Crawl Space Encapsulation Photo Album: Crawl Space Encapsulation in Ship Bottom, NJ

This dirt-floored crawl space was in desperate need of encapsulation.

A Lot of Moisture

Using our hygrometer, we saw that the moisture and humidity levels were extremely high, which is common for many dirt floor crawl spaces. Dirt floor crawl spaces attract and absorb moisture and once the dirt dries, it causes humidity levels to rise and can lead to mold and mildew issues (fortunately, there was no mold or mildew in the crawl space).

Remove the Contaminated Insulation

We removed all the contaminated insulation and debris and then leveled the ground for proper draining.

Drainage Matting and Vapor Barrier

Next, we installed a drainage matting which is a dimpled plastic mat material that is installed over the dirt-floor crawl space. This allows all excess moisture to work its way over to the new sump pump we installed. Afterward, we installed a vapor barrier.

Tough Material

The vapor barrier is a heavy-duty, 20-mil 7-ply sandwich of high and low-density polyethylene with a polyester-cord reinforcement. It cannot tear and is extremely durable.

Prevents Mold and Mildew

The vapor barrier is also treated with an antimicrobial to prevent mold and is installed over the foundation walls and floor to create a continuous air and moisture barrier.

A New Dehumidifier

Lastly, we installed a Sani-Dry Sedona dehumidifier to control the humidity levels in the basement. The Sedona directs the extracted water pulled out of the air directly into the sump pump. Now the homeowner has a transformed crawl space that is clean and dry as well as an additional area for storage!