You’ve insulated the attic, caulked around the windows and doors, weather stripped everything you possibly can, and your energy bills are still sky high. It might be time to have a look at your crawl space and see if encapsulation should be the next thing on your homeowner to-do list. Choosing the right equipment and materials such as crawl space vapor barrier from Home Depot will make your encapsulation job a success.
What Do I Need?
The basic components of a crawlspace encapsulation job are available at places like Home Depot or from companies that specialize in crawl space encapsulation. One of the first things that you should do is have a crawl space encapsulation company assess your job. You may need more advanced services such as foundation repair and mold removal than all your DIY chops can handle. Your basic elements will be:
- Insulation: Several types of insulation make a crawl space that has an even temperature and a high R rating. Typical materials include spray foam insulation, fiberglass batt insulation, and foam board insulation.
- In excessively humid areas, humidity control is critical: Dehumidifiers in your crawl space help to prevent condensation and work with a vapor barrier to keep everything nice and dry.
- Sump pumps: Sump pumps in the crawlspace operate to remove water from the foundation that gets in there either due to drainage issues or downspout issues.
- Vapor barrier: Crawlspace vapor barrier from Home Depot can present a bewildering array of thicknesses and choices. Understanding the measurement of a mil is critical to choosing a high-quality product.
Thumb Guide to Vapor Barrier
The first thing to understand about vapor barrier is that it doesn’t just work one way. Vapor barrier has two jobs – preventing intrusion of moisture and water and allowing moisture and water to exit safely. Choosing the correct thickness for the job should not be wholly dependent on budget. You need to choose the correct mil for a durable and high-quality finish. A mil is about the thickness of a sheet of paper, and an inexpensive plastic grocery bag is anywhere from .5 mil to 1 mil.
It helps to get recommendations from a professional crawl space encapsulation company, and they may offer entire kits at a better price than purchasing the individual components from a home improvement store. Talk to a professional to get an assessment of your job site and their best recommendations on how to proceed.