WHY IS CRAWL SPACE ENCAPSULATION IMPORTANT?
Installing a crawl space encapsulation system will:
- Discourage the growth of allergens and indoor air pollutants.
- Prevent damage to organic building materials from mold, mildew, moisture, and termites.
- Prevent pests and critters from living (and dying) in the area, and polluting the home’s environment.
- Prevent moisture and humidity from causing structural issues to the home.
- Convert dark and dirty areas to clean and useable storage space.
- Prevent cancer-causing Radon gas from infiltrating the home and its living spaces.
CRAWL SPACE ENCAPSULATION SOLUTIONS
Weinstein Construction’s crawl space specialists can help you keep moisture away from your home’s crawl spaces, safeguarding the value of your property and helping to make your home safe and healthy for all who live there. We are experts at crawl space insulation and moisture barrier solutions.
WHAT IS A CRAWL SPACE?
A crawl space is a shallow space beneath the first floor of a home, which often provides access to plumbing or wiring. It typically consists of a dirt floor and permanent vents to the outdoors, and is constructed out of hollow masonry blocks or poured concrete walls. These construction methods offer the home little or no protection against moisture or critter intrusion that can cause long-term structural damage and pose a serious health risk for vulnerable family members.
When a home’s crawl space is vented and has exposed soil, groundwater and rainwater seeps into the soil, continuously releasing damaging water vapor into the home. Moreover, even more moisture is getting into the home from the humid air which moves in and out of the crawl space vents on both hot days (turning into moisture when hitting the cooler earth inside) or simply bringing in moisture during the wet season.
The humidity and mold growing inside the crawl space are bad for the structural integrity of a home and can lead to sticky windows, buckling hardwood floors, bent or rotting wood framing, rusty fabricated metal parts, and higher energy bills.
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HOW SHOULD HOMEOWNERS TAKE CARE OF CRAWL SPACES?
There is an effective and reliable solution that can provide families with a healthy and comfortable living space, prevent damage to the home, and lower energy bills. Today’s top building scientists all agree that homeowners should install an affordable crawl space encapsulation system and a dehumidifier which prevents humid air that breeds mold, mildew, and fungus, gives life to nasty critters and bugs, and rots a home from the inside out.
There are probably a lot of companies claiming to be the best crawl space encapsulation contractors near you, but the crawl space specialist with Weinstein Construction have over 45 years of experience and reputation to help you determine the best solutions for your needs and your budget.
AM I BREATHING CRAWL SPACE AIR IF IT IS VENTED AND UNLINED?
Yes, you are definitely breathing whatever is in the air of your crawl space, when that area is vented and unlined! This is because the warm and humid air inside a crawl space is not staying in there, but rather is leaking out and rising into your home’s living areas. In fact, all homes have a strong suction force at their lower levels, which draws in outside air, creating an airflow from the ground all the way up to the roof of the home! And so, air from your basement and crawl space is indeed traveling up your home! If your crawl space is a dirty, bacteria and fungus-infested space, whatever nastiness is in its air it is being funneled into the kitchen, living room, and bedrooms upstairs!
VENTED CRAWL SPACES CREATE MOLD AND MILDEW AND COST MORE TO HEAT AND COOL!
Research by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory has shown that a vented crawlspace usually increases the moisture level under a home, rather than keep it dry. This is because crawlspaces typically collect moisture from groundwater saturation, rain runoff, overflowing gutters, and leaky pipes. All this moisture condenses on cooler wood surfaces, promoting fungal growth, wood rot, and allowing harmful bacteria to multiple and get breathed-in by family members. Moreover, the vents allow small rodents access into the area, where they often die, decompose, and create a health hazard!
To add insult to injury, moist crawl spaces actually cost more money to heat and air-condition, as a damp and wet area takes more energy to heat or cool, and this translates into higher energy bills. While some homeowners decide to “take matters into their own hands” and seal their crawl space vent openings, this actually increases the level of moisture, mold, mildew, and fungus, creating a potentially deadly situation if the basement or crawl space has in it a ventilated-type of combustible equipment like a home water heater!
