History of crawling houses and spaces

Since the beginning of home construction, moisture under the house has been a problem. It was thought that the solution was to put in multiple vents (cross ventilation) to bring in fresh air and remove humid air, but that did not solve the problem on its own. Then it was thought that they would add plastic to the top of the floor under the house and this would keep most of the moisture underneath, but this proved to cause even more problems because it never allowed the water or moisture under the plastic to dry out. , it was not sealed allowing moisture, odor and gases to enter the house and promoted mold growth, causing major problems with the home and the health of the owners.

Why did concrete arise

Then they figured the best way to seal the crawl space was by pumping concrete. This was the logical solution. Contractors sold to homeowners because they would compare it to a garage floor, driveway, or slab. The difference is that the concrete that is pumped into a basement is not like that of the floor or slab of a garage. Concrete pumped into a crawl space has more water added so that the concrete can self-level. What’s even worse is that when concrete dries, it forms a chalky surface of silica dust that ends up in the house, not just dirtying the house; it is also a health problem. Choosing to have damp, porous concrete installed in the driveway is like adding 300 pounds of water for every meter of concrete. Water is what you try to avoid! Water is the best friend of molds! And where do you think the water goes while the concrete dries? Since they put plastic in before pumping the concrete, the water only has one place to go, TOP! And when a wet concrete mix dries, it will crack allowing moisture, water, odors, and gases to enter the crawl space and then into the house.

Crawlspace Liners

Pumping concrete can look great from a cosmetic point of view, but installing a Zero Perm encapsulation system is the way to go. Zero Perm means that zero water, moisture, odors or gases can pass (100% efficient). Most coatings on the market are 6, 12 or 20 mil and have a rating of 04 or 06 permanent, this means they are only 94% to 96% efficient.

Other advantages of Zero Perm encapsulation systems compared to concrete / others are:

– Qualify for “Cash For Caulkers” – Big Tax Deductions When Tax Time Comes

60 mil thick (avoid bugs and keep warm)

Prevents radon and other natural but deadly gases from increasing and compromising indoor air quality

Moisture is mediated so mold has no food to grow.

Insulation value R-5 +

The foil side reflects heat back into the driveway and home while keeping cool air out, saving energy costs.

Permanently seals walls and floors

– Certificate of ecological housing