Crawl Space Vapor Barrier – All to Know About It

First of all, let’s start with what’s a vapor barrier. Simply put, a vapor barrier is a material used against water. It can be made of plastic, aluminum foil, metalized film, glass sheets, or asphalt coated craft paper. In most cases, buildings are not protected from moisture and this can cause damage in time. When constructing the building, sometimes it is hard to take into consideration the moisture that might occur after it is finished. Waterproof building construction is simply not practical. Climate plays a vital role in damp problems that normally moves into the cavities of a building with air currents, through materials and by heat transfer. That’s why vapor barrier could be a great solution to keep the water out. In limited spaces there is the option of installing a crawl space vapor barrier especially designed for such use.  

 

Things to Know While Installing a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier

When installing a crawl space vapor barrier there are a few elements to take into consideration such as interior/exterior walls, floors, foundations, floor joists. Sometimes it is difficult to keep out the water coming from vapors especially in a cold and wet climate. Also make sure the assembly is dry and also some experts suggest taking into consideration the warmest part of the building when installing them. They can be installed in both new buildings as well as in existing ones. In new constructions they will form a layer of protection that should last a long time and they should be properly sealed against leakage and mold.

In existing buildings, the vapor barrier will be installed to seal leaks and to control moisture in ceiling, walls, floors and crawl spaces. Alternatively or in addition to the vapor barrier installation, it might be a good idea to use acrylic or gloss paints.

You can buy a crawl space vapor barrier online as well as offline from hardware stores and the range vary from expensive ones made of coated fabrics to affordable ones made of plastic. While the latest will require changes every five years, the first option will last much longer. When installing the vapor barrier, all the crawl spaces from floor to walls must be sealed with a water-proof tape. 

If you want to go for a full crawl space encapsulation, there are options available for this system too. Although this could be a costly operation, in the long run, could be a real investment for a home owner as it will save heating costs for years to come. What is great about it is that fact that in the summer months it cools down the all house. Also in geographical areas with termites, the system will keep them out from your house.

Crawl spaces in a house are important for both protection for the first floor and storage area. That’s why keeping them dry is important for not damaging the floors and walls of the hose, but also against unwanted smells from mold of other odors. When installing a vapor barrier, an encapsulation or/and an insulation system, you can either do it yourself or you can call the specialists.

For more information regarding Crawl Space Insulation please visit us at www.sealtightsolutions.com