Cary, NC Crawlspace Repair
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Understanding the basic ins and outs of crawlspace care and installations is important for a few different reasons. Your crawl space contains a lot of the piping for your water and air for your home, so making sure that those important elements stay working properly is very critical. A lot of things can also grow in the crawlspace of your home, so it’s really important to make sure that your crawlspace stays clean and cared for so that you don’t have random molds and mushrooms growing under your nose that can cause you or your family harm. Let’s say that you don’t really care about the mushrooms growing under your home though, because they are just natural little guys anyway right? Well, not only can the spores that come off them literally float through the air and kill you, but the molds that usually grow with them can do a lot of damage to your pipes and sometimes even attack your foundations, meaning that you’ll need to do a lot of repairs that won’t be very kind to your wallet. So let’s do as much as we can to prevent something like this happening to you and your home. I mean, it’s pretty silly to get yourself killed by some silly mold floating through the air, but it’s even sillier to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on something that can be prevented. There are a few ways to prevent mold from growing in your crawlspace, like installing a dehumidifier, and keep your crawl space dry. But today we’re going to talk about one of the simplest ways to take care of the problem: sealing and insulating your crawlspace.
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Should you seal your crawl space?
Sealing your crawlspace means that you are locking out air from it. One of the smartest things you can do to keep your crawlspace free of organic material, is to cut off the air supply to the entire area. Basic plant knowledge tells us that things don’t grow well, if at all, in low ventilated areas. So when we cut off that much air to the crawlspace, the chances of mold or mushrooms growing goes down by so much that it’s hardly even a problem. But when we seal out air and water, there is absolutely no way for things to grow underneath your home. Like I said before, it’s very important to keep your crawlspace in good repair, because it will save you hundreds in repairs and could possibly save your life. The sealing process is a very simple one. The first step to sealing your crawlspace is by installing a vapor barrier on the floor. This vapor barrier is a lining of plastic, you choose the thickness (thicker means more protection, but does cost more), and then placing it on the floor of your crawlspace. This plastic keeps the water from the ground from pooling in your crawlspace and adding moisture to the air. With less moisture in the air, the less likely you are to develop any more mold in the crawlspace. Once you’ve installed your vapor barrier, the next step is to seal off any vents that lead to the outside of your home, this is just one more step that keeps the outdoors, outdoors and not in your home. Adding insulation to your crawlspace helps keep the temperature of your home where you have it set. This added protection helps keep the moisture out of your home, but it also can help you save big on your energy bill every month! Keeping the air temperature of your home steady means that you can keep your air conditioning unit off more, which means that you’re saving big on your bill.
How much does it cost to seal crawlspace?
Depending on how big your home is, in terms of square footage, the more or less it will cost to completely seal your crawlspace. The average person spends around five thousand five hundred dollars on their crawlspace, but again, this is completely dependent on how big your home is. Another thing that could change how much sealing your crawlspace will cost is how thick the plastic you chose for your vapor barrier is. The thicker the plastic you decide to go with, the more protection you can get out of the barrier, the better. Some people end up paying upwards of fifteen hundred thousand on sealing their crawlspaces. I know that sounds like a lot of money, but you’re actually saving a lot when you consider how much you could end up spending on water removal, water damage repairs, mold removal, mold repairs, foundation repairs, and general upkeep that you’ll have if you decide not to deal with this when you first move into your home. Obviously, money is not something to cough at, and it matters to all of us, especially when we’re dealing with home improvements. The best choice for your wallet is to seal your crawlspace. Talk with one of our professionals to help you understand what would work best for you and your home as well.
Do you need insulation in your crawlspace?
Insulating and sealing your crawlspace goes hand and hand in terms of saving you money on your energy bill every month. Insulating your crawlspace helps keep your home at the temperature that you want it at, without constantly running your air conditioner or heater. Not only are you helping the environment when you’re not running your air system constantly, which is awesome of you because you’re part of the solution and not the problem, but you’re also helping keep your crawlspace free of air movement, and keeping the outside on the outside. Depending on how thoroughly you want to insulate your crawlspace, pricing can vary from home to home. It also depends on how big your crawlspace is, just like it is with your sealing process. But I will say that it is worth it in the long run for your wallet to insulate your crawlspace! Again, it’s also a good idea to talk with a professional to know exactly what would work best for you and your home.