A moisture barrier in your crawl space will help keep moisture from rising up into your home and creating problems for you and your family. Mold and mildew can form in any space left unventilated and damp. The moisture will get trapped behind a moisture barrier and the mold and mildew will begin to grow. The mold and mildew then release harmful toxins into the air in your home causing health problems for you and your family. There are many types of moisture barriers you can use in your crawl space.
The minimum recommended thickness is six mils. This minimum standard, although not necessarily the longest lasting option available, is still good for most crawl spaces, particularly if the house will be listed for sale. These two conditions also require that the moisture barrier is run at least up to the outer walls, completely enveloping any open crawl space areas of the crawl space floors.
You should use a mold and mildew air movement detector while you are shopping for a moisture barrier. An air movement detector is an electronic device that measures the amount of time the moisture moves through an area. Moisture moves slowly but very consistently through an area. As the moisture passes through the air movement detector, it will give off an alarm. If the alarm goes off, you need to find a moisture barrier in your crawl space.
Many homes have their crawl spaces sealed by builders when they are finished building the house. Unfortunately, when seals wear down and moisture escapes, mold and mildew can form. It is important to seal your crawl spaces after you have finished building the house so mold and mildew cannot form.
Many homeowners who have had water damage to their homes do not know enough about mold and mildew to realize that they need a crawl space moisture barrier. Mildew and mold are the key ingredients in home-based chemical insect infestations like the black plague. Without moisture barriers, these insects form holes and other microscopic breaks in the walls. These holes allow moisture and food to seep in. If this happens, you could suffer from severe and long term mold and mildew damage.
A good way to prevent water damage to your home is to install a crawl space vapor barrier. It is important that you buy a high quality vapor barrier or you could end up with moisture problems in your home. There are a number of different brands to choose from such as Clorox, wiping wetting agents, and more.
Some of the larger companies may install the crawl space moisture barriers at your home without any special training. However, if you choose to do it yourself, be sure that you get the right materials for the job. Professional companies will usually use materials like fiberglass, wood, and polyethylene. You will also want to make sure that you have the proper ventilation equipment to avoid mold and mildew from forming.
If you have already been experiencing some mildew symptoms in your home, you should consider installing a crawl space moisture barrier. With proper maintenance, you can keep your home dry and the mold and mildew from forming. You might even be able to avoid the layout altogether. With the proper care and attention, you can save your home from a complete dryout and save yourself money on repair costs, drying and energy costs, and more.
One easy way to install a moisture barrier is with a double-sided tape system. You will need to locate the water main entrance (the pipe that brings in the fresh outside air) and the vent. Then you will need to locate the main source of ventilation in your crawl space. In many cases the main vents are located along the walls so that you simply need to drill two holes and then screw a piece of double-sided tape into each one. After that, you can screw the two pieces of tape together and then apply enough pressure so that the tape holds tightly to the walls.
If your home has basements and crawl spaces, then you need to seal them as well. When you waterproof your basement or crawl spaces, you will be cutting the amount of moisture that gets in, but you will also be reducing the amount of dirt that gets soaked up. The excess moisture in the crawl spaces and basements will eventually find its way to your house and you will have dirt floors and moisture all over your house. The moisture will also start to rot the wood and cause it to deteriorate. When you seal your crawl spaces and basement, you will be reducing the amount of dirt that gets soaked up, and you will be reducing the amount of rotting wood that you see on your house. This will cut down on the amount of maintenance that you have to do on your home.
Crawl spaces and basement should be sealed off from the outside world, and if your space has a foundation, then a waterproof barrier is a necessity. It is a very simple and inexpensive barrier that can really help to protect your home. In addition, you will have better health and well being due to the decrease in bacteria and condensation. A few plastic sheets laid directly on top of the dirt floor, attached to each other with double-sided tape, is an effective and inexpensive solution to a Crawl Space Moisture Barrier.