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.
Our material specs match what commercial builders require, not the minimum code standard for residential construction.
A barrier with unsealed seams and penetrations stops only a fraction of the moisture it could -- our sealed system approach eliminates every bypass path.
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.
Protecting the wood structure of your home from moisture is the most cost-effective maintenance you can invest in, and crawl space encapsulation is the most efficient way to accomplish it.
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.
Seam treatment is what separates a professionally installed system from a DIY job that looks similar from a distance. Every seam in our installations is lapped a minimum of 12 inches and taped with a 4-inch crawl space tape rated for the temperature and humidity cycle of your crawl space. Penetrations for plumbing pipes, support columns, and structural posts are individually wrapped with additional barrier material and taped circumferentially so the junction between the pipe and the barrier is fully sealed. A barrier with unsealed seams can still allow significant moisture vapor migration because vapor follows the path of least resistance -- which is any gap, however small.
Wood rot in crawl space framing begins when wood moisture content exceeds approximately 19 to 20 percent and stays elevated long enough for decay fungi to establish. Decay fungi are present in virtually all soil and all crawl space environments -- the limiting factor is not their presence but the moisture level that allows them to become active. Floor joists exposed to a wet crawl space can develop visible decay within a few wet seasons, and the damage is progressive: soft spots in floors, squeaking from weakened joists, and in severe cases structural deflection in floor systems become evident. Our assessments photograph and document all floor joist and beam conditions so you understand the current state of your structure before and after encapsulation.
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 Sun Prairie, WI conditions before completing each project.
Six crawl space services that address every moisture source under your Sun Prairie 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.
Sealed vents are insulated to the same standard as foundation walls so the crawl space maintains a stable temperature that reduces condensation on HVAC equipment and plumbing.
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.
Existing crawl space access hatches and exterior doors are insulated and sealed to prevent air infiltration that would bypass the encapsulation system at its perimeter.
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.
Standing water drainage infrastructure is also installed in this phase so the crawl space floor is dry and stable before the vapor barrier goes down.
Heavy-duty vapor barrier material is measured, cut, and installed across every section of the crawl space floor and up foundation walls, with all seams overlapped and taped and all penetrations individually sealed.
We take final moisture readings and photograph the completed installation before issuing your written warranty documentation and maintenance schedule.
Our floor joists were showing early decay when JCB Waterproofing and Construction inspected. They remediated the mold, sealed the entire crawl space, and installed a dehumidifier -- a year later the wood moisture readings are in the safe range and the floors feel solid again.
The crew was thorough and professional. They explained what they found, showed me photos, and completed the work exactly as quoted. The crawl space is completely dry now and looks professionally done.
I got four quotes and JCB Waterproofing and Construction was the only company that gave me a written spec listing the mil thickness of the poly they were installing. That transparency is why I chose them and their work backed it up completely.
Get a written quote from our Sun Prairie, WI encapsulation specialists -- no obligation, no pressure, just a clear plan.
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