Crawlspace Encapsulation (Baltimore)

If you live in a home with a crawlspace instead of a basement, you’re in good company. After all, a full basement is an entire additional floor, and not every house is made for people who can afford that. Some houses are a single floor, or two completely aboveground floors, and since having the ground floor directly on the ground isn’t the best idea, you end up with a crawlspace.

However, when you have a crawlspace, you also have a question: what should you do with it? It’s an awkward place to access for all the same reasons that give it the name, but it’s not the sort of place you should ignore completely, either. That’s why crawlspace encapsulation in Baltimore and around the country is a good idea.

The Dangers Of Neglect

A crawlspace includes the foundation slab, possibly a layer of dirt, and then the underside of the ground floor. According to modern practices, the crawlspace needs to be cut off from the outside world in order to prevent infestations, aside from (usually) a single vent that allows air to circulate. However, this setup still leaves much to be desired.

For one thing, a single vent with holes small enough to prevent most insects from getting in doesn’t allow for much circulation, and without circulation you can wind up with humid air getting stuck inside the crawlspace, especially during long, humid summers like the ones Maryland experiences. And when humid air combines with a cool, dark place, it tends to leave condensation on metal surfaces like pipes and central air vents, both of which you can often find in crawlspaces.

Going for a crawlspace encapsulation in Baltimore and the rest of eastern Maryland might not be completely necessary, but it does make it much easier to keep the crawlspace clean and sanitary. Condensation allows mold colonies to grow and thrive, and the spores they release will make their way up through the floorboards and ruin the air quality of the rooms above them. Not only that, but this moisture can also allow insects like termites and ants to survive in the crawlspace. Such an infestation isn’t guaranteed, but it’s only possible when moisture is present.

The Benefits Of Care

The encapsulation process involves covering the entire crawlspace with a waterproof plastic sheath that keeps out any moisture coming in from the air and from the ground. You may need to add a vent connected to the HVAC system to make sure air can still circulate, and you may also need a dehumidifier to dry out the air introduced from the house, but in the end you’ll have a clean, dry crawlspace where your old one used to be.

Crawlspace encapsulation in Baltimore or the rest of Maryland isn’t just about improving air quality, either. It also turns your crawlspace into a place where you can safely store just about anything you want, including old clothes, Christmas and other holiday decorations, and whatever else you don’t need to use on a regular basis. This means getting more space out of your existing property.

The Reason You Call In The Experts

For just about 30 years, AA Action Waterproofing has been serving the state of Maryland and its neighbors with basement waterproofing, mold remediation, foundation repairs, and, of course, crawlspace encapsulation. We have all the experience and the tools it takes to make the process as quick and hassle-free as possible, and we can get the job done right the first time.

A crawlspace encapsulation is something you can do yourself, but it’s a complicated process and you might skip an important step in the process. If you are completely confident in your home improvement skills, an encapsulation is a great way to put them to the test, but if you think it may be beyond your abilities, there’s no shame in calling in the experts.

So if you’re thinking of a crawlspace encapsulation in Baltimore, Washington, Wilmington, or even up in Philadelphia, you should give AA Action Waterproofing a call. Our initial inspection and estimate are always free, so you can rest easy knowing that you won’t be on the hook for anything until after you know how much the process will cost you.