Addressing crawl space problems while they are still manageable will save you money, by keeping you from needing crawl space restoration or remediation in the future. It’s better to proactively control moisture problems, rather than waiting until it’s too late and spending a big chunk of change in repairs due to water damage or fungal growth. Not only can you save money and eliminate future damage with a crawl space encapsulation, but you’ll also be promoting better air quality in the crawl space which leads to better air quality in the living spaces.
Before encapsulation can begin, we’ll inspect your crawl space to help decide whether it requires any remediation or repairs. All crawl spaces are different. And whether your crawl space has a moisture or mold problem, excess water, or even a pest problem, it’s important to inspect the area before beginning a plan of action. See our pre-encapsulation crawl space remediation techniques, designed to prep your crawl space for encapsulation.
Once your crawl space is free of moisture, water or any potential pest threats, it’s time to seal the entire space. Our crawl space encapsulation process involves sealing air gaps, applying a comprehensive 8-mil vapor barrier, sealing vents with insulation board and finally installing insulation to maintain the perfect humidity level. Foundation walls are wrapped with waterproof insulation and sealed with caulking to prevent any inclimate weather, pesky pests, or unwanted moisture from entering the space. We even seal the door for extra protection!
A dehumidifier helps condition the air inside your crawl space and is effective in controlling your crawl space’s moisture levels, which prevents deterioration of wood framing and the rusting of metal components in your crawl space.
Mold in the crawl space is more common than many homeowners think. Although 70 percent of homes across the Carolinas have a crawl space, many times this area of the home is left untouched, granting mold the humidity, warmth and space it needs to grow. Not only can mold impact the air quality in your home, but also damage your home’s foundation and attract moisture-seeking pests.
While crawl space encapsulation will prevent future mold in your crawl space, professional remediation is essential to eliminate mold that has already begun to grow. Moisture prevention and mold remediation are all part of our crawl space and mold removal services. When it comes to eliminating mold, trust the Carolina’s mold removal experts at Killingsworth to restore and protect your crawl space and your home from mold damage.
The ideal humidity rate for a crawl space is around 55 percent. However, in crawl spaces that are not encapsulated, humidity can easily rise. As that percentage increases, mold growth becomes much more likely.
With humidity comes warmth, which is exactly what mold needs to grow. While summer heat helps mold grow more rapidly, mold can certainly grow in the colder months, too.
Like every living organism, mold needs food to grow. Damp wood is the perfect meal for mold, and in most crawl spaces, unprotected wood is easy to come by.
Dry Ice Blasting/Hand Cleaning
We use both methods to remove fungal growth depending on the severity. Our Dry Ice Blasting system uses a food grade pelletized dry ice media to safely remove fungal growth in your crawl space, with no damage to the substrate and zero waste.
Our specialists will seal all air gaps and penetrations through the foundation wall to further protect your crawl space from potential moisture damage.
A French Drain and Submersible Pump work together to perform crawl space remediation that effectively moves water out of your crawl space.
A vapor barrier gives 100% coverage from moisture that rises up through the ground, which keeps the moisture from damaging your wood floor system over time. The minimal recommended thickness of a vapor barrier is 6-mil. We recommend 8-mil thickness, as the Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) is minimal from 8-mil and above. A Woven Polyurethane Liner provides the best support for moisture mitigation in the crawl space.
Sealing crawl space vents with insulation board helps control the climate inside your crawl space, while mitigating humidity and moisture from entering.
Crawl spaces are great (when they’re properly sealed) for moving airflow throughout the home. Your crawl space also allows for easy access to pipes and wiring beneath the home. Keeping your crawl space properly insulated and ventilated can help to reduce energy bills, extend the life of your heating and air ducts, improve air quality and more.
Many homeowners believe that encapsulating their crawl space is enough. However, once the crawl space is sealed, a dehumidification system will need to be installed to allow ventilation and dehumidification within the crawl space. This is essential for preventing fungal growth.
Yes. Controlling moisture is one major step in correcting a mold issue, but unfortunately mold needs to be physically removed. We utilize two processes for mold removal: Hand Cleaning and Dry Ice Blasting. The method used is determined by the severity of the issue. This is why a proper inspection is essential to complete the job correctly.
Yes. Sealing your crawl space limits external environmental conditions from affecting the conditioned areas of your home, which in turn saves you money on your energy bill. For more information, check out our blog, The Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation.
Absolutely. Encapsulating your crawl space from the beginning will help prevent any future issues that come from crawl spaces like pests, energy loss, and poor air quality.
Yes. We do include a dehumidifier when sealing your crawlspace from external conditions. Once installed, we also provide a warranty and annual service to ensure it is functioning properly.
While possible, we don’t recommend this. It’s a time-consuming process that won’t serve its purpose if not done properly. The only way to effectively encapsulate a crawl space is with the help of a professional service.
Mold has the tendency to grow in the moist, humid areas of your home. Think crawl spaces, bathrooms, kitchens, basements.
Mold is most easily detectable by its smell. A musty or damp smell could mean you have mold growing in your home. Check out our DIY blog to learn how to remove mold and mildew smells from your home.
The toxicity of mold varies depending on the type. There are three types of mold–allergenic, pathogenic and toxigenic. Allergenic being the least toxic and toxigenic being the most toxic. A common toxigenic mold is black mold. If you think you have black mold in your home, it’s important that you seek professional remediation quickly. Get in touch with us to schedule an appointment.
Dry off wet areas as soon as possible (bathtubs, sinks, etc.) Properly ventilate your home to prevent moisture Monitor humidity levels, keeping indoor humidity between 30 and 60 percent) Direct water away from your home with a proper drainage and gutter system Identify problem areas early on and consider getting them checked by a mold professional
Mold can be tricky to get rid of on your own. Consider seeking professional mold removal services to make sure your mold problem is gone for good. Give us a call to schedule your mold control service!