Crawl Space Vapor Barrier - Sealing Your Basement Or Swimming Pool
What Does: Crawl Space Vapor Barrier San Antonio assures effective water vapor control for the entire home or business premise. The Crawl Space Vapor Barrier is your centerpiece solution for controlling the moisture in a space. This durable, radiant white crawl space barrier easily installs over the floors and walls, keeping water vapor and excess humidity out of your home or business. If your establishment is feeling a little bit humid, then consider investing in a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier.
Why Use Crawl Space Vapor Barrier: With a crawl space vapor barrier, you can rest easy knowing that you are doing your part to help curb the amount of humidity in your home or business. When sealing your space, there are a number of steps you can take to make sure no moisture can penetrate your structure. First and foremost, there are vents you can install to allow excess moisture out. These vents should be strategically located around the perimeter of your building. Once you have sealed the vents, you can then seal the spaces between the walls.
How it works: The Crawl Space Vapor Barrier is made up of an ultra-thin, white vinyl membrane. The membrane is attached to the top surface of your crawl space wall and the bottom surface of your finished floor or garage floor. The space between the concrete walls is completely sealed off so moisture can't penetrate the structure. It also helps prevent heat from penetrating into the area. Since it seals off the space completely, you will be able to maintain a comfortable temperature in this space, even during extreme summer temperatures.
How does it stop moisture from getting inside your home or business? A vinyl crawl space vapor barrier stops any moisture from reaching the ground. If you have ever left food uncovered on a concrete slab, you know how quickly that can degrade. With no moisture, mold spores will not grow, mold will not grow on wood surfaces and mildew will not thrive.
Crawl space ventilation allows for humidity, but not all of it is controlled. During the summer, your heating and cooling expenses will go up because of increased humidity due to heating and cooling requirements. You will need a dehumidifier or radon mitigation sump pumps to lower the levels of humidity in your basement. Unfortunately, not all homes have adequate ventilation to adequately ventilate their crawl spaces. The Crawl Space Vapor Barrier acts like a sump pump by removing humidity and moisture from the air and sending it elsewhere. Your dehumidifier or radon mitigation sump pumps will then remove the moisture completely from the air in your basement.
There are two types of Crawl Space Vapor Barriers available. There is a powder-coated fiberglass barrier, and a low-emulsification polyethylene (LEP) barrier. Powder-coated is less expensive and lasts longer than the low-emulsification type. However, the low-emulsification type is more effective in eliminating microbial spores and odor-causing gases. In addition, powder coating only covers the surface area of your wall or floor, not penetrating the material itself. Thus, if there are cracks or porous areas within your foundation walls, the powder coating will not provide protection.
Installing a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier is easy. Once you determine where you need to install the barrier, you contact a local contractor who specializes in moisture sealing. The contractor will estimate the cost of materials including the barrier itself, if necessary. He will also tell you what the required spacing between the barriers, the height of the barriers, and the width of the space to be sealed. Then, once the contractor and you have agreed on the proper specifications, he will begin applying the barrier.
Although it sounds simple, sealing with a vapor barrier is actually a complex process. It involves a number of steps, such as installing the proper hardware, making sure the material is applied correctly, caulking any cracks, and finally, caulking the seams of the covering. Proper installation and sealing techniques are crucial to the success of your Crawl Space Vapor Barrier project. Contact a local contractor who can help you get your house looking great with a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier today.
