El Dorado, which played an essential role during the oil boom of the 20s, is a rural city surrounded by natural attractions. This is largely thanks to its hot and humid summers and cold and dry winters. However, the same climate that allows local flora and fauna to thrive can harm your house. Many old houses in the area were built with crawl spaces underneath them, but as years went by, they were not encapsulated and, as such, presented a lot of problems.
Imagine yourself in this scenario. You walk around your house, and this persistent moldy smell is everywhere. You never ventured to look at that space below your home's bottom floor, but you do some digging around on the internet to see what’s going on. You have now figured out that your house needs crawl space encapsulation. Now, most companies in the crawl space industry won’t give you an estimate until you call them, but we are not like most companies.
Our focus as industry educators is helping you, the customer, make informed decisions for your well-being and your family's. And with over 50 years of combined experience, we are prepared to answer your questions regarding the costs of crawl space encapsulation.
Here, we will discuss the cost estimate, the processes and materials included, and the factors that may increase your final bill so you can get an idea of how much a crawl space encapsulation project may add up to.
How much do we charge for a typical crawl space encapsulation at Restore-It
As crucial as crawl space encapsulation can be for your health, getting a budget is pretty straightforward. For your typical project, the cost is calculated depending on the size of the crawl space unless we run into some extra problems that need addressing (don't worry, we will also talk about them).
After you contact us and we determine a date, two technicians will arrive at our home for an inspection. This will include checking both the outside and inside areas of the crawl space, as well as taking measurements and photos to report the state of the area. For your usual inspection, the cost is around $500, not including taxes.
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This is an example of one of our crawl space encapsulation projects.
A crawl space encapsulation project costs around $6 per square foot, taxes not included. So with a crawl space of 2,000 sq ft, the bill will amount to close to $12,000. Here is what it would consist of in a typical scenario:
- Install permanent light fixtures in the crawl space.
- Setting up a dehumidifier for the space.
- Hooking the condensation pump to the dehumidifier and the outside.
- Complete crawl space sealing with spray foam (a special foam to insulate and prevent air intrusion). Mortar will be used for the outside if necessary.
- Installment of a vapor barrier in the crawl space from wall to wall, including the floor and piers.
- Fix the vapor barrier so it's tight and can protect from moisture.
- Install a hygrometer and thermostat with an external reader so you won't need to access the crawl space to verify its condition.
- Install a sealed door to avoid the intrusion of air in the space.
While the dehumidifier installation is included, the equipment's price is an added cost dependent on the size of the crawl space. For most homes, we will use a small dehumidifier.
Crawl space encapsulation: 4 key factors that drive up the cost
Generally speaking, four key factors are crucial in determining the total cost of your crawl space encapsulation project. Next, we will discuss each in detail, so pay close attention, and let's dive in!
1. The size of the crawl space
While our prices rely on the area's square footage, we might need different types of dehumidifiers depending on the case. These dehumidifiers are specially designed to fit into crawl spaces and are considerably smaller than the industrial ones (like the ones we use in water mitigation, for example). They are also made to become permanent fixtures in the area, so we add the measuring instruments (hygrometer and thermostat) as well as the condensation pump.
A dehumidifier for an average home will cost around $2,000 and can remove up to 70 pints of water daily. However, for larger areas, we will use a larger dehumidifier, which costs around $3,000. This type of dehumidifier can remove up to 130 pints of water from the air. In both cases, it's good to remember that these will be permanent fixtures in your crawl space, hence the cost.
2. The condition of the crawl space
Issues like mold, rot, pest infestations, and even leaks must be dealt with before we can begin encapsulation. If the space in your house has not been adequately maintained for years, this may add up to your final bill.
You should also consider access to crawl space as a factor that can drive up costs. If the space is not big enough, excavation may be needed to maintain the dehumidifier above the floor level or even the entire crawl space if the height is too small and our technicians can barely move. The smaller the height, the more complex the job and the more time it takes.
3. Necessary additional fixtures
This is usually for rare occasions, as most homes won’t have to pay these extra expenses. However, to fully illustrate all cases, we must mention that the project's final price will increase if additional equipment is needed, such as a sump pump or french drains.
While a sump pump can cost around $600 and is easy to come by, installing it is a different story. This small submersible pump is installed in a crawl space to prevent flooding and requires extra labor. You see, when installing a sump pump, a “sump pit” needs to be excavated for the machine to be placed into and do its job.
Another thing that can add to the cost is the installation of french drains, which are dug into the ground and consist of a drainage system to prevent flooding. They can be used from corner to corner of the crawl space or dug to redirect water to the sump pump. Their cost is dependent upon the linear footage used.
4. The labor costs for El Dorado
As you may have noticed by now, labor is a common factor in these processes. Working in a small, tight space can become a complex, challenging task that will surely increase the time needed for the project to be completed. Because our shop is located in El Dorado, the working hours would not likely be gravely affected by traveling times within the city limits.
For safety reasons, more than one of our technicians will be at the crawl space to complete the project. If the crawl space is too big, up to four of our technicians will arrive at your home to work on the same area at a time.
While the other factors are essential in determining the expenses, the hours of labor needed will make up the bulk of the final bill.
In summary, the materials are essential to remember when determining the price, but so is the size. This will determine the type of equipment needed and affect the estimated work hours our technicians, which is the most significant price factor, will need to complete the crawl space encapsulation project.
Now that you know the costs and the factors that influence them, you should better understand what this project entails. Your following action is to contact us so you can get an initial inspection to begin working toward your renovated crawl space, improving your air quality in the process. You and your family’s health will thank you.
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