Have You Already Invested in Encapsulation for Your Crawl Space? Please Click HERE for Information on How to Create a Much Healthier Indoor Air Environment!
Please Consider This When Considering Encapsulation. . .
An Encapsulated Crawl Space
"All sources of moisture will be blocked out with a thick vapor barrier that covers the entire floor area, extends up the foundation walls and piers - leaving a small gap at the top per code for termite inspection - and is permanently affixed to the walls using a special tape. All crawl space vents will be sealed. We can also install an optional industrial strength dehumidifier to ensure that you never have a moisture problem under your house again. The crawl space will look nice and clean and tidy, and if tall enough it can even be turned into functional space for storage purposes." That's the encapsulation sales pitch in a nutshell, and it presents a very attractive option...
In actuality - yes, a professional encapsulation job will indeed aesthetically transform a dirty, ugly crawl space into one that is considerably more inviting, and the white plastic typically employed as the primary encasing material certainly makes for a sterile and pure appearance. But at what price? And what are we really "inviting" by sealing this environment? Please read on and then conduct your own research so you can make an informed decision.
Yep - We Considered Encapsulating. . .
That's right - we at Coastal Dry Home - well, before we became Coastal Dry Home, that is - strongly considered encapsulation as a treatment for our sick crawl space because: 1) On the surface it made sense - seal it up, dehumidify it and be done with it; and 2) It sure would look a lot nicer, and yeah, we could use some extra storage space.
. . . And Got Some Bids. . .
So we entertained crawl space encapsulation bids from multiple sources - both the larger franchise types as well as local companies - and received quotes ranging from $10,000 to upwards of $16,000.
. . . And Had to Pick Ourselves Up Off the Floor
Now, we appreciate entrepreneurship as much as anyone; we support a free market capitalism-based society and we would never renounce anyone for trying to earn an honest living. But that much to lay plastic down and around our 1,800 sq. ft. dank dungeon???!!! Sadly, people have paid and continue to pay these prices because, well, they really want their houses to be dry and smell better, and some encapsulation marketing and sales pitches are so strong that they are made to believe that it is the only answer.
Heck, even we were so sold on encapsulation as THE solution for our crawl space that we looked into some do-it-yourself options after being bowled over by the bids we received. In doing so we subsequently learned that although it would be an ugly, time-consuming project - and the result would probably not be as neat and tidy as a professional job - we could accomplish it for around $3,000 using good quality materials.
But Then We Decided to do Our Due Diligence and Conduct Our Own Encapsulation Research. . .
So we took a step back - a pause that refreshes - to give more thoughtful consideration to the path upon which we were about to embark. We did our best to put our hyped-up "Tim the Toolman" ("Bob the Builder" for you younger folks) big DIY project enthusiasm aside, we suppressed the inner voices saying, "well, encapsulation companies are charging - and getting - a lot of money for it, so it must be our best option", and we actually took a temporary detour to do some research and think this "solution" through logically before pulling the trigger.
. . . And Arrived at These Questions and Conclusions. . .
Our crawl space would definitely look cleaner, BUT ultimately at what price beyond the prohibitive initial cash outlay?
1) Crawl space air will still naturally flow upward and permeate the living area, and there is nothing done in an encapsulation job to prevent this scientific fact. Since encapsulation completely seals the crawl space walls and eliminates all ventilation - and since dehumidifiers only recycle the same air repeatedly - over the course of time just what kind of air will exist in this completely stagnant, plastic-encased, partially subterranean environment? Without any air flow it sounded a bit like a Toxic Tomb to us, and the prospects of our family breathing that air day and night suddenly were not so appealing.
2) Dehumidifiers can be quite expensive to operate. Depending on your utility company, operating a low-capacity 600-Watt unit 24/7 can cost a pretty penny on your monthly electric bill, while a high-capacity 1250-Watt dehumidifier running continuously will evaporate considerably more from your wallet each month. All this and they only treat a specific area. (For comparison purposes Coastal Dry Home's Moisture Control & Ventilation Crawl Space System - the Humidex™ Model # CCC-103 - will typically run between $3 - $6 per month to operate while treating your entire house.)
