Crawl space encapsulation is the long-term fix, not just a treatment. It means sealing the entire crawl space off from ground moisture and outside humidity with a heavy-duty vapor barrier, sealing vents and gaps, and in a lot of cases adding a dehumidifier to keep humidity controlled year-round.
We recommend this to homeowners in Chicago, IL who've already dealt with mold once and don't want to keep paying for the same problem, or who have a crawl space that stays damp no matter what season it is. It's also worth it if you're noticing higher energy bills, since an open crawl space pulls in outside air that your HVAC then has to fight against.
The work starts with cleaning out the space completely – old insulation, debris, and any existing mold get removed and treated first. Then we lay a thick polyethylene vapor barrier across the entire floor and up the walls, seal all seams and penetrations, and close off vents that were letting humid outside air in. If drainage is an issue, we'll add a sump system before sealing anything up. A dehumidifier gets added last, sized to the space, so humidity stays in a safe range without you thinking about it.
Cost depends mostly on square footage and how much prep work is needed before we can seal – a crawl space with existing mold or standing water costs more to prep than one that's just been left unsealed.
If you're tired of dealing with your crawl space every year, encapsulation is the fix. Call (213) 871-1085 for a quote for your Chicago, IL home.
