With Arkansas humidity climbing toward 80% this week, your crawl space is about to become a moisture factory.
Most homes in Jonesboro and Trumann have vented crawl spaces that pull in humid outside air. That air hits cooler surfaces under your house and dumps moisture everywhere. Result? Mold, rot, and sagging floors.
A 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier costs about $0.15 per square foot but stops ground moisture cold. IRC code R408.2 requires it in most cases anyway. For a 1,200 SF home, you're looking at roughly $180 in materials.
But here's the kicker: sealing that crawl space completely (walls and floor) with a proper vapor barrier can cut your cooling bills by 15-20%. We've measured it.
Installation matters though. Overlap seams by 6 inches minimum. Seal to foundation walls with construction adhesive or tape. Don't just throw plastic down and call it done.
Bonus points if you add a small dehumidifier afterward. Target 50-60% relative humidity down there.
We're seeing more builders go with encapsulated crawl spaces from day one. Smart move, especially with our muggy summers getting longer each year.
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