You stop worrying about what’s happening underneath your floors. The musty smell disappears. Your energy bills drop because your HVAC isn’t fighting against humid air seeping up through the floorboards.
Burlington’s 75% average humidity creates the perfect environment for crawl space problems. When moisture gets trapped under your home, it doesn’t just sit there. It rots wood, feeds mold, and forces your heating and cooling system to work overtime.
A properly encapsulated crawl space with vapor barrier installation and dehumidifier installation changes all of that. Your floors feel warmer in winter. The air inside smells cleaner. And you’re not throwing money at utility companies every month because your home can’t hold temperature.
This isn’t about making your crawl space pretty. It’s about stopping problems before they turn into expensive repairs and protecting the air your family breathes every day.
We specialize in crawl space encapsulation and HVAC duct cleaning for homes in Burlington and the surrounding area. We understand what older homes in this region deal with because we’ve been under hundreds of them.
Most homes here were built between 1970 and 1999, and a lot of them are sitting on clay soil that expands and contracts with moisture. That movement creates cracks, gaps, and pathways for humidity to get in. Add Burlington’s climate to the mix and you’ve got a recipe for mold, wood rot, and air quality problems.
We don’t just throw a plastic sheet down and call it done. Every crawl space gets evaluated for its specific issues, then we install vapor barriers, insulation, and dehumidifiers based on what your home actually needs. You get a free consultation up front so you know exactly what you’re dealing with before any work starts.
First, we inspect your crawl space to see what’s going on. We’re looking for standing water, mold growth, damaged insulation, and structural issues. You get a clear explanation of what we find and what needs to happen to fix it.
Next comes crawl space cleaning. We remove debris, old insulation, and anything else that doesn’t belong down there. If there’s mold, we treat it. If there’s standing water, we address drainage before moving forward.
Then we install a heavy-duty vapor barrier across the floor and up the walls. This isn’t the thin plastic you can poke your finger through. It’s a thick, durable liner that stops ground moisture from entering your crawl space. We seal every seam and attach it properly so it actually does its job.
After that, we add crawl space insulation to your walls or rim joists, depending on what makes sense for your home. Finally, we install a dehumidifier if your crawl space needs active moisture control. This keeps humidity levels where they should be, even during Burlington’s humid summers.
You’re left with a dry, clean crawl space that works for your home instead of against it.
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Every encapsulation project includes a full inspection, crawl space cleaning, vapor barrier installation, and proper sealing of all seams and penetrations. We don’t skip steps to save time.
In Burlington, where clay soil and high humidity are standard, most homes benefit from adding a dehumidifier to the system. Clay soil holds moisture and pushes it toward your foundation. Even with a vapor barrier, you need something actively pulling humidity out of the air to keep levels below 60%, which is where mold starts to thrive.
Older homes built in the ’70s and ’80s often have outdated or damaged insulation in the crawl space. We remove what’s not working and install new insulation that actually keeps conditioned air inside your home. That’s where a lot of the energy savings come from.
If your crawl space has vents, we seal them. Open vents let in humid outdoor air during summer, which defeats the purpose of encapsulation. A sealed, conditioned crawl space is far more effective at controlling moisture and improving energy efficiency.
You also get peace of mind knowing the work is done right. We use industry-leading techniques and equipment to make sure your crawl space stays dry for the long term, not just until the next rainy season.
Cost depends on the size of your crawl space and what condition it’s in when we start. A typical encapsulation for a 1,200 to 1,500 square foot home in Burlington runs between $5,000 and $8,000. That includes vapor barrier installation, insulation, sealing vents, and a dehumidifier.
If your crawl space has mold, standing water, or structural damage, those issues get addressed first, which can add to the total. We give you a detailed estimate after the inspection so there’s no guessing. You’ll know exactly what the work costs before we start.
The investment pays off through lower energy bills, better air quality, and avoiding expensive foundation or floor repairs down the road. Most homeowners see a 10-15% drop in heating and cooling costs after encapsulation.
Most crawl space encapsulation projects in Burlington take two to four days, depending on the size and condition of the space. If we’re just doing vapor barrier installation and sealing in a clean crawl space, it’s on the shorter end. If we need to remove old insulation, treat mold, or address drainage issues first, it takes longer.
We don’t rush the work to hit a deadline. Proper encapsulation means every seam is sealed, every penetration is addressed, and the dehumidifier is installed correctly. Cutting corners to save a day just leads to problems later.
You’ll have access to your home the entire time. We work in the crawl space, so you’re not displaced or dealing with major disruptions inside. Once we’re done, the space is sealed and you won’t need to think about it again for years.
Yes, if the smell is caused by moisture and mold in your crawl space, encapsulation eliminates the source. That musty odor is usually mold or mildew growing on wood, insulation, or other organic material. When you stop the moisture, you stop the growth.
We start by cleaning out the crawl space and treating any existing mold. Then the vapor barrier blocks ground moisture from coming up, and the dehumidifier keeps the air dry. Without moisture, mold can’t grow, and the smell goes away.
Keep in mind that up to 50% of the air in your home comes from your crawl space due to the stack effect. If the air down there is damp and moldy, that’s what you’re breathing upstairs. Encapsulation doesn’t just fix the smell, it improves the air quality throughout your entire home.
In Burlington, yes. The vapor barrier stops ground moisture, but it doesn’t control humidity in the air. Burlington’s average humidity sits around 75%, and during summer months it’s even higher. That humid air finds its way into your crawl space through small gaps and cracks.
A dehumidifier actively pulls moisture out of the air and keeps humidity below 60%. Above that level, mold can grow even on treated wood and synthetic materials. The dehumidifier is what keeps your crawl space dry year-round, not just when the weather cooperates.
Without one, you’re relying on the vapor barrier alone, and that’s not enough in a high-humidity climate. Most of our customers in Burlington add a dehumidifier during encapsulation because it’s the difference between a system that works and one that only works part of the time.
A properly installed encapsulation system lasts 20 years or more with minimal maintenance. The vapor barrier itself is durable and doesn’t break down unless something damages it. The dehumidifier will need occasional filter changes and might need replacement after 10 to 15 years, depending on the model and how hard it works.
The key is making sure the system is installed correctly from the start. If seams aren’t sealed properly or the vapor barrier isn’t attached to the walls, moisture will find a way in. That’s why the installation matters as much as the materials.
Once your crawl space is encapsulated, you should check on it once a year. Make sure the dehumidifier is running, the vapor barrier is intact, and there’s no new water intrusion. Catching small issues early keeps the system working without needing major repairs.
Yes, once your crawl space is encapsulated, it becomes a clean, dry area where you can store items without worrying about moisture damage. Before encapsulation, storing anything down there is asking for mold, rust, and ruined belongings.
The vapor barrier creates a moisture-proof floor, and the dehumidifier keeps the air dry. That means boxes, seasonal items, and other belongings stay in good condition. Just make sure whatever you store doesn’t puncture the vapor barrier or block airflow around the dehumidifier.
Keep in mind that crawl spaces aren’t climate-controlled like a basement, so extreme temperature swings can still happen. But moisture, which is the main enemy of stored items, is no longer an issue. You’re turning wasted space into functional storage that actually works.
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