Crawl Space Encapsulation in Columbia, TN
Seal the crawl space from ground moisture and outside air with a heavy liner, sealed vents and a conditioned interior.
Encapsulation lines the floor and walls of the crawl space with a heavy reinforced vapour barrier, seals it at the rim and the vents, and treats the space as part of the house rather than as outdoor air under the floor. Done properly it includes sealing the vents, insulating the walls rather than the subfloor, and conditioning the air with a dehumidifier.
The reason it works in Middle Tennessee is counterintuitive: on a humid summer day, venting a crawl space makes it wetter. Warm outside air at high humidity hits cool surfaces under the house and condenses on them. Open vents are not drying the space out, they are the delivery mechanism.
Typical cost: $5,000 - $15,000 depending on square footage, access and drainage work
When crawl space encapsulation is the right call
- Standing water, damp soil or a musty smell under the house
- Cupping or buckling hardwood floors above the crawl space
- Visible mould or white growth on joists and subfloor
- Floors that feel cold in winter despite subfloor insulation
- Insulation batts falling out of the joists onto the ground
Other services
Common questions
How long does encapsulation take?
Most residential crawl spaces are finished in two to four days. Clean-out and any drainage work take longer than the liner itself, and a badly contaminated space needs remediation first.
Does encapsulation get rid of mould?
It removes the conditions mould needs, which is moisture. Existing growth on joists usually has to be treated separately before the space is sealed, because sealing over it does not kill it.
Do I need a dehumidifier as well as the liner?
Usually yes. A liner stops moisture coming up from the soil, but it does not remove what is already in the air or what enters when someone opens the hatch. Most systems in this climate need a dehumidifier to hold humidity below about 60 percent.
Get a quote on your crawl space
Call and tell us what is going on with your crawl space and where the property is. You will get a straight answer on what it actually needs, from a licensed contractor working Maury County.
Get a free quote