Crawlspaces are a part of the home that few people think about, but they can have an enormous impact upon your house. To learn how vapor barriers can help improve air quality and structural integrity in homes with crawlspaces, read on:

Controlling Moisture Levels
Most crawlspaces are very basic structures with dirt floors; in some cases, though, the homeowner has put down concrete in an attempt to block moisture. Unfortunately, you’re going to face moisture issues whether your crawlspace has either a dirt floor or a concrete floor; both are porous, allowing moisture to come up through the soil and permeate the crawlspace. Not surprisingly, this can cause a serious mold problem. In addition to the potential health problems, the moisture in a crawlspace can cause structural failure through rot. The ideal crawlspace humidity should be between 20% – 40%.

The Benefits of Vapor Barriers
Also called Vapor Diffusion Retarders, vapor barriers prevent water vapor from evaporating out of the soil into a crawlspace. A damp basement produces a lot of moisture (up to 50 lbs/day of vapor), the vapor barrier is the best way to minimize the moisture levels. A vapor barrier, in addition to proper ventilation is the first steps towards a healthy crawlspace.

The installation of a vapor barrier involves a 10 mil barrier that is sealed, and attached to the perimeter walls of the foundation making it air tight. Vapor barriers can prevent:

• Water vapors from coming up through the soil creating unfavorable moisture levels
• Structure damage

• Changes in temperature that cause condensation and other problems in unsealed crawlspaces.
If you’re interested in the possibilities of installing vapor barriers for your crawlspace, then please contact Flood Local. Professional Restoration experts will installs vapor barriers, and restores a home or business from water damage, or mold remediation.