The air inside your crawl space becomes the air inside your home. JCB Waterproofing and Construction's full encapsulation service seals your home's foundation level against moisture, pests, and mold.
What makes our encapsulation installs last decades, not years.
Heavy puncture-resistant poly barriers stay intact through decades of crawl space activity, inspection visits, and seasonal ground movement.
We seal every penetration -- pipes, posts, and support columns -- individually so the barrier is continuous with no gaps that allow moisture to bypass the system.
Sealed crawl spaces consistently show measurable reduction in heating and cooling costs because conditioned air is no longer exchanged with the unconditioned crawl space below.
Wood floor joists exposed to sustained humidity above 20 percent begin to lose structural integrity within a few years -- encapsulation stops that deterioration before it becomes expensive.
The science behind crawl space encapsulation centers on moisture vapor transmission from exposed soil surfaces. Even dry-looking crawl space soil emits moisture vapor continuously at a rate that can introduce gallons of water per day into the air under your home. Traditional building practice placed foundation vents to exhaust this moisture, but research has repeatedly shown that venting in humid climates introduces more moisture than it removes, because the air flowing in from outside is often more humid than the air inside the crawl space. Sealing the crawl space and managing its humidity with a rated dehumidifier consistently outperforms venting in WI climates.
The vapor barrier is the physical core of the encapsulation system. Mil thickness matters significantly in this application: 6-mil poly is standard for short-term vapor retarders in above-grade construction, but crawl space conditions include foot traffic during inspections and maintenance, contact with rough aggregate and irregular soil surfaces, rodent activity, and exposure to moisture for decades. We specify a minimum 20-mil reinforced poly with a ripstop layer that resists puncture from debris and maintains its vapor transmission rating even if the surface is scuffed or walked on. The barrier is cut and fitted to the exact dimensions of each crawl space section, with all wall terminations run up to the rim joist and sealed with a waterproof tape rated for that adhesion surface.
HVAC performance in homes with encapsulated crawl spaces improves because the humidity load on the air conditioning system is reduced. In a vented crawl space, humid outside air is drawn under the house, rises through the subfloor into the living space, and must be removed by the air conditioning system. This hidden moisture load causes air conditioners to run longer, increases compressor wear, and reduces the effective cooling capacity of the system. After encapsulation, the crawl space humidity is maintained by a rated standalone dehumidifier that handles only the manageable internal moisture load rather than an endless supply from outside air.
Crawl space dehumidification is the final element of a complete encapsulation system. Even a fully sealed crawl space generates some internal humidity from concrete foundation walls and the residual moisture in the soil, particularly in the first season after installation when the soil is transitioning to a lower equilibrium moisture content. A rated crawl space dehumidifier sized to the cubic footage of the space maintains interior relative humidity below the threshold that supports mold growth. We specify units with gravity drain or condensate pump to eliminate the manual emptying requirement, and we set the humidistat to an appropriate setpoint for Wautoma, WI conditions before completing each project.
Six crawl space services that address every moisture source under your Wautoma home.
We cut and fit barrier material to every section of your crawl space, including around posts, piers, and columns, so no ground surface is left exposed to vapor evaporation.
Rated standalone crawl space dehumidifiers installed with gravity drain or condensate pump, sized to the cubic footage of your specific crawl space and set to maintain safe humidity levels year-round.
Existing foundation vents are sealed with rigid foam insulation cut to size and adhered with spray foam to eliminate the primary pathway for outside humid air to enter the crawl space.
When visible mold colonies are present on floor joists, sheathing, or structural framing, we treat affected surfaces with EPA-registered fungicidal solutions before installing the vapor barrier.
Drainage channels are integrated under the vapor barrier perimeter, routing water to a sump pit with a submersible pump sized for your drainage area.
We install weatherstripping and rigid foam panel inserts on all access points sized to provide an airtight fit that maintains the pressure balance of the sealed crawl space.
We enter the crawl space and conduct a systematic inspection of all floor and wall surfaces, document moisture meter readings at multiple locations, photograph all floor joist and beam conditions, and identify every source of water or moisture entry before recommending any course of action.
Where mold remediation is needed, we complete EPA-registered fungicidal treatment and borate application before any encapsulation materials are installed, ensuring no active mold is sealed under the barrier.
Foundation vents are sealed with rigid foam insulation and spray foam adhesive, and the crawl space access hatch is fitted with an insulating door seal panel.
We take final moisture readings and photograph the completed installation before issuing your written warranty documentation and maintenance schedule.
We noticed musty smells from the first floor for years and assumed it was just an old house. After JCB Waterproofing and Construction encapsulated our crawl space, the smell was gone within two weeks and our summer electric bills dropped noticeably. Should have done this years ago.
JCB Waterproofing and Construction did a full encapsulation in one day and left the crawl space cleaner than it was when they arrived. The dehumidifier they installed has not required any maintenance beyond emptying the drip tray.
The air quality in our home is noticeably better since the encapsulation. I have less allergy issues and our HVAC is running shorter cycles. Genuinely one of the best home improvements we have made.
JCB Waterproofing and Construction serves Wautoma and surrounding areas with certified crawl space encapsulation. Call for your free assessment today.
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