You’re not imagining it. Those cold floors in winter, the musty smell that won’t go away, the HVAC system that runs nonstop but never quite keeps up—it’s all connected to what’s happening beneath your home.
Gibsonville’s humid climate doesn’t give crawl spaces a break. When moisture gets in, it doesn’t just sit there. It creates mold, rots wood, attracts pests, and forces your heating and cooling system to work twice as hard just to maintain comfort.
Crawl space encapsulation changes that. A proper vapor barrier installation seals out moisture at the source. Pair that with dehumidifier installation, and you’re controlling humidity levels year-round. The result? Energy bills drop by 15-20%, indoor air quality improves immediately, and structural damage stops before it starts.
This isn’t about making your crawl space look nice. It’s about protecting your investment, cutting costs, and making sure the air your family breathes isn’t pulling allergens and mold spores from below.
We’ve been serving Gibsonville and the greater Greensboro area since 2011. Rick Watson owns and operates Clean Air LLC, and after 14 years in this business, he’s seen what happens when crawl space problems get ignored—and what changes when they’re handled right.
We hold a BBB A+ rating and accreditation as of 2024 because we show up, do the work correctly, and don’t oversell services you don’t need. Gibsonville homes face specific challenges with North Carolina’s temperature swings and moisture levels, and cookie-cutter solutions don’t cut it here.
Every job starts with a thorough inspection. We identify the actual problems—not just symptoms—and explain what needs to happen and why. No pressure, no runaround.
First, we inspect your crawl space completely. That means checking for existing moisture damage, mold growth, pest entry points, insulation issues, and ventilation problems. You get a clear assessment of what’s going on and what it’s going to take to fix it.
Next comes crawl space cleaning. We remove debris, old insulation, and anything else that shouldn’t be there. If mold is present, we handle remediation before moving forward. Starting with a clean foundation matters.
Then we install the vapor barrier. This heavy-duty liner covers your crawl space floor and walls, sealing out ground moisture completely. We also seal vents and other entry points where humid outside air sneaks in.
If your crawl space needs it—and in Gibsonville’s climate, most do—we install a dehumidifier designed specifically for crawl spaces. This keeps humidity between 40-50%, the range where mold can’t grow and wood stays dry.
Finally, we address crawl space insulation if needed, making sure your floors stay warm in winter and your HVAC system isn’t fighting against temperature loss. The whole process is methodical, and when it’s done, your crawl space works for you instead of against you.
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Crawl space encapsulation isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially in Gibsonville where homes vary widely in age, foundation type, and existing moisture issues. What works for a newer build won’t necessarily solve problems in an older home with settling foundation concerns.
Our service includes complete moisture control through professional vapor barrier installation that covers floors and walls. We’re talking about commercial-grade materials, not the thin plastic you’d find at a hardware store. This barrier stops ground moisture from evaporating into your crawl space and up into your living areas.
Dehumidifier installation is part of most jobs here because North Carolina’s humidity doesn’t quit. Even with a sealed crawl space, you need active moisture management during our long, humid summers. The units we install are built for crawl space conditions—they drain automatically and run efficiently without constant maintenance.
We also handle crawl space insulation when it makes sense for your home’s energy efficiency. Proper insulation keeps conditioned air where it belongs and reduces the load on your HVAC system. In Gibsonville, where we see hot summers and cold snaps in winter, that insulation pays for itself in comfort and lower utility bills.
Mold remediation is included if we find growth during inspection. We don’t just cover it up—we remove it properly and address the moisture source so it doesn’t come back.
Most homeowners in Gibsonville pay between $3,000 and $8,000 for complete crawl space encapsulation, though costs vary based on square footage, existing damage, and what your specific crawl space needs. A smaller home with minimal moisture issues will cost less than a larger home requiring mold remediation and structural repairs before encapsulation can even start.
The price includes vapor barrier installation, sealing vents and entry points, and usually dehumidifier installation. If your crawl space needs cleaning, mold removal, or insulation work, those add to the total but they’re addressing real problems that won’t fix themselves.
Here’s what matters more than the upfront cost: what you save afterward. Energy bills typically drop 15-20% once your crawl space is properly sealed and conditioned. That’s $200-400 per year for most Gibsonville homes. You’re also avoiding expensive repairs down the line—foundation work, floor joist replacement, and mold remediation all cost significantly more than preventing the damage in the first place.
