How to Install a Crawl Space Barrier
By Mark J. Donovan
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A crawl space barrier can dramatically reduce moisture levels in your crawl space. A crawl space barrier used in conjunction with crawl space vents can help protect your home from mold, mildew and rot.
Crawl spaces are frequently used instead of concrete slabs or full basements to support a home. They are typically unfinished and provide access to electrical wiring and plumbing pipes. If however a crawl space barrier, crawl space vents and insulation are not installed properly a home could be at risk of damage. |
Due to the fact that crawl spaces are in contact with the ground, and frequently have earth floors, high moisture levels can exist in crawl spaces if crawl space barriers are not installed. The high moisture levels can lead to condensation to form on a home’s floor joists and sills which overtime can lead to rot and decay.
| Installing a crawl space barrier is inexpensive and easy to do. All you need is a large sheet of 6 mil polyethylene plastic, duct tape and a few bricks. Sand and crushed stone are also helpful, but not critical.
To install a crawl space barrier, simply lay the plastic sheet over the floor of the crawl space. Allow the plastic sheet to lap up the sides of the crawl space walls by at least 12 inches and secure the edges of the crawl space barrier to the crawl space walls with duct tape. If there are any seams in the polyethylene plastic make sure to tape them as well. Finally strategically place several bricks in the corners of the crawl space to hold the crawl space barrier snuggly up against the crawl space walls. That’s it. You’ve installed a crawl space barrier. |
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To protect the crawl space barrier from becoming ripped or damaged, and as an alternative to using bricks, apply a 1 to 2 inch layer of sand over the crawl space barrier. Additionally you can put a thin layer of crushed stone on top of the sand.
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