When it comes to upgrading their homes, many property owners opt to invest in the typical home improvements like kitchen remodels, room additions, or a fresh coat of paint. But have you given crawl space encapsulation any consideration? You seriously need to, as it can make your property more appealing.
Today’s homebuyer not only looks at the aesthetics of a home, but also the durability of the property, comfort, and energy efficiency. That said, crawl space encapsulation is an incredibly valuable activity that offers all these benefits and more.
What is Crawl Space Encapsulation?
Encapsulation is the process of sealing up the crawl space with a variety of solutions including a vapor barrier, insulation, vent covers, and dehumidifiers. This helps prevent moisture from seeping into your crawl space, which can cause wood rot, mold growth, and pest infestation.
Benefits of Encapsulating Your Crawl Space
Crawl space encapsulation provides an attractive selling feature. Here are some of the benefits of investing in crawl space encapsulation and the effects it can have on your home’s value.
Preserves Structural Integrity
When a property is well maintained, its value is protected. A wet crawl space causes failing insulation, moisture buildup, wood rot, pest infestations, and mold growth. All these are factors that can spell trouble for your structure, put potential buyers off, and possibly lower the value of your home.
Luckily, encapsulating your crawl space can eliminate all these issues. Sealing air leaks and adding a thick and durable vapor barrier to your dirt crawl space prevents dampness and stops water retention and seepage. This helps keep the humidity in your crawl space at a safe level and prevent wood rot, condensation buildup, and mold growth. As a result, you are left with a stronger, more durable foundation and a healthier home.
Additional Storage Space
Extra storage space is a key selling feature in the St. Louis, MO, real estate market. Encapsulating your crawl space adds valuable and usable square footage to a property, which can be used as additional storage.
Saves Energy
Did you know that the crawl space is a significant part of any home’s overall energy use profile? According to surveys, the average American home spends approximately $2,200 on energy bills yearly, with half of this amount going to the heating and cooling.
Crawl space encapsulation helps to stabilize temperatures in the crawl space. Ultimately, this helps reduce the burden on your heating and cooling equipment, lowering your energy costs by 15 to 20%.
Better Indoor Air Quality
A vented crawl space usually harbors bacteria, mold, and other contaminants that can pollute your indoor air and negatively impact its quality. Since a large portion of the air you breathe—about 50%—comes from the crawl space, you must encapsulate your crawl space with a substantial barrier to improve the overall air quality of your home. This eliminates the threat of mold and mold-related issues that affect the quality of air in your property.
Keeps Pests’ Interest in your Space at Bay
Pests like ants and termites thrive in wet and dark spaces. Once they colonize your crawl space, these crawlies can quickly spread into other areas of your home, damage your property, and cause awful odors.
Crawl space encapsulation helps keep moisture and humidity levels in check, creating a less inviting environment for pests, insects, and rodents. It eradicates the moisture-laden breeding grounds, preventing pests, vermin, and mold from setting up shop in your home. Encapsulation also helps you avoid common issues that go along with pests like damage to wiring, wood, and insulation.
Fantastic Return on Investment
According to various surveys, adding a high-performance energy-saving feature like crawl space encapsulation can offer an average 10% return on investment when a house sells.
Reduces Home Repairs
Another essential benefit to consider is that crawl space encapsulation eliminates the need for costly home improvements in the future. It provides excellent protection against pests and moisture, which means you are less likely to need mold remediation, pest extermination, and crawl space repair services.
Improves the Appeal of Your Home
Other than fortifying your structure, crawl space encapsulation also increases your home’s overall appeal to potential buyers in St. Louis, MO. You can put any price and still attract serious buyers.
Now that you understand the effects encapsulation has on your property, now is the right time to take action. Contact the professionals at Foundation Recovery Systems today for a free crawl space inspection and repair quote.