Most crawl space encapsulation jobs in Gibsonville take 1-3 days depending on the size of your crawl space and what condition it’s in when we start. A straightforward installation in a clean, dry crawl space might be done in a day. A space that needs mold remediation, debris removal, or repairs before we can install the vapor barrier will take longer.
We don’t rush the process. Proper installation means carefully sealing every seam, securing the barrier to walls and floors, and making sure there are no gaps where moisture can sneak through. Cutting corners here defeats the entire purpose.
The dehumidifier installation happens toward the end, once the space is sealed. We test it, make sure drainage is working correctly, and walk you through how to monitor it going forward. Most units require very little maintenance, but knowing what to watch for matters.
Yes, and here’s why. Right now, if your crawl space isn’t encapsulated, you’re essentially heating and cooling the outdoors. Humid air from your crawl space rises into your home through gaps in flooring, ductwork, and even electrical penetrations. Your HVAC system has to work constantly to dehumidify and condition that air.
After encapsulation, your crawl space becomes part of your home’s conditioned envelope. The vapor barrier stops ground moisture. The sealed vents stop humid outside air. The dehumidifier maintains ideal humidity levels. Your HVAC system only has to condition the air that’s already inside your home.
Most Gibsonville homeowners see a 15-20% reduction in heating and cooling costs. That’s not marketing speak—it’s backed by EPA and Department of Energy studies. For a home spending $200/month on energy, that’s $30-40 back in your pocket every month. Over a year, that’s $360-480. Over ten years, you’re looking at real money that would’ve otherwise gone to the power company.
Encapsulation eliminates the conditions mold needs to grow, which is the only way to actually prevent it long-term. Mold requires moisture, organic material (like wood), and the right temperature range. Your crawl space has plenty of wood and stays in mold’s ideal temperature range year-round. The only variable you can control is moisture.
When we install a vapor barrier and seal your crawl space, we’re cutting off the moisture supply. Ground moisture can’t evaporate up through the barrier. Humid outside air can’t get in through vents. The dehumidifier keeps humidity levels between 40-50%, which is below the 60% threshold where mold starts growing.
If mold is already present, we remove it first through proper remediation. Then encapsulation prevents it from coming back. Without moisture, mold simply can’t establish itself. You’re not treating symptoms anymore—you’re removing the cause.
This matters in Gibsonville because our climate is basically perfect for mold growth if moisture isn’t controlled. Humid summers, temperature fluctuations, and older homes with settling foundations all contribute to crawl space moisture issues. Encapsulation addresses all of it.
A properly installed crawl space encapsulation system lasts 15-20 years, sometimes longer if the materials are high-quality and the installation is done right. The vapor barrier itself is extremely durable—we’re talking about reinforced polyethylene that’s designed to handle crawl space conditions without tearing, degrading, or pulling away from walls.
The dehumidifier is the only component that may need replacement during that timeframe, and even then, quality units often run 10-15 years before needing service. Regular filter changes and occasional cleaning keep them running efficiently.
What affects longevity? Poor installation is the main culprit. If seams aren’t sealed correctly, if the barrier isn’t secured properly to walls, or if vents aren’t completely sealed, moisture finds its way in and the system doesn’t perform as it should. That’s why choosing an experienced company matters more than finding the cheapest quote.
Once your crawl space is encapsulated, maintenance is minimal. Check the dehumidifier occasionally to make sure it’s running. Look for any obvious damage if you’re down there for other reasons. That’s it. The system works passively, protecting your home without requiring constant attention.
A vapor barrier alone is just a piece of plastic on the ground. Encapsulation is a complete moisture control system that seals your crawl space from all moisture sources and actively manages humidity levels.
Here’s what encapsulation includes that a simple vapor barrier doesn’t: sealing crawl space vents so humid outside air can’t enter, securing the barrier to walls (not just the floor) to prevent moisture from entering through foundation walls, sealing all seams and penetrations so there are no gaps, and installing a dehumidifier to actively control humidity even after the space is sealed.
A vapor barrier by itself helps, but it’s not enough in Gibsonville’s climate. You can lay plastic on the ground and still have humidity problems because moisture enters through vents, through foundation walls, and through gaps around pipes and ductwork. Without active dehumidification, humidity levels still climb during summer months.
Encapsulation addresses every moisture entry point and actively maintains the right humidity level. It’s the difference between a partial fix and actually solving the problem. If you’re going to invest in crawl space work, doing it completely the first time costs less than doing it twice.
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