HUMIDITY + MOISTURE = STRUCTURAL DAMAGE
Moisture can damage homes in many ways. For example, mold, mildew, fungus, wood rot, and dead pests, can pose a health hazard and lead to foundation structural damage! At the very least, such damage can lead to sticky windows, buckling hardwood floors, bent or rotting wood framing, rusty fabricated metal parts, and higher energy bills.
But there are solutions that Weinstein Construction’s crawl space contractors can use to solve such problems! Our crawl space repair “encapsulation” (sealing) methods insulate the crawl space areas under your home from outside elements. We literally wrap the entire area of your crawl space with a layer of ultra-durable polyethylene liner which seals and protects from moisture and assault by various critters. In doing so, we also cover vents and port doors to offer full insulation.
The costs to remove unhealthy mold from a home or repair structural damage from moisture can be exponentially higher than simply using a crawl space encapsulation method for protection. Why live with mold and fungus? In this case, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”
Weinstein Construction’s experts can also take care of your home’s drainage problems, which occur when water does not properly drain away from the home’s crawl space. Ensuring proper drainage is very important because unwanted moisture can damage your home’s foundation by literally shifting (and potentially cracking it) through the forces of expansion and shrinkage of the soil upon which the structure’s concrete foundation footing sits.
ARE THERE ADDITIONAL WAYS TO PREVENT CRAWL SPACE REPAIR ISSUES?
Many homes also have faulty grading of the areas around the structure, as well as a lack of rain gutters. When the soil around the home is not graded properly, and when rain gutters are not present, crawl space moisture issues occur because rain water enters the area. Such repeated wetting of building materials day-after-day offers a “perfect storm” environment that richly supports mold growth, termites, and structural harm due to wood rot.
In such cases, Weinstein Construction’s experts can help mitigate both existing and potential damage to your home by adding crawl house water vapor obstacles that are paired with dehumidifiers. Various options are available here, including:
• Proper grading around the home, which directs moisture away from the structure.
• Installing, repairing, or cleaning out gutters and downspouts.
• Adding downspout extensions and exit lines to direct water away from the home.
• Adding interior or exterior waterproofing.
• Installing crawl house ventilation.
VAPOR BARRIER
To eliminate damaging water vapor from a crawl space, Weinstein Construction’s crawl space specialists will add a vapor barrier liner to this area. This crawl space liner is made from ultra-durable polyethylene which resists punctures and tears. Please note, this is not the cheap crawl space vapor barrier from Home Depot, or the crawl space vapor barrier from Lowes! This is a high-quality liner that is blended with anti-bacterial materials, which offers protection against mold and bacteria. This attractive and affordable liner is durable enough to last for decades, keeping the crawl space dry and clean and safeguarding the important financial investment you have made in your home.
DRAINAGE MATTING
Weinstein Construction’s drainage matting solution is made from dimpled polyethylene matting that creates raised spaces which prevent water from settling on, or seeping into, the home’s concrete floor. Such matting also helps prevent water pockets from forming under the vapor barrier by guiding water to a nearby pump. Drainage matting is an absolute must for concrete crawl spaces!
SUMP PUMPS AND DRAINS
Adding a sump pump system and drains can complete a “holistic” crawl space repair layout. A sump pump will keep your home’s crawl space area dry from flooding, for example, from a plumbing leak. When the presence of water is detected, the sump pump automatically pumps the water out from the crawl space helping to prevent another crawl space repair issue. Secondary sump pumps can also be installed as a backup solution.
VENT DOORS AND COVERS
For a clean, dry, and energy-efficient crawl space, Weinstein Construction’s crawl space contractors add crawl space ventilation fans and foundation vent doors and covers that can keep your home safe from harmful outside elements. At that point, we also install a crawl space dehumidifier for even better results!
CRAWL SPACE ACCESS SYSTEM
Because moisture and humidity can easily make their way into your crawl space, an access system such as “The Turtl” can be an important solution to safeguard your home. The Turtl is composed of extra tough and durable vinyl which insulates the crawl space from extreme outdoor temperatures. Made in various attractive colors, The Turtl’s modern crawl space door design can complement any home’s needs. Give Weinstein Construction crawl space contractors a call to discuss the benefits of this unique system!
