Renovopedia

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative articles and news from Renovopedia about Home Improvments.

    What's Hot

    Current Obsessions: April Fools

    April 1, 2023

    7 Eco-Friendly Alternative Food Storage Ideas with designers Jihyun David

    March 31, 2023

    Prospect & Refuge: A Spectacular Coastal Home Both Wild and Cozy

    March 31, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    RenovopediaRenovopedia
    Demo
    • Home
    • News
    • Trending
    • Ideas

      7 Master Bedroom Designs With Stylish Style And Functional Features

      January 27, 2023

      Why is Garage Door maintenance essential?

      January 17, 2023

      5 Ways To Improve Your Flooring

      December 22, 2022

      Ideas to revamp and reorganise your garage

      December 22, 2022

      The Benefits Of Cleaning Your Windows Regularly

      November 30, 2022
    • Videos

      Water In Electrical Panel! Easy Fix? #Short

      March 30, 2022

      Working on My House LIVE! | Framing Door Openings

      March 23, 2022

      Framing a Wall With Angles Over Stair Bulkhead

      March 22, 2022

      Framing Bedroom/Hall Closet | Adding Basement Stair Headroom

      March 17, 2022

      Fixing Hacked Floor Framing | Straightening Kitchen Floor… Kinda

      March 8, 2022
    • Interior Remodel
    • Painting
    • Kitchen
    • More
      • Skills & Specialties
      • Exterior Remodel
      • Bathroom
      • Outdoor Building
      • Green Improvements
      • Home Services
    Renovopedia
    Home » Learn How to Use a Vapor Barrier to Control Moisture in a Crawl Space

    Learn How to Use a Vapor Barrier to Control Moisture in a Crawl Space

    November 26, 2021No Comments Exterior Remodel
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Tumblr Reddit Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Combatting moisture is a part of life for most homeowners. While nearly everyone is familiar with moisture problems due to faulty or damaged roofs and walls, or from rainwater runoff that seeps into foundations or up through concrete foundation floors, homes built over crawl spaces deal with moisture from another source: water vapor that rises naturally from the exposed soil and becomes trapped in the enclosed crawl space.

    Moisture in crawl spaces can be a serious issue, but fortunately, there is one fairly easy solution that often corrects the problem.

    Demo

    Problems Caused by Moisture

    Moisture is one of the main foes of a home’s structure—potentially causing structural problems. Uncontrolled moisture can cause rot and decay in wood framing and other materials, and it fosters mold and mildew. The amount of moisture that is present determines if you can finish a basement, for example. Moisture also determines what type of below-grade flooring you are able to install. At its most extreme, moisture can even determine if the construction of a home or room addition is possible at all. Where moisture is a known problem, vapor barriers are integrated into wall, ceiling, and floor construction to combat the effects.

    But nowhere is moisture more damaging than in a crawl space, even though it is not seen. Because the crawl space has direct contact with the ground, it should be no surprise that moisture can develop here. It is difficult to overstate the problems that can occur because of crawl space moisture.

    Mold and Mildew

    One of the most serious problems caused by moisture is mold, mildew, and other fungi. Eliminating mold is difficult, and fully remediating mold-related problems is expensive. As a direct byproduct of crawl space moisture, mold can blacken floor cavity insulation and structural elements. Because there is often no light and only minimal ventilation in a crawl space, the problem never improves unless preventive or remediation methods are enacted.

    Rot

    Structural elements of your house, such as joists, sills, posts, and beams, are made of wood. Being an organic material, wood will begin to rot when it comes into contact with water for prolonged periods.

    Rodents and Other Vermin

    Animals of many types are drawn to water and can infest your home. These pests include carpenter ants, termites, rats, mice, snakes—even skunks and armadillos.

    How Vapor Barriers Work

    One method of controlling crawl space moisture is with a very simple and inexpensive project: laying out rolls of ordinary sheet plastic. Traditionally, this plastic has been called a vapor barrier, but this strategy has been retitled by the U.S. Department of Energy, which now defines it as a vapor diffusion barrier. This is a more accurate term, since plastic sheeting, even with seams sealed, cannot seal off 100 percent of the moisture migration. Rather, the plastic slows down the process.

    But keep in mind that sheet plastic barriers tend to help only with the migration of gaseous water vapor up through the soil into the crawl space. They do not offer a remedy when water pools up in the crawl space. Pooling water comes from one of two sources:

    • A high water table or rainwater runoff may be causing water to pool in the crawlspace. In this case, you will need to hire a water remediation company. In most cases, they will dig a trench around the perimeter, add drain pipe, cover the pipe with drain gravel, and add a sump pump. In other cases, adding roof gutters and downspouts, and reconfiguring the earth grading may be enough to eliminate pooling water.
    • Leaking plumbing pipes, either water supply pipes or drain pipes, may be causing water to pool up in the crawlspace. Water leaking from damaged pipes above must be fixed before you put down a vapor barrier, or water will simply pool up on top of the plastic sheeting.

    But provided problems with pooling water are addressed, adding a vapor diffusion barrier can go a long way toward preventing ongoing problems caused by moisture in a crawlspace.

    Source: The Spruce

    Demo
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit VKontakte Telegram WhatsApp

    Related Posts

    Your Electrical Service Feed Choices

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    Standing Seam Metal Roof Basics Before You Buy

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    Weatherproof Electrical Boxes for Exterior Use

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    How to Paint a House Faster and Easier

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    Painting a House When It’s Humid

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel

    What Is an Accessory Dwelling Unit?

    December 7, 2022 Exterior Remodel
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Demo
    Don't Miss

    Glass Shower Doors And Bathroom Doors

    Ideas December 1, 2021

    Glass shower doors and bathroom doors can be difficult to shop for. These are deciding…

    Sealing Your Garage Door to Make It Weathertight

    November 29, 2021

    Remodelista Gift Guide 2021: When Secondhand Is Better Than New

    December 16, 2021

    How Do Fuses and Fuse Boxes Work?

    November 28, 2021
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo
    Latest Articles

    Current Obsessions: April Fools

    April 1, 2023

    7 Eco-Friendly Alternative Food Storage Ideas with designers Jihyun David

    March 31, 2023

    Prospect & Refuge: A Spectacular Coastal Home Both Wild and Cozy

    March 31, 2023

    Remodeling 101: 7 Color-Drenching Tips from Farrow & Ball

    March 30, 2023

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative articles and news from Renovopedia about Home Improvements.

    Demo
    Our Picks

    Current Obsessions: April Fools

    April 1, 2023

    7 Eco-Friendly Alternative Food Storage Ideas with designers Jihyun David

    March 31, 2023

    Prospect & Refuge: A Spectacular Coastal Home Both Wild and Cozy

    March 31, 2023
    About Us
    About Us

    Renovopedia is the premier source for home improvement news and articles. We provide the latest news and articles for homeowners looking to find inspiration, solutions, tips, and ideas to prepare your home for sale or turn it into your dream home.

    We're accepting new partnerships right now.

    Email Us: hello@renovopedia.com
    Contact: +1-320-0123-451

    Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn
    Popular

    The Safe and Easy Way to Put Pipes Through Your Roof | Kozy Kollar!

    August 5, 2021

    How to Waterproof Shower with Wedi Board – DIY Bathroom Remodel Episode 16

    March 1, 2021

    Steal This Look: Compact Living in an Ancient Georgian Terrace in Bath

    April 19, 2022
    © 2023 Renovopedia. All Rights Reserved.
    • Home
    • News
    • Trending
    • Videos
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.