Crawl Spaces: Encapsulation Vs. Insulation

Insulating Your Crawl Space

The insulation process is reasonably straightforward. It requires roughly the same amount of work as the encapsulation process, but it doesn’t change the aesthetic of your crawl space as much. It also serves as a temporary and straightforward waterproofing solution should your crawl space experience minor leaks in the winter and spring.

The process of insulating your crawl space typically involves the following:

• Dry it out

You can’t replace your insulation if your crawl space is damp. Take a shop vac and do what you can to remove water from the space. In more severe cases, you may need to install a temporary pump to remove water from the premises. Keep an eye out for mold clusters. A damp environment allows mold to grow all the faster, and any clusters must be removed and treated before moving on to the next step.

• Plug the leaks

Once your crawl space is dry, examine it for signs of a leak. How is rain runoff getting into your home? If you can find a leak in your wall or your crawl space’s joints, you must fill it before moving forward. If you can’t find where a leak is, you’ll want to get in touch with a contractor. Water may seep through to your foundation. If this is the case, your waterproofing process is going to be more complicated – but your insulation process won’t be.

• Remove old insulation

With the leaks plugged, you’ll need to remove old insulation from your crawl space. This insulation may have been damaged after long-term exposure to water and could be releasing allergens into your home.

• Install new insulation

Once you’ve removed your old insulation, you’ll need to choose a new one. Talk to your contractor about the kinds of insulation you have available, but try to find a waterproof type. Insulate the pipes, avoiding the outlets. By protecting pipes from the cold, you prevent future bursts and leaks. In a similar vein, be sure to avoid insulating electrical circuits or outlets. Insulation is flammable, and the last thing you want to do is go from a leaky crawl space to an electrical hazard.

• Consider additional waterproofing solutions

Once you’ve finished installing your insulation, consider stacking other waterproofing solutions. At this stage, you can easily invest in temporary solutions, including sealants, a French drain, dehumidifiers, and more.

The insulation process will do more than just lower your heating bill. When properly installing insulation in your home, you should see fewer leaks from your walls and crawl space joints. Again, if leaks are getting into your crawl space via the foundation of your home, you will want to talk to a contractor about the more extensive waterproofing options available to you.

Encapsulating Your Crawl Space

If insulating is so easy, why would you bother encapsulating your crawl space? The encapsulation process is strictly waterproofing-oriented. While the process will also lower your heating bills, it will remove water from the air and ground in your crawl space.

The encapsulation process usually includes the following steps:

• Dry it out

As with the insulating process, you’ll need to remove standing water or dampness from your crawl space before getting started. At this point, you can install a temporary dehumidifier to drive the moisture out of the air.

• Plug the leaks

Similarly, you will need to plug any wall or joint leaks you can find in your crawl space. If you can’t find these on your own, reach out to a contractor. Again, a leak could be coming from your foundation.

• Remove old insulation

Once you’ve plugged the visible leaks, it’s time to remove the old insulation from your crawl space. Again, this is necessary because previous flooding may have damaged the insulation.

• Install vapor barriers

Once you’ve finished, you’ll replace that old insulation with a water barrier. A water barrier looks like a large sheet of white plastic. Coupled with a perimeter drainage system in the crawl space floor and a sump pump system, it helps redirect water away from your home and back into your lawn.

• Install a dehumidifier

You may optionally consider permanently installing a dehumidifier in your crawl space. Dehumidifiers pull excess moisture from the air and will prolong the life of your encapsulation.

• Consider additional waterproofing solutions

Finally, consider further crawl space waterproofing methods, especially if leaks have been severe. Your options include a French drain, sump pump, temporary sealants, and drainage mats.

Insulation vs. Encapsulation: Which Is Better?

As you can tell, the insulation and encapsulation processes are reasonably similar. Which one, though, is better for your crawl space?

That depends entirely on your home’s needs. Does your crawl space frequently flood to the point where you’re worried about the safety of the belongings you have stored there? Then, you’ll want to encapsulate the area. Are leaks minor? Then, the insulation process should serve you well.

Don’t let Virginia’s rains get you down. You can keep your crawl space and home safe and dry with the right waterproofing solutions. Contact JES Foundation Repair for a free crawl space inspection and customized solutions for your home.

Crawl Space Encapsulation FAQs

Can I replace the wet insulation myself?

DIY repairs and replacing insulation alone are temporary solutions. Entering your crawl space can be risky. We recommend professional assessment and solutions for a lasting fix. JES Foundation Repair offers a thorough evaluation during a free inspection, followed by tailored repair recommendations.

How often should crawl space insulation panels be replaced?

While many insulation types last 15-20 years, they can degrade due to moisture if the crawl space is not properly sealed. Our ExTremeBloc™ foam board insulation is designed as a permanent solution. Contact us for more information and to schedule a free inspection.

How long does crawl space encapsulation take?

The duration of the project varies based on the crawl space size, the extent of existing damage, and the specific solutions implemented. Most encapsulation projects take between one and three days to complete, including moisture control, insulation, and sealing. JES Foundation Repair teams work efficiently to ensure your crawl space is fully protected on schedule. Contact us for more information and to schedule a free inspection.

Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for almost 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.