Crawlspace Vapor Barriers – Keeping Moisture in Its Place

Crawlspaces Firefly 2+ Plus Vaporizer are either damp or not; there is no in between when it comes to crawlspaces. There is more than one way to keep moisture out of a crawlspace, but the discussion will concentrate on vapor barriers. Vapor retarders are a must in any area that is below grade. Let’s look at what a vapor barrier is, the type of vapor barrier, and installation procedures.

Many homes that have crawlspaces do not have a vapor barrier installed over bare earth. If it is installed, many times it’s not installed correctly. Some homeowners do not totally understand the idea of a vapor barrier or what it does. What then is a vapor barrier? In short, a vapor diffusion retarder is a system designed to keep moisture and/or odors from entering the home. No matter the type of barrier, the only job it has is to keep a crawlspace dry and odor free. In addition, it will also inhibit: mold growth, rotting joists and considerable moisture damage

The most economical method of installing a barrier is to cover the entire crawlspace floor with plastic sheeting and have that covered with pebbles. When installing the viz-queen, each section of sheeting should overlap each other about 6 to 12 inches. When installing on piers and walls, the cover should also be at the 6 to 12 inch height on the object. There should not be any gaps around piers or when installing it up the wall. After the sheeting has been installed, the pea gravel should then be installed to a depth of no less than 6 inches.

There are three main types of vapor barriers: plastic sheeting with pea gravel, encapsulation, and concrete. As mentioned above, utilizing plastic sheeting with pea gavel is the most economical. It is, of course, prone to be installed incorrectly and at times individuals disturb it leaving gaps in one or more areas.

The second type of vapor barrier is encapsulation and is considered a much better method than plastic sheeting and pebbles. Here the entire crawlspace is encapsulated with a heavy duty fabric, including the walls. All seams are sealed with a special sealant so there will not be gaps if someone enters the crawlspace and moves the barrier.

Lastly, is concrete on the floor. This is considered the best and most reliable type of system, and it is the most costly. After the floor is properly prepared, the concrete is then installed either by mechanical means or by manually adding the concrete via wheel barrows. It is then smoothed out, much the same as a sidewalk or driveway.

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