Memorial Day weekend means Arkansas humidity is about to ramp up. If your crawl space doesn't have proper moisture control, you're looking at mold, wood rot, and sky-high cooling bills by July.
Most folks think laying down some plastic sheeting counts as a vapor barrier. Wrong. IRC code R408.2 requires a Class I vapor retarder (0.1 perm or less) that's sealed at all seams and edges. That cheap 4-mil plastic from the hardware store? It's usually 0.3-0.5 perms and tears easily.
We install 6-mil reinforced polyethylene, sealed with acoustic sealant at every overlap and penetration. The difference shows up fast — one client in Trumann saw their June electric bill drop $87 after we encapsulated their 1,200 SF crawl space last spring.
Here's what proper encapsulation includes: vapor barrier extended 6 inches up foundation walls, sealed around piers and utilities, plus foam board insulation on the walls (not between floor joists). Total cost runs $3-4 per square foot, but it pays for itself when your HVAC isn't fighting 80% humidity all summer.
Don't wait until August when your floors are sticky and your energy bill makes you cry. Get ahead of the humidity now.
Ready to encapsulate before the heat hits? Reply or DM us for a free crawl space assessment.