While you probably don’t spend much time thinking about the crawl space of your Pittsboro home, you should definitely give it some consideration if you want to prevent expensive foundation damage and unhealthy air quality. Because crawl spaces are only about 18 to 36 inches high with minimal airflow, the dirt is always wet, so moisture is continually evaporating under the home.

Due to the minimal flow and circulation, the air is humid, dirty, and mainly trapped under your home, creating a breeding ground for mold, mildew, wood rot, and insects. This air does work its way through your home’s flooring, with most studies estimating that up to 40 percent of the air on your home’s first floor is coming from your vented crawl space.

Vapor Barriers in Pittsboro

Details on Vapor Barriers

A vapor barrier is a type of plastic material, usually sheeting, that is used to line the ground under your home’s crawl space or unfinished basement. It’s an impermeable material, so air and moisture can’t flow through it, so the evaporated moisture from the dirt under your home is blocked.

However, if your crawl space or basement is still vented, a vapor barrier is not a 100 percent effective way to block moisture from under your home. Even though the moisture may not evaporate from the dirt below your house, humid air from outdoors will still enter any crevices, cracks, and vents where it will stagnate and bring the same kind of problems.

Should You Choose Vapor Barriers for Your Pittsboro Home?

While they are technically better than nothing, they really only slow down mold growth and wood rot.

Depending on the climate you live in and the relative moisture in the air, most homes will need a more efficient and effective moisture deterrent that blocks all types of vapor from entering your crawl space or basement. In dry or cold climates, such as the Northeastern United States, Upper Midwest, and parts of Canada, homes that don’t rely on the central air conditioning or exterior foam sheathing on the walls may find a vapor barrier to be adequate moisture prevention.

In the Southeast, including North Carolina, a vapor barrier isn’t nearly as effective to block water vapor from taking its toll on your home in Pittsboro. Because our climate is so hot and humid for much of the year, a vapor barrier is insufficient to handle the day-to-day conditions of our extreme climate.

The science behind it shows that most water vapor doesn’t permeate through diffusion (meaning the evaporated moisture seeping through the solid floorboards and subflooring). Instead, it is more likely to come through in gaps and voids – meaning moisture is more likely to enter your home through cracks and vents in your crawl space, then find holes and spaces under your flooring to enter.

The Downside to Crawl Space Vapor Barriers

If you’re relying on only a vapor barrier to keep your vented crawl space or unfinished basement dry, you may be surprised to find that humid and mold-laden air is still able to enter the area. Just like moisture from the ground, humid air from outside is just as disastrous for your home’s structural integrity. No matter where dampness comes from, it still can speed up wood rot as well as become a breeding ground for insects, including termites. Over time, this can cause your home’s foundation and floor joists can become damaged or weakened, requiring professional floor leveling and intensive repairs.

Another factor to consider is that moist humid air from your crawl space of the basement is unhealthy and could even be dangerous. Unless you encapsulate your basement, this stagnant, moist air can permeate the rest of the house, carrying toxic mold spores and mildew. Spores can also enter your HVAC system and circulate unhealthy air through your home, triggering asthma attacks, allergy symptoms, headaches, and other chronic issues.

Protect Your Pittsboro Home with More than a Vapor Barrier

You need a comprehensive solution to preventing moisture from entering your home from your crawls space. To better protect your family from the harmful effects of poor moisture management, the experts at Crawl Space and Basement Technologies offer individual solutions to encapsulate your crawl space. This seals any cracks, voids, and vents around the perimeter of your crawl space or basement as well as sealing the floor, keeping your home drier, healthier, and more comfortable!

Call Our Crawl Space & Basement Moisture Specialists in Pittsboro

If you’d like to learn what options are available to ensure a drier crawl space or basement, schedule your no-obligation estimate, call us today at (919) 847-7072 or fill out our online form. We will visit your home to give you the most accurate price point for the job. Our trained specialist will guide you through the options to determine the best solution for you and your budget.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Experience From Start To Finish

Excellent experience from start to finish. The owner came out to quote the work and to do an assessment. He took his time to explain everything in detail to me of the benefits of the different levels of encapsulation. He made his recommendation based off of my home and not just the highest price service. Upfront, honest, and great follow through. Cannot ask for much more. Also price was comparable to other quotes but the quality of work was FAR BETTER when I looked at photos of other folks and they have a custom process that no one else uses to also vent under the plastic!

Chris T.

My Builder Was So Impressed

I was having some moisture issues in my basement. I had three companies come out before Jason. They all wanted to do the same thing which was dig up all the yard around my house and re-apply a new membrane. I would have sold my house and moved away before I paid what they were asking.
Anyhow, Jason came in and gave a thorough explanation of what his plan was, why the older methods only work short term, and how he completely guarantees all of his work. It wasn't cheap but it was small potatoes compared to what the other folks wanted to do.
Additionally, my builder was so impressed with what Jason and his team had done they wanted a bunch of business cards for other clients.

Robert J.

Very Professional & Responsive

Very professional and responsive. They coordinated everything, including city permit inspection and electrician. They cleaned up everything and were great at explaining what needed to be done and then what was done. Great to see there's still some excellent, reputable local businesses out there who provide exceptional service.

Christopher D.

Pleased With The Results

We utilized Crawl space and basement tech to encapsulate our new home before any damage could be done. They were not only competitively priced, but very knowledgeable and professional. We used the other guys in our last home and we now know what is truly expected and are pleased with the results.

Raymond J.

Thank You

We have had dampness in our crawl space for years. We had done the typical thing by applying plastic initially on our own & had some help from another company, but it never seemed right. Our neighbor had used Crawlspace & Basement Technologies & was so pleased with the results.
Jason Mullins, the owner, came to our home, assessed our space & gave his recommendations. He was very personable but informative & thorough with his explanations. We felt confident choosing him & did not seek a second opinion.
Everyone involved with getting the job done, from the office to the guys doing the work were great.
My husband & I thank you!

Becky M.

So Impressed!

Jason drew me pictures, showed me diagrams and provided a thorough explanation and education about what needed to be done and how he would recommend doing it.

I was so impressed with him and the company's services that I hired him on the spot and canceled my other appointment. They began work almost immediately, and everyone with whom I came into contact was efficient and friendly and clearly wanted me to be happy with the results.

It's a great feeling to do business with a company that takes such pride in its work and believes in giving value to customers.

Brenda R.

A+ BBB Rating

"The sales rep was very professional in explaining what was required to fix the problem. That and you’re A+ rating with the BBB was the reason I chose you. The crew is friendly, punctual and knowledgeable. For those in need of crawl space service, I would highly recommend this company."

DAN B.

One of the Best

"Your company was one of the only ones in the Triangle who was able to tell me how the job would be done that would meet NC Building codes and what the current industry methods/materials are. I did a lot of research..I know what I am talking about and would recommend Jason’s company to anyone needing encapsulation"

J.G.

Keeps Things Clean

"Your company is very professional. Most companies do not clean up after themselves, so the homeowner has to do it! Your guys left the area very clean. Don’t let your sales rep go. He is very knowledgeable! Great Job! We have given your information to our neighbors, so I am sure we will be seeing you next door very soon"

CHARLES R

Excellent Service Provided!

"Your crew is professional, knowledgeable, customer oriented and committed. The work area was very clean after they finished. Your company exceeded my expectations!!"

Vapor Barriers