CRAWL SPACE ENCAPSULATION LOS ANGELES
If you are sitting down to Google, “Crawl Space Contractors near me” or “crawl space encapsulation contractors near you” look no further! Weinstein Construction’s crawl space specialists have been designing and installing permanent and effective crawl space systems since 1977!
We can tailor our services to your home’s particular size and needs! Call us today 866-771-4847 for a free consultation where we can explain how crawl space repair works to safeguard the investment you have made in your home!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A crawl space is just what the name says. It is typically an unfinished space in your home’s basement or under its roof that you cannot stand up in, but need to crawl through. Crawl spaces are used to access wiring or plumbing pipes and other fixtures in your home that are typically difficult to control. It is very likely that you have no desire to go crawl into such a space! If you are adventurous and go looking for, but cannot find, a crawl space below your house, you may not have one. However, if you have a crawl space and never inspected it, or if you are unsure, we will gladly come to your home for a free, no-obligation inspection and give you a definitive answer. Crawl spaces should always be inspected, or you risk damaging your home!
Yes, of course. Some of our customers choose to simply seal their crawl space without adding waterproofing. Having said that, Weinstein Construction’s experts will always recommend waterproofing options, just to be on the safe side, in case you experience a pipe leak or other damaging water intrusion.
Actually, no! In most cases, this is a simple and cost-effective job that does not require a permit. Occasionally, an extensive job may require a permit, but when this happens, we can take care of the whole permitting process for you. If required, Weinstein Construction can also partner with civil engineering firms near you to provide you with exceptional quality engineering plans for such a project.
Crawl space services are very affordable, especially when you compare their cost to the damage that can happen to your home from water intrusion, damp, rot, termites or pest infestation. When crawl space problems get bad, the cost of repairing them can be very pricey. In a worst-case scenario, the damage can be so bad that it is not even repairable (for example, when deadly bacteria and mold spores overtake a home). The price of having your crawl space protected is an investment that you make in your future. You know what they say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”
Crawl space problems can be very serious and should not be ignored. If a problem exists in a crawl space, it must be taken care of ASAP. The trouble is, most people never go into their crawlspace, which means they cannot see if there is a problem exists until it’s too late, and the damage is done! Why take a chance? The longer crawl space issues fester, the greater the damage to your home. If you haven’t been inside your crawl space in a while, go inside and have a look. If you want Weinstein Construction’s experts to go in, free-of-charge, and without obligation, just give us a call! If you’ve been inside your crawl space and noticed any water, mold, damp areas, or dead critters, then you must take action immediately! Water and dampness are a crawl space’s worst enemy and mold can be very dangerous to the health and well-being of all who live in the home. Beyond the health issues discussed above, water can rot the wood that is holding up your home, which may present a serious risk when the next earthquake hits. If you are not sure whether you need crawl space repairs, call Weinstein Construction, and one of our expert inspectors will come to your home and inspect your crawl space at no charge, and without any obligation on your part!
TESTIMONIALS
Weinstein Construction redid my foundation and retaining wall and I’m very happy with the work!
We had our basement retrofitted. Very courteous to us, very attentive. I was very impressed with the people who came to do the job. They were polite, well dressed, and really seemed to know what they were doing. We feel a lot safer now than we would have otherwise.
We had used Weinstein to earthquake retrofit our house. First, my intention was to do it myself, but we got a very nice sales rep over and he went through the whole procedure and by putting a thought into I concluded that it was not worth it for me to spend 14 days under the house. They came out, a top professional crew, they did it in a day, and we really loved what they did.
We are pleased with the results. The people were on time, they were neat, clean, and even the “big boss” was very nice and accommodating, so we’re happy with the services.
I was very happy. Very clean job. Very satisfied, and I recommend it to everybody.
We had our house retrofitted. Immediately we noticed the stability of it, even when we walked the house. Now it’s so much better and it’s stabilized, we’re very confident. It went very well and we’re very pleased.
They did a great job, they were on time, clean, and the price was right. I recommend you do the same.
House was built in 1933. They did the right job, they did a very good job and we’re very happy with the results. I recommend them.
