Have you been dealing with a leaking crawl space for too long? Don’t worry – you have a broad array of waterproofing solutions available to you. One such solution, the vapor barrier, is ideal for both minor leaks and major ones. An essential part of the encapsulation process, vapor barriers, when coupled with perimeter drainage and a sump pump, will help redirect water that has intruded upon your crawl space. What, though, is a vapor barrier, and what does the installation process look like? Find your answers below and see if a vapor barrier will relieve some of your rain-related stress.
Vapor barriers will differ in appearance, depending on the type you want to invest in. In general, though, vapor barriers are broad and plastic-like in appearance. They’re often white in color as well.
A vapor barrier is designed to entirely seal your crawl space. As a result, they’ll also keep most gases out, only allowing for oxygen particles to pass through the barrier they form. If they can keep most gases out, then you can bet your boots they won’t let water or dampness into your crawl space either, regardless of how hard the Virginia rains come down.
Encapsulating your crawl space with a vapor barrier system is a permanent solution that will properly seal the area from the earth.
Vapor barriers are ideal waterproofing solutions for handling precipitation and keeping water out of your crawl space.
If you suspect your crawl space may be leaking, keep an eye out for the following signs:
When it comes to which vapor barriers are best, you have some options. There are many types of vapor barriers for many different uses. However, the thinnest vapor barrier on the market for crawl spaces tends to be a 6-mil barrier, and the thickest is a 20-mil vapor barrier or above.
Vapor barriers come in a variety of different thickness. Vapor barrier thickness is measured in “mils.” Rather than being short for “millimeter,” one mil is one-thousandth of an inch. Because this is such a small measurement, it’s easy to see why even these seemingly tiny differences make such a big impact.
What’s the industry standard for vapor barriers? That’s a tough question to answer. Again, it somewhat depends on who you’re asking; the person you’re asking will often claim it’s whatever they use.
Some contractors use 12-mil barriers. The 12-mil barrier is also very popular among DIY homeowners who want to save money. That’s because the 12-mil barrier is much cheaper than the 20-mil barrier.
Although you’ll still see 12-mil barriers in use at times, the industry seems to be moving toward embracing the 20-mil barrier as the standard. It’s certainly the premium standard among high-quality contractors like JES.
If you’re looking for a crawl space encapsulation that actually encapsulates, you’re going to want to choose a 20-mil liner. But you’re also going to want a professional to install it.
At JES Foundation Repair, we use our very own proprietary vapor barrier design—the CrawlSeal™ Vapor Barrier. It’s a 20-mil liner that we install professionally and FAST in your crawl space to protect against moisture damage. You can learn more about it on our Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Installation page.
Talk to a JES expert today about utilizing CrawlSeal to keep water vapor out of your crawl space.
In the era of DIY, you may consider installing a vapor barrier on your own. If you’ve never done so before, though, you may want to seek out the guidance of a professional.
In general, the process of installing a vapor barrier involves the following steps:
Don’t let the Virginia rains keep you from using your crawl space. Talk to your local contractor about installing a crawl space vapor barrier.
Groundworks Editorial Team
