Keeping our crawl space in good condition will depend more on the preventive measures we take to avoid headaches later.
That is why experienced professionals like the ones we have at Zeromold Chicago must make the crawlspace encapsulation. Then, they can provide personalized advice on this popular type of treatment for your home and will install a fully sealed layer of protection on the floor against damage caused by water and some pests.
This crawlspace encapsulation, with other types of barriers against vapor and humidity, guarantees to be free of conditions such as mold in your house.
Vapor barriers
Vapor barriers prevent the condensation of water vapor in environments with a lot of humidity. This resource is widely used in the construction of houses and buildings, as it contains the appearance of mold in crawl spaces or problems caused by moisture.
In climates with a lot of moisture, having these barriers complementing the thermal insulation becomes mandatory. To be sure your vapor barrier is practical and prevents problems like moisture in crawl spaces, professionals must make it from the best materials. It must also be continuous without holes or patches where water can penetrate and damage its function.
The most common materials for vapor barriers are aluminum, glass, bituminous, and polyethylene sheets; vapor retarding paints are also a standard option. These materials depend on the type of barriers you need to prevent moisture in the crawl space.
Functions of vapor barriers
• It serves as a protective cover against external agents in buildings; this makes its useful life much longer.
• When installing them, they enhance the air conditioning of your crawl space.
• Prevents the passage of water vapor into the crawl space so it does not condense inside and become drops that accumulate and damage the walls.
• Contributes to maintaining a dry space without fungi or humidity.
Standard in USA classes
The Insulation Institute refers to the classification given to the different types of vapor barriers according to their permeability for water vapor. This rating uses the term perms to refer to permeability.
Class I
This class contains materials with very low permeability, such as aluminum or polyethylene sheets. These materials are in a range of 0 to 0.1 perms.
Class II
This class comprises materials such as crater paper, considered within the range of 0.1 to 1 perms, and has low permeability.
Class III
The material belonging to class III with a range between 1 and 10 perms is the retardant paint. This paint has a moderate level of permeability.
Regional Applications
The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors declares that in the United States, depending on the climate of each region, it will be necessary or not to use vapor barriers. The manufacturing materials and the method of installing this system that avoids moisture in the crawl space depend on the climate too.
In climates with lower temperatures, such as Nevada, Oregon, or Utah, vapor barriers are inside the spaces; however, in warmer places in the south of the country, such as Alabama, Texas, or Florida, they can be omitted or used outdoors.
Benefits of moisture barrier
In some moments, we can take for granted that spaces like the crawl space do not require much maintenance; this could be true if we invest in a system that prevents the appearance of moisture and avoid all the problems that this entails.
Vapor barriers have become one of the main tools used to combat it; for this reason, I want to mention some benefits you can obtain by installing them in your crawl space.
Energy savings and reduction of services
Not having a moisture barrier in the crawl space makes it more challenging to maintain the correct temperature, making your air conditioning units consume more energy.
Vapor barriers collaborate in leveling the temperature and improving the efficiency of your home's ventilation system, which translates into savings in public services.
Protection of the physical structure
If professionals do not install our crawlspace encapsulation, the risk of moisture causing irreversible damage is more significant.
For this reason, at Zeromold, we have trained personnel to achieve the best results. This protection guarantees that the physical structure of your home will last intact for much longer.
Prevent the appearance of mold and bad odors
As we have already mentioned, a deficiency in the different insulations that our home has can cause humidity and mold to take over the environment. Vapor barriers decrease the percentage of appearance of these bacteria that feed on materials like wood or some compounds in the walls.
Reduction of rust or erosion in pipes
If we have metal pipes, we know that moisture can rust and damage them. By installing barriers, we extend the useful life of our home's piping system.
These isolates are the best option to prevent our pipes from freezing in winter, causing more expensive damage to repair.
Barrier against pests
Rodents, termites, or small animals can nest in your crawl space without you realizing it, and when you least expect it, they can climb up to the rest of your house, causing chaos. However, this system of barriers prevents the entry of unwanted vermin, so they will not turn your spaces into their territory or spread fermented products to the inhabitants of your home.
You will be protecting your home and the health of your loved ones; many of these pests bring diseases that can affect human beings, so we must not lower our guard and take the necessary measures to keep them away.
As we have seen, vapor barriers play a fundamental role in controlling humidity and other conditions within a home. Therefore, correctly applying prevention measures will avoid many headaches in the long run.
Making the correct investments when doing maintenance to our home allows its value to be maintained over time or even increased due to its excellent condition. So do not hesitate any longer; contact us to provide the best vapor barriers that adapt to your personal needs.