From wood rot to mold to mildew, fungus, and bacteria, there are many unsavory side effects that come with water intrusion in your home. The effects of excess water can both jeopardize the structure of your home and expose members of the household to hazardous fumes. Over time this will both significantly decrease the property value of the home and endanger members of the household. Fortunately there is an easy way to prevent these issues from occurring. Crawl space vapor barriers will provide the insulation needed to prevent water intrusion in your home, with a single installation providing 20 years or more of protection.
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What are crawl space vapor barriers?
Crawl space vapor barriers lock out moisture and water by providing an insulated seal over the opening. Most vapor barriers are constructed from polyethylene plastic sheeting, poly, with the thickness of the poly varying depending on the needs of the project. Reinforced poly sheeting is able to offer enormous protection against water intrusion, with the average poly sheeting crawl space vapor barrier lasting 20 years or more. Overall this process is highly effective for preventing moisture entry.
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Does my home need crawl space vapor barriers?
If you’ve noticed signs of water intrusion in your home, then it’s best to book a professional evaluation to determine the best course of action for eliminating the excess moisture. If you notice any traces of mildew, rust, rot, or mold, then it’s critical to intervene as soon as possible before they issues exacerbate. Signs of these presences include increased difficulty in breathing, allergies, asthma, headaches, and other related illnesses. Other signs of water intrusion to look out for include pools of water following rain, salt deposits on the crawl space walls, offensive musty odors, pest/insect intrusion, and peeling paint on the home’s exterior.
Additionally, certain homes are predisposed to crawl space water intrusion. Older homes are more likely to need crawl space insulation due to the presence of ventilation built into the crawl spaces. These tiny ventilated holes that tend to be in the crawl spaces of older homes were intended to increase air access, but instead, they tend to trap moisture beneath the home. Crawl space insulation is also required more often in humid environments, which run a higher chance of moisture entering the home. Additionally, homes that have exposed dirt crawl spaces are more susceptible to water intrusion, making crawl space insulation highly beneficial for these homes. If your home has any of these characteristics, and especially if it has multiple problematic factors, then there is a very high chance that crawl space vapor insulation could enormously protect your property.
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Benefits of crawl space vapor barriers
Vapor barriers work extremely effectively against preventing water intrusion, saving the structure of the home from damage and decay. However, the crawl space insulation process is also able to protect a variety of areas of the home as well. Crawl space vapor barrier insulation deters moisture from collecting on pipes, which can lead to them breaking over time due to rust buildup. The insulation process also greatly lowers the risk of electrical and wire hazards that can occur when moisture mixes with electrics.
Without moisture protection, wires can rust, electrical shorts can occur, and fires can be sparked.
Overall, crawl space vapor barriers are needed to provide long-term protection for your home. In order to guarantee that your home remains healthy and intact, then proper insulation is a necessary measure to take. The protection insulation offers will allow the price of your home to remain steady and even rise over time, guarding your property value in a cost-effective way.
Long-term crawl space insulation savings
Crawl space vapor barriers are long-term investments in the lasting health of your home. Since fungus and other moisture-related issues can spread very quickly, a building can rapidly deteriorate without proper insulation. Poly is an extremely reliable material, so if you wish to cut costs on your crawl space insulation, thinner poly can be used. However, it’s important to use professional-strength “virgin” poly, since poly material you can purchase from hardware stores often is riddled with impurities that decrease its long-term efficiency. Therefore, professional poly insulation can provide decades of insulation benefits, saving the homeowner quite a deal of money through long-term protection.
In addition to protecting the structure of the home and guarding against the entry of harmful bacterias and funguses, crawl space vapor barriers are also lauded for their significant energy savings. Once the crawl space is thoroughly sealed, energy savings can drop by as much as 15% each year. Though this process with be especially beneficial for humid environments, it will also help homes located in dry environments cut energy costs over time.
Ready to get started on protecting your home?
Invest in the long-term health of your structure and avoid water damage repairs by preventing moisture from entering your home in the first place. Crawl space vapor barriers will provide full insulation to keep your home protected from the dangers of water intrusion.
At California Foundation Works, we’ll assist you in selecting, measuring, and installing the perfect insulation for your crawl space. We’re more than happy to answer any and all questions you have about the process!
