil plastic liner. This really has no effect as there's still too much opportunity for air to enter from (air is very small and can come through crawl space doors or hatches, crawlspace vents, pipe penetrations, porous concrete walls, the hollow cores of blocks, and various other gaps and holes. Our approach includes solutions to all these challenges.
