You may have heard about professional crawl space encapsulation by browsing online or reading one of our articles. If so, you probably already know it's not covered by the insurance company, meaning you will have to pay for the work if you do it at your house. But why invest in such a project? What is there to gain? Well, many things.
Thanks to more than 50 years of combined experience working on crawl space encapsulations, we are familiar with everything involved in this process. This includes all the reasons you should invest in it by hiring a reputable encapsulation company.
In this article, we will talk about why investing in a professional encapsulation crew is worth it. We will also discuss the health benefits and how encapsulation can benefit your bank account. So join us and discover the multiple benefits of letting your home crawl space in the hands of professionals.
Why should I work with a professional crawl space company?
Technically speaking, you could do your crawl space encapsulation project. However, there are benefits to working with a reputable company with the experience and knowledge to handle this project. Here are some of the reasons why we think you should count on a professional encapsulation crew:
Save time with professional crawl space encapsulation
Imagine descending into a cave. As you go along, you encounter a space about 2 feet tall. As you crawl forward, you are welcomed by a dark, dirty space. The air is humid, creeping with all sorts of critters. Now imagine you have to clean it of debris, tape it wall to wall with liner, and put and connect special equipment on the site. Guess what? That's what working in a crawl space is like.
Can you imagine how long it will take you? Hiring a professional team can save you a lot of hours. Precious time you could better spend with your family instead of working in such a tight, dark, and possibly dangerous area.
Protect yourself from dangers in your crawl space
An untreated crawl space accumulates much moisture, especially in a humid area like South Arkansas during summer. And that's precisely the type of place where microbial agents (like mold and mildew) love to thrive. Because it is a humid space protected from outside elements, it can also become a nest for various pests, including rats, snakes, and bugs. Unless you are wearing protective equipment, we don't recommend venturing into this kind of environment.
Not to mention the possibility of becoming pinned, trapped, or crushed by an unstable crawl space. That is why more than one person usually handles this type of job. To avoid the potential dangers of this job, you should consider hiring a reputable company.
Protect your home and save some money
However, your safety is not the only thing you can protect when hiring a professional company. Encapsulating your crawl space can be very cost-effective because it will prevent future damage to your home's building materials foundations from moisture and mold.
Both wood rot and mold can slowly erode the area, and, with enough time, they can put the structural integrity of the home's foundations at risk. Fixing this can require extensive and expensive repairs that far exceed the average cost of encapsulating a crawl space.
There is a lot of information online about how to encapsulate a space. Still, it would be best to count on a reputable encapsulation company to follow the industry standard procedure. With tried-and-tested methods, you can limit the risk of problems in the future, like the vapor barrier breaking down or an improper setup causing issues for the dehumidifier.
Ensure a high-quality job with good warranties
As we said before, you can find information online on encapsulating your home's crawl space, but be mindful that not every crawl space is the same. The conditions may be different than expected, which is why experience matters.
Professionals have a deep understanding of the job and know how to handle unique challenges that may appear during the encapsulation process.
A good, reputable company will stand by the quality of its work by offering warranties. These may include the craft and materials, such as the vapor barrier liners, the dehumidifier, and any other equipment, such as a sump pump and french drains, if used.
Get solutions tailored to your specific needs
Whether your crawl space has mold growth, structural concerns, or any other moisture-related problems, a professional's trained eye is better at promptly identifying them. With a reputable encapsulation company, you can count on a thorough inspection of your home's crawl space.
Once the inspection is complete, a comprehensive work plan will detail the specific approach needed for your home's crawl space. This plan will include everything from selecting high-quality materials that fit your particular crawl space's condition to the required equipment and work to address the project.
Crawl space encapsulation: 4 key benefits
From savings on your energy bills to improving the safety and health of your family, there are many good reasons to do crawl space encapsulation in your home. Let's explore the five most essential benefits of embarking on such a complex project:
Lower your energy bills with encapsulation
As we mentioned before, encapsulation can save you money in the long run by protecting your home. Still, there is another place where you can save some extra cash: your energy bill. "What does encapsulation have to do with my energy bills?" you probably wonder. Well, as a matter of fact, a lot.
Due to a physical mechanism known as the "stack effect," an important part of the air inside your house comes from your crawl space. Encapsulation can help prevent air intrusion, keeping out the warm air during summer and the cold air during winter, making your HVAC system work less hard. This improves the system's energy efficiency, saving you money on your energy bill.
Improve your family's health
Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies? They may sneeze often and have a runny nose, red eyes, or skin rash. Then crawl space encapsulation may be the solution you are all looking for.
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, crawl spaces can harbor mold and fungus, producing allergens, irritants, and, sometimes, toxic substances called mycotoxins. Properly encapsulating the crawl space will instantly eliminate one prominent spot where mold and bacteria can increase and lower your home's overall air quality.
Get rid of nasty pests
Crawl spaces are also the perfect environment for all sorts of critters: They're humid, protected from the rain, and have plenty of wood, which insects like termites and carpenter ants love to snack on. If you ever get down your home's crawl space, don't be surprised when you find rats, snakes, spiders, bees, and even scorpions lingering in the area. Encapsulation can play a significant role in preventing infestations.
Add value to your property
Here is a not-so-fun fact: the value of a home can be significantly reduced if it has experienced mold issues, according to data from a study by The Appraisal Journal. In the survey, the researchers asked a group of 195 people about the desirability of a property in different scenarios. When questioned about a house with a mold infestation that was treated and safe for occupancy, 42% of the respondents did not bid on the house. The other 58%? They asked for an average discount of 20%. By encapsulating your home, you can prevent this issue from ever becoming a problem in the first place.
We all understand that spending is difficult, but isn't your home your most important investment? By now, we expect you to know why it is vital to protect this investment with crawl space encapsulation and do so with a reputable encapsulation company. Now that we have gone through all the potential benefits, we have a very particular recommendation. Next, let's explore why we think we might be the right fit for your next encapsulation project.
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