7 Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation & Repair

A musty, wet crawl space creates unhealthy and unsafe conditions for your family and home. The quicker you recognize something is wrong and reach out for help, the easier it will be to fix.

This typically involves crawl space repair and encapsulation measures.

When homeowners hear about crawl space encapsulation, they might believe it only has one purpose – moisture control. While that is the main goal of any encapsulation system, there are a ton of benefits that come along with this handy tool.

By the end of this article, you’ll know more about how you and your home can benefit from investing in crawl space encapsulation and how our expert team at Indiana Foundation Service can help.

Common Crawl Space Problems

It can be tricky deciphering what problems stem from your crawl space and what might be caused by other factors. Here are some of the most common symptoms that signal damage in this area under your house.

What is Crawl Space Encapsulation? 

While many homes in Indiana have a basement, others have a full or partial crawl space. Most crawl spaces are built directly over the dirt ground and exposed to open air through vents built across their walls.

Crawl space encapsulation involves installing some of these solutions:

Additionally, crawl space support posts reinforce and can help lift sagging floors and floor joists.

With these crawl space encapsulation systems in place, your crawl space is protected against moisture, so you don’t have to worry about these issues from occurring. This is the first benefit of encapsulation – safeguarding your crawl space from damage. However, this protection spreads further into your home.

Crawl Space Encapsulation Benefits

Now that you understand the basic process behind encapsulation, let’s explore the other benefits that make encapsulation worth it.  

1. Lower Utility Bills 

Because of Indiana’s hot, muggy summers and cold winters, seasonal air flows in through open vents. This results in temperature inconsistency, as well as warmer or cooler floors above your crawl space. Your HVAC system then works overtime to keep your living space comfortable, resulting in higher bills.

But when you close crawl space vents and encapsulate the space, you’ll create a conditioned environment with more constant temperatures. Encapsulation allows you to be less reliant on your heating and air conditioning and results in energy and cost savings.

2. Mold Prevention

Mold loves damp and dark areas like your crawl space, and it easily develops and thrives because it has access to water, humid air, and organic matter like wooden joists.

However, with the right waterproofing, encapsulation, and dehumidification solutions in place, you create a controlled environment that is less hospitable for mold to form and spread.

3. Pest Control 

Believe it or not, encapsulation actually aids in pest control. Although eradicating all pests on your property requires a pest control professional, encapsulation creates an unattractive environment and makes it more difficult for rodents, bugs, or any critter to get into your crawl space. 

Since the barrier separates your crawl space from the ground and closes up any openings, animals have no way of nestling under your home. This can save you some expenses and keep your air quality cleaner as animals won’t leave behind urine, feces, or carcasses below your floors.  

4. Better Air Quality 

Similarly, encapsulation improves your home’s air quality in general. Two factors that contribute to unpleasant and unhealthy odors are pests and mold. Pests leave their mark behind, as we described above, and mold has a distinct stench. However, encapsulation protects against these nuisances and their effects.  

When mold forms in your crawl space, it releases spores into the air. If left unchecked, these spores will make their way into your home through the air conditioning and spread throughout your living space, thanks to the stack effect. Spores can cause allergic reactions, musty smells, or in some cases, respiratory issues, and hospitalization. Encapsulation prevents mold in the first place; in turn, your air quality stays pristine. 

5. Prevents Repair Costs 

Encapsulation and repair also prevent structural damage from occurring in your crawl space and other parts of your home. When wooden beams in your crawl space are exposed to moisture, it can cause a creaky floor that bends under your feet with each step. If left unchecked, it could collapse completely.

Extra repair costs and other headaches can all be avoided with proper encapsulation and repair. Protecting your crawl space from damage in the first place prevents other repairs and saves you money in the long run.  

6. Better Quality of Life 

All of these benefits lead to increased security for your home, and you can experience all the benefits of encapsulation with joy. Your air becomes healthier, the entire structure of your home stays protected, you don’t have to worry about pests or mold, and you can save money in various ways.  

Overall, encapsulation arguably offers the most bang for your buck when it comes to repair methods. With both monetary value and mental value, encapsulation is a valuable investment for any homeowner with a crawl space foundation.  

7. Enhances Home Value

Whether you plan to sell your house in the foreseeable future or hand it down to future generations, any repairs you make – including crawl space repair and encapsulation – will only make your home more valuable. Plus, most buyers are looking for turnkey houses without problems like wet crawl spaces that they need to worry about fixing. Repairing and protecting your crawl space today ensures it is safeguarded for the future.

Trust Indiana Foundation Service for Crawl Space Repairs  

Crawl space problems can wreak havoc on your home’s safety and your family’s health. You can put a stop to these issues without compromising on quality. Contact Indiana Foundation Service today to book your free inspection and estimate with one of our experts.

For 30 years, we have helped homeowners throughout Indiana transform their crawl spaces and homes with reliable solutions. We are eager to assist you, as well, and are committed to keeping you and your home safe with quality service. If you want to learn more about crawl space repair and encapsulation, don’t hesitate to contact us.