. . . And In the End it Just Didn't Add Up For Us
As a reminder, we were sold on crawl space encapsulation to the point where it wasn't a matter of "if" but "when". It was only after we took the time to really think this through that we ultimately decided encapsulation was not the best course of action for our crawl space and indoor living environment given the uncertainties we had regarding potential issues that could arise from the lack of ventilation along with the upfront and ongoing costs of this treatment.
Now, having said all that. . .
Encapsulation - when married with the continuous ventilating/conditioning/expulsion features of the Humidex™ CCC-103 Crawl Space Solution offered by Coastal Dry Home - will make for a very effective and healthy treatment, and by eliminating the need for a dehumidifier it would be highly energy-efficient one as well. You will have a very well sealed crawl space courtesy of a quality encapsulation job, ensuring that the only air entering that environment will be conditioned air drawn in by the CCC-103's booster unit, while any pollutants that would otherwise settle in this lowest part of the structure will be constantly gathered and expelled outdoors by the CCC-103's primary unit before they have an opportunity to infiltrate the living space.
Do you need to encapsulate in order to optimize the performance of Coastal Dry Home's CCC-103 crawl space solution? Absolutely not! But if you already have encapsulated, or if you wish to incur the added expense to encapsulate, then eliminating the dehumidifier and incorporating our CCC-103 into your overall treatment will provide you with a very nice looking and very well-conditioned crawl space!
So, What's a Crawl Space Owner to Do?
We've just provided you with our personal step-by-step journey as owners of a home with a damp and musty crawl space who were looking for an effective and lasting solution. Preliminary fact-finding had taken us down the path to encapsulation, but subsequent and more detailed research, infused with a bit of intelligence we had gained from considering other options, ultimately led us away from it and towards the solution that seemed most logical to us (in addition to being significantly easier on our wallet) - Moisture Control & Ventilation by Humidex™.
We at Coastal Dry Home recognize that your situation and decision-making process may be different, and we respect your autonomy as a homeowner and consumer. Please exercise that by conducting your own research, weighing encapsulation versus other crawl space treatment options while hopefully also considering the Humidex™ solution available through Coastal Dry Home. In doing your due diligence, whatever decision you arrive is certain to be the best for your situation, your home, your family.
Would we like for you to consider our proven Humidex™ system as a solution for your crawl space and home? Absolutely.
Do we think ours is the best whole-home solution for houses with crawl spaces? Yes, and that is why Coastal Dry Home is in business - our belief as homeowners and consumers in a product that has worked wonders for our home's indoor air quality - and for many other homes as well. (Please refer to the Testimonials page)
Does CDH's Humidex™ pricing compare favorably to encapsulation? We sure think so as it cost us a fraction of the encapsulation quotes we received.
In actuality - yes, a professional encapsulation job will indeed aesthetically transform a dirty, ugly crawl space into one that is considerably more inviting, and the white plastic typically employed as the primary encasing material certainly makes for a sterile and pure appearance. But at what price? And what are we really "inviting" by sealing this environment? Please read on and then conduct your own research so you can make an informed decision.
Yep - We Considered Encapsulating. . .
That's right - we at Coastal Dry Home - well, before we became Coastal Dry Home, that is - strongly considered encapsulation as a treatment for our sick crawl space because: 1) On the surface it made sense - seal it up, dehumidify it and be done with it; and 2) It sure would look a lot nicer, and yeah, we could use some extra storage space.
. . . And Got Some Bids. . .
So we entertained crawl space encapsulation bids from multiple sources - both the larger franchise types as well as local companies - and received quotes ranging from $10,000 to upwards of $16,000.
. . . And Had to Pick Ourselves Up Off the Floor
Now, we appreciate entrepreneurship as much as anyone; we support a free market capitalism-based society and we would never renounce anyone for trying to earn an honest living. But that much to lay plastic down and around our 1,800 sq. ft. dank dungeon???!!! Sadly, people have paid and continue to pay these prices because, well, they really want their houses to be dry and smell better, and some encapsulation marketing and sales pitches are so strong that they are made to believe that it is the only answer.
Heck, even we were so sold on encapsulation as THE solution for our crawl space that we looked into some do-it-yourself options after being bowled over by the bids we received. In doing so we subsequently learned that although it would be an ugly, time-consuming project - and the result would probably not be as neat and tidy as a professional job - we could accomplish it for around $3,000 using good quality materials.
But Then We Decided to do Our Due Diligence and Conduct Our Own Encapsulation Research. . .
