Crawl Space Encapsulation Services in Chicago
Our team at Perma-Seal can help you fix your damp or wet crawl space. We offer professional crawl space waterproofing and encapsulation solutions in Chicago and NW Indiana.
Do you have a wet crawl space after heavy rain? Our team at Perma-Seal recommends crawl space encapsulation for all homes. This upgrade helps protect your family and your home from excess moisture, toxic mold, unwanted pests, soil gases, and harmful airborne allergens.
With a Perma-Seal Crawl Space Encapsulation System and sump pump, you can turn your dark, dingy crawl space into a bright, healthy, usable space. Waterproofing and encapsulating your crawl space is very different from waterproofing a basement; it involves using a heavy-duty liner (vapor barrier) that must completely cover the crawl space surface to ensure effectiveness and prevent moisture problems, as well as a specially designed drainage system and sump pump to remove water from under your home. Crawlspace encapsulation also improves home safety and quality by protecting your foundation and enhancing indoor air quality.
What is Crawl Space Encapsulation
Crawl space encapsulation is a comprehensive solution designed to protect your home from the many problems that can arise in this often-overlooked area. By sealing and insulating the crawl space, homeowners can significantly improve indoor air quality, reduce moisture problems, and boost overall energy efficiency. The process involves installing a high-quality vapor barrier or moisture barrier across the floor and crawl space walls, as well as sealing all vents and openings to create a closed, controlled environment. This prevents harmful moisture and soil gases from entering the space, which in turn helps to stop mold growth, wood rot, and even termite damage—issues that can lead to costly repairs and serious structural problems. With proper crawl space encapsulation, you’re not just protecting your home’s foundation; you’re also creating a healthier, more comfortable living environment for your family by keeping out mold, moisture, and other contaminants.
How Do I Know If I Need Crawl Space Encapsulation?
Several signs indicate that a crawl space encapsulation system might be necessary in your crawl space. One obvious sign is standing water in your crawl space. If the crawl space has a dirt floor, wet soil may also indicate water intrusion. Keep an eye out for the following signs of crawl space issues:
- Musty Odors
- Mold and Mildew Growth
- Sagging Floors and Floor Joists
- Pests and Rodents
- Standing Water
- Poor Indoor Air Quality
Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation
Choosing crawl space encapsulation offers a wide range of benefits that go beyond just keeping your crawl space dry. One of the most significant advantages is the improvement of indoor air quality. By reducing moisture intrusion and sealing off the crawl space with insulation materials like closed cell spray foam, you can prevent the growth of mold and mildew, which are common triggers for allergies and respiratory issues. Encapsulation also helps lower energy bills by preventing conditioned air from escaping through gaps around floor joists, rim joists, and foundation walls. This added layer of insulation keeps your home more comfortable year-round and makes it more energy efficient. Additionally, encapsulation eliminates musty odors, reduces the risk of pest infestations, and creates a clean, dry environment beneath your home. By sealing and insulating your crawl space, you’re investing in the long-term health, comfort, and value of your property.
What is Included in Crawl Space Encapsulation?
Our crawl space encapsulation and waterproofing process uses different systems depending on your home’s needs. These can include crawl space liner installation, crawl space waterproofing systems, dehumidification, and thermal insulation. Since every home’s needs may vary, our team can help walk you through the benefits of our various solutions. Our encapsulation systems are designed for long term performance, ensuring lasting protection for your home.
Our Crawl Space Wall Liner Systems
Crawl space liners, also called vapor barriers, help disperse soil gases and enhance water drainage below the floor liner. Our wall liners are specifically designed to protect vulnerable areas such as the sill plate from moisture and termite damage. They are 100% waterproof and will act as a barrier to moisture, gases, insects, and odors. They will not support mold growth.
We use four different crawl space liners depending on the needs of the crawl space:
Soil Gas Dispersing Fabric
- 100% Polypropylene fibers that won’t rot or decay
- Added cushion for the floor to protect liner, hands and knees
TerraBlock™
- 3/4″ flexible foam with vapor barrier on both sides
- Adds a R4 insulation value to the floor
- Much thicker cushion for the floor to protect liner, hands and knees
CleanSpace™ Liner
- 20 mil thick, puncture resistant liner
- 25 year warranty against punctures and tears
- Will brighten your crawl space
Insulation Panels
- Added R11 insulation value for exterior walls to reduce your heating and cooling costs
- Radiant barrier also reflects heat back into your crawl space
Additional Crawl Space Solutions
Crawl space encapsulation will usually only solve one of the many problems homeowners have in their crawl spaces. We offer a variety of solutions and designs for crawl spaces in the Chicago area that can help you tackle other issues. Learn about our ventilation and waterproofing solutions for crawl spaces below.
Crawl Space Waterproofing
You may not yet be experiencing standing water in the crawl space (or perhaps are unaware of it), but our crawl space drainage system, in conjunction with a crawl space sump pump and battery backup system, ensures that your crawl space will remain dry.
Soil Gas & Radon Ventilation
A passive ventilation pipe is installed during the encapsulation process to vent soil gases to the outside, preventing them from building up pressure under the liner. This system never needs maintenance because it has no moving parts.
Perma-Foam Rim Joist Insulation
Spray foam Insulation in the rim joist area in your basement or crawl space will make your upstairs living space more comfortable and increase energy efficiency. Perma-Foam will seal off unwanted drafts, deter pests, and resist mold and mildew.
Crawl Space Dehumidfication
High humidity in your crawl space is often the main cause of mold growth and musty odors. Our Perma-Dry system is a two-in-one dehumidifier and air purification system designed to optimize humidity levels in basements and crawl spaces.
Are Crawl Space Encapsulation & Waterproofing The Same Thing?
The shortest answer is no. While you cannot fully waterproof a crawl space without an encapsulation system, you can encapsulate it without installing a waterproofing system. Crawl space encapsulation means more than just water protection. It is a great investment to protect the health and safety of your home. The benefits include:
- Controls moisture
- Improves indoor air quality
- Lowers energy bills with added insulation
- Prevents structural or water damage
- Prevents mold growth
- Reduces pest infestations
- Creates a clean environment
Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation
A properly encapsulated crawl space is one of the most effective ways to prevent pests from invading your home. By sealing all entry points—including crawl space vents, utility penetrations, and gaps around pipes—you can keep out rodents, insects, and termites that are attracted to damp, unprotected areas. Installing a vapor barrier or moisture barrier across the crawl space floor and walls, combined with sealing cracks and joints using spray foam, rigid board, and caulk, creates a formidable defense against pest intrusion. This not only helps prevent wood rot and insulation damage but also protects your home’s structural integrity. Regular maintenance and inspections are key to ensuring that your crawl space remains sealed and pest-free over time. By taking these preventive measures as part of your crawl space encapsulation, you can enjoy greater peace of mind, improved air quality, and a healthier, more energy-efficient home.
Why Choose Perma-Seal?
At Perma-Seal, we understand that a dry home and humidity control are top priorities for homeowners in the Chicagoland area. Over the last 45 years, we have helped over 500,000 homeowners with issues ranging from humidity and air quality issues to crawl space waterproofing and foundation repair.
Contact Us For Crawl Space Encapsulation and Waterproofing Solutions
If you’d like to schedule a consultation with a team member to discuss encapsulating your crawl space, please contact us today.
Crawlspace Encapsulation System
George H helped me seal my crawlspace and encapsulate ! Insulation for the walls
