So you did your research. You checked online and read some articles; by now, you must have a good grasp of the crawl space encapsulation process. You also probably understand why you need it and how much it costs. But one question remains: How long does it take? And what can make this process take longer?
Thankfully, with our combined 50 years of experience, we at Restore-It have a good idea of the timeline for this process and what elements can delay it. And guess what? We are here to tell you all about it.
This article will address our timeframe for a regular crawl space encapsulation, including all the factors that can delay the process. We hope that with our help, you will have a reasonable estimate of when the project will be ready so you can schedule appropriately.
Our typical timeline of crawl space encapsulation
At Restore-It, we pride ourselves on both the quality of our work and our response time. So follow along as we talk about our regular crawl space encapsulation project timeline, step by step:
1. Initial inspection of the crawl space (1 day)
After you call us and schedule an appointment, two of our technicians will visit you for an inspection. First, we begin with the exterior of the house. We will look for non-functioning gutters, air and water intrusion sources, and any other issues affecting your home's crawl space.
Next, we will thoroughly inspect the interior of the crawl space. For safety reasons, two of our technicians will go down there to check for problems like mold, pests, and structural concerns. Throughout this process, our technicians will take measurements, readings, and pictures to document the outside and inside of the crawl space and its condition.
2. Planning and estimation of the encapsulation (1 week)
Our technicians will write a report detailing everything we found and an action plan based on the initial inspection. This report will include all the materials and workload required to complete the project and an initial estimate.
3. Crawl space encapsulation (5-7 days)
We proceed with our standard process for crawl space encapsulation, which includes:
- Cleaning the space of any obstructions.
- Sealing all the gaps and vents of the crawl space.
- Installing a new crawl space access cover.
- Encapsulating the walls and piers with the vapor barrier.
- Installing the dehumidifier, a hygrometer, and a thermostat.
4. Final inspection and quality check (1 day)
Once everything is complete, our technicians will perform a final inspection, documenting the area's state and checking on the dehumidifier.
5. Biannual check-up (1 day)
We recommend you schedule a visit with our technicians at least twice a year. During this inspection, we will verify the vapor barrier's state and the dehumidifier's condition. We will also change the air filters to help the equipment do its job more effectively and prolong its life.
What can delay the crawl space encapsulation project?
Certain conditions may require extra work for the project to be effective, which can delay the whole operation. Let's dive into what can affect the estimated time for the completion of a crawl encapsulation project:
1. The crawl space's condition
Usually this is the main factor that determines the general timeline of the project. What are the moisture levels? Is there mold? What about structural damages? These questions significantly impact whether the job will take longer or if we will have a smooth operation.
Extracting standing water, remediating mold, and repairing building materials in a cramped space like a crawl space can extend the project for several days.
2. If the size of the crawl space is too big
The larger your home's crawl space, the longer the project will take. As the crawl space mirrors the house's footprint, we consider an area of around 500 to 2,000 square feet to be the average. If the home is bigger than this, more materials will be needed. If it is a considerable space, we will require different equipment, such as a larger dehumidifier. All of this adds up to the time required for installation.
3. If the height of the crawl space is too small
Cleaning up the debris and waste matter from rodents or insects can take some time. However, this is not as laborious as the most significant hurdle regarding obstructions in a crawl space: a height below 2 feet.
Because this height is too small, it poses a threat to the safety of our technicians, as they may get stuck in the place. This makes tasks like cleaning and encapsulating extremely difficult. When we find ourselves in this situation, we have no choice but to dig the crawl space. Depending on the case, we might need to dig out the whole crawlspace, which can take 1 to 2 weeks.
4. Faulty crawl space insulation
Sadly, many companies don't offer proper crawl space encapsulation. If you were unlucky enough and got only partial preventive measures for humidity, you might require an adequate crawl space encapsulation system beneath your floors.
Speaking from experience, we have been in situations where we had to remove paperback insulation from the floor joists because they tend to become the perfect breeding ground for mold. Removing can take our technicians from a couple of hours to a whole day. And that's if mold isn't already present in the space.
5. Removing mold in the crawl space
Because of its potential to threaten the integrity of the building materials and your health due to the "stack effect," our technicians will have to manually remove the mold. After scrubbing the affected area, they will spray a solution, also known as a "biocide," to prevent future mold growth. Depending on the extent of the affected areas, this process can take a day, adding up to the length of the project.
6. Extra features for the crawl space
Sometimes, water intrusion into the space needs to be prevented. Our technicians can install a sump pump connected to a drainage system with french drains to deal with this issue. Installing this requires extra excavation, usually adding up from 3 to 4 days of extra working time.
7. An extended travel time
The final factor to consider is distance. While we are happy to serve our customers all over South Arkansas, our shop is located in El Dorado. This means that transporting the materials and technicians needed for a job in Magnolia or Camden, for example, will require more time than doing so within city limits.
Scheduling for a crawl space encapsulation project can be difficult if you don't have a general idea of how long the process takes. However, this shouldn't be a problem anymore now that we have shown you our regular working timeframe and the factors that can extend it. Having learned all of this with us at Restore-It, we think you are ready to contact us. Your path to a renovated crawl space is waiting!
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