So we took a step back - a pause that refreshes - to give more thoughtful consideration to the path upon which we were about to embark. We did our best to put our hyped-up "Tim the Toolman" ("Bob the Builder" for you younger folks) big DIY project enthusiasm aside, we suppressed the inner voices saying, "well, encapsulation companies are charging - and getting - a lot of money for it, so it must be our best option", and we actually took a temporary detour to do some research and think this "solution" through logically before pulling the trigger.
. . . And Arrived at These Questions and Conclusions. . .
Our crawl space would definitely look cleaner, BUT ultimately at what price beyond the prohibitive initial cash outlay?
1) Crawl space air will still naturally flow upward and permeate the living area, and there is nothing done in an encapsulation job to prevent this scientific fact. Since encapsulation completely seals the crawl space walls and eliminates all ventilation - and since dehumidifiers only recycle the same air repeatedly - over the course of time just what kind of air will exist in this completely stagnant, plastic-encased, partially subterranean environment? Without any air flow it sounded a bit like a Toxic Tomb to us, and the prospects of our family breathing that air day and night suddenly were not so appealing.
2) Dehumidifiers can be quite expensive to operate. Depending on your utility company, operating a low-capacity 600-Watt unit 24/7 can cost a pretty penny on your monthly electric bill, while a high-capacity 1250-Watt dehumidifier running continuously will evaporate considerably more from your wallet each month. All this and they only treat a specific area. (For comparison purposes Coastal Dry Home's Moisture Control & Ventilation Crawl Space System - the Humidex™ Model # CCC-103 - will typically run between $3 - $6 per month to operate while treating your entire house.)
. . . And In the End it Just Didn't Add Up For Us
As a reminder, we were sold on crawl space encapsulation to the point where it wasn't a matter of "if" but "when". It was only after we took the time to really think this through that we ultimately decided encapsulation was not the best course of action for our crawl space and indoor living environment given the uncertainties we had regarding potential issues that could arise from the lack of ventilation along with the upfront and ongoing costs of this treatment.
Now, having said all that. . .
Encapsulation - when married with the continuous ventilating/conditioning/expulsion features of the Humidex™ CCC-103 Crawl Space Solution offered by Coastal Dry Home - will make for a very effective and healthy treatment, and by eliminating the need for a dehumidifier it would be highly energy-efficient one as well. You will have a very well sealed crawl space courtesy of a quality encapsulation job, ensuring that the only air entering that environment will be conditioned air drawn in by the CCC-103's booster unit, while any pollutants that would otherwise settle in this lowest part of the structure will be constantly gathered and expelled outdoors by the CCC-103's primary unit before they have an opportunity to infiltrate the living space.
Do you need to encapsulate in order to optimize the performance of Coastal Dry Home's CCC-103 crawl space solution? Absolutely not! But if you already have encapsulated, or if you wish to incur the added expense to encapsulate, then eliminating the dehumidifier and incorporating our CCC-103 into your overall treatment will provide you with a very nice looking and very well-conditioned crawl space!
So, What's a Crawl Space Owner to Do?
We've just provided you with our personal step-by-step journey as owners of a home with a damp and musty crawl space who were looking for an effective and lasting solution. Preliminary fact-finding had taken us down the path to encapsulation, but subsequent and more detailed research, infused with a bit of intelligence we had gained from considering other options, ultimately led us away from it and towards the solution that seemed most logical to us (in addition to being significantly easier on our wallet) - Moisture Control & Ventilation by Humidex™.
We at Coastal Dry Home recognize that your situation and decision-making process may be different, and we respect your autonomy as a homeowner and consumer. Please exercise that by conducting your own research, weighing encapsulation versus other crawl space treatment options while hopefully also considering the Humidex™ solution available through Coastal Dry Home. In doing your due diligence, whatever decision you arrive is certain to be the best for your situation, your home, your family.
Would we like for you to consider our proven Humidex™ system as a solution for your crawl space and home? Absolutely.
Do we think ours is the best whole-home solution for houses with crawl spaces? Yes, and that is why Coastal Dry Home is in business - our belief as homeowners and consumers in a product that has worked wonders for our home's indoor air quality - and for many other homes as well. (Please refer to the Testimonials page)
Does CDH's Humidex™ pricing compare favorably to encapsulation? We sure think so as it cost us a fraction of the encapsulation quotes we received.
