Don’t let mold grow inside your home or office!
Vapor barrier installation: is it essential for your crawl space? If you live in Apex, NC, the chances are you have a crawl space under your home. Do you know if you have a vapor barrier in it? Also, when was the last time you had a crawl space inspection done by Sealed Solution to ensure your space is still moisture-free and sealed?
If you have yet to invest in vapor barrier installation or need to replace it, you may wonder how to install it. Do you need to hire someone to do the job for you, or can you do it yourself? There’s a lot to consider, especially with installing vapor barriers and how they work. It may sound like a lot, which is why we’re here to help you through this journey with your crawl space.
Keep reading below to learn more about vapor barrier installation in Wake County and everything you need to know about vapor barriers.
What Is a Crawl Space Vapor Barrier?
So what is a crawl space vapor barrier that you can add to your Apex, NC home? A vapor barrier is a plastic sheet placed on the ground of the crawl space. Dirt usually covers the floor of the space, and soil allows moisture to grow easily. That’s why vapor barriers exist: they keep the moisture in the dirt and out of the crawl space.
What Do They Do?
Vapor barriers are simple, but they do a lot to protect your Wake County home’s crawl space. The goal of vapor barriers is to keep moisture from entering your crawl space and potentially damaging your house and health. Moisture can cause mold when it accumulates, which can cause your household to suffer the consequences. Along with insulation, vapor barriers can help fend off moisture.
This works by covering the dirt floor. The water can’t pass through the barrier, so the barrier effectively keeps water out of the crawl space itself. However, if water enters from outside—like it would if you have open vents—the vapor barrier may not help. Vapor batteries are most effective when you have a sealed crawl space.
How Do They Work?
As we mentioned, having vapor barriers on the floor will keep moisture in the dirt from coming up through the barrier to the crawl space. However, you can also put vapor barriers on the walls of the crawl space. This can add an extra layer of protection if you already have an insulated crawl space. If you’re unsure if you already have a vapor barrier or what kind of insulation you have, you should call Sealed Solution for a crawl space inspection. Especially if you want to have a vapor barrier installed, you must ensure it’s sealed and free of moisture, mold, or wood rot.
Are They Necessary?
So are vapor barriers necessary? While insulation can keep your crawl space safe, how well it keeps moisture out will depend on the type of insulation you have. If you have fiberglass insulation, you may find yourself with mold growing in your crawl space. Fiberglass doesn’t handle moisture as well as other types of insulation, such as spray foam. Therefore, moisture can damage the insulation and make it ineffective.
Even if you have new insulation, you should take extra precautions to keep your crawl space and your insulation safe. Why wouldn’t you take all the necessary steps to protect your house? Therefore, you should have vapor barriers in your Wake County home.
Things To Consider
Are you taking the vapor barrier installation into your own hands? If so, there are a few things you should consider. This process is a bit complex, but you can perform it effectively with careful planning and knowledge. Also, it’s relatively inexpensive. If you choose to go with a professional, like Sealed Solution, we can install vapor barriers in a day. So if you’re not up for the DIY project, call us. Otherwise, read the tips below for vapor barrier installation in Apex, NC.
Tips for Installing Vapor Barriers
First, ensure you seal the whole crawl space. That means that you must seal every possible crack. That’s why getting a crawl space inspection by Sealed Solution is essential before starting your vapor barrier installation. Professionals are best for this job because they know what to look for when seeking damage. They investigate crawl spaces every day, so turn to the experts to ensure your crawl space is ready for a vapor barrier.
Also, make sure you measure your crawl space thoroughly before cutting your vapor barrier. While you may have a large crawl space, many are small and require you to crawl around—as the name suggests. Due to this, you don’t want to do the measuring, cutting, and placing while inside the space. To ensure you have enough room to stretch out while you cut the vapor barrier, measure the crawl space, then cut the vapor barrier outside of it.
Install insulation if you don’t have it already. While fiberglass is easy to install on your own, you should stay clear of it. Only choose insulation meant for crawl spaces; this insulation can stand up to moisture and keep it out of the space. If you have fiberglass insulation already in your Wake County crawl space, remove and replace it before you move forward with the vapor barrier installation.
Conclusion
A vapor barrier is essential for your crawl space as it keeps moisture out so that you and your family can stay safe. Before installing the barrier, consider whether you have the time, patience, and skills to do it right. If you don’t lay the barrier right, you can risk moisture entering the crawl space without you knowing, allowing mold to grow.
If you need a crawl space inspection in Apex, NC before installing your vapor barrier—or if you want the professionals to install it—call Sealed Solution at 919-302-1081 today. We’ll take care of your crawl space so that you never have to worry about mold or wood rot again.
Apex is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States. Apex encompasses the community of Friendship at its southern border. In 1994, the downtown area was designated a historic district, and the Apex train depot, built in 1867, is designated a Wake County landmark. The depot location marks the highest point on the old Chatham Railroad, hence the town’s name. The town motto is ‘The Peak of Good Living’.
The town of Apex was incorporated in 1873. According to the North Carolina History Project, the town was named for its location as the highest point on a portion of the Chatham Railroad which ultimately extends between Richmond, Virginia, and Jacksonville, Florida. According to a 1905 USGS publication on place names, the name refers to the highest point between Raleigh and the Deep River.
Apex grew slowly through the succeeding decades, despite several devastating fires, including a June 12, 1911, conflagration, that destroyed most of the downtown business district. The town center was rebuilt and stands to this day, now one of the most intact railroad towns in the state. At the heart of town stands the Apex Union Depot, originally a passenger station for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and later home to the locally supported Apex Community Library. The depot now houses the Apex Chamber of Commerce.
Apex suffered mild setbacks during the Depression-era, but growth began again in earnest in the 1950s. The town’s proximity to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park spurred additional residential development, yet the town managed to preserve its small-town character. During the 1990s, the town’s population quadrupled to over 20,000, placing new demands upon Apex’s infrastructure.
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