Crawl spaces help to insulate the home to reduce energy consumption. However, a poorly constructed crawl space can do much more than just waste energy, it can make the home unsafe. An improperly vented crawl space can quickly develop mold when they become damp. Mold in a crawl space can grow into the floor and enter the living area of the home. Buildings with HVAC systems or air intakes in the crawl space will also draw mold into the home. The two options to prevent mold is through the use of vents or through encapsulation.
Venting crawl spaces require only the location of numerous vents around the walls of the crawl space. The problem with venting is that the vents themselves can let moisture into the crawl space. The vents also cause temperature swings in the crawl space which reduces the energy efficiency of the home. With crawl space encapsulation, the crawl space is sealed by a protective layer that seals out moisture from the ground and the walls of the crawl space. Encapsulation creates a pocket of sealed air that provides an extra layer of insulation for the home.
Most companies use vinyl plastic sheeting as a vapor barrier to seal crawl spaces. Vinyl does an OK job of sealing out moisture, but it has a number of serious drawbacks. Vinyl sheeting is very difficult to seal against crawl space walls. Most applications of vinyl sheeting result in a seal that is open around the edges. Vinyl also begins to breakdown quickly and will need to be replaced periodically. The Nu-Crawl encapsulation system is the most advanced crawl space encapsulation system available. It uses a woven textile that is used as a base layer. The textile is then sprayed with a sealer that creates a tough and permanent seal that is resistant to rips, tears and punctures.
If you are ready for the best for your crawl space, give Nu-Crawl a call and we provide you with the prompt, professional service that you deserve.
