Crawl Space Vapor Barriers: Choose Only the Best

An Ugly, Black Crawl Space Liner Installed on the Floor Only

There's a lot of crawl space vapor barriers out there. Unfortunately, very few of them are made with the quality and durability needed to keep your crawl space dry.

A crawl space liner should cover all surfaces that are in contact with the ground-- including all walls and floors-- even in a concrete crawl space.

The liner should be durable, and it should make good use of lighting.

This liner shouldn't interfere with what a crawl space is meant for-- meaning that you, and service workers, should still be able to access the space.

If you're in the market for a crawl space liner for your home, Rainy Day Basement Systems would like to help. They've carefully researched many styles of crawl space liners, and they believe they've found the best product in Washington , including areas like Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Redmond, Everett, and Shoreline.

They offer free crawl space sealing estimates-- contact them today!

While you're doing your own research, keep these three points in mind:

1. Your Crawl Space Liner Should be Thick Enough to Last

A Ripped, Punctured Clear Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Installed in

Your crawl space was created for a reason- so you can access utilities underneath the home.

If you use a thin, flimsy crawl space liner to protect the space from humidity and moisture, you can count on it to rip and puncture as serviceman crawl on it.

Code requires a vapor barrier to only be 1mil thick. Most contractors will install a vapor barrier that's between 4 and 6 mil thick.

However, even at that thickness, these liners are easily damaged by service workers and homeowners who need to access the space.

Rainy Day Basement Systems of Washington installs a 20-mil liner with polyester cord reinforcement in all their crawl space encapsulations. This thick, tough liner includes a 25-year warranty, so you can feel comfortable accessing the space for service. You'll also be able to use the space for storage, freeing up space in the rest of the home.

2. The Liner's Color Matters!

Many crawl space liners come in a black color. This is because these liners are made from recycled plastics, which are cheapest when they come in black.

However, there is no other good reason for a crawl space liner to be black. Black liners make a crawl space dark and inconvenient to access.

The best crawl space liners come in a bright white color. Bright white liners reflect light, making best use of available lighting in this cramped space. This makes accessing the space easier and more convenient.

3. Find a Vapor Barrier Compatible with Termite Inspections

Crawl Space Contractors Showing off a CleanSpace Liner Installation

If you have block walls, you'll want to make sure the top of them is covered off as well. Otherwise, humidity can rise straight up the blocks and enter the crawl space. However, in this case, a white vapor barrier will not do, as termite inspectors need to see that surface during their visits.

The answer to this is not to use a clear liner on all surfaces of the crawl space. Instead, use a white liner, and use a plastic covering only on the tops of the block walls. This way, you can have the benefits of termite inspector access to the tops of the blocks, while still having all the benefits of a white liner.

Local Crawl Space Contractors in Northern Washington State

When it comes time to have a contractor install your crawl space liner for you, be sure to take advantage of a FREE, no-obligation crawl space repair estimate from Rainy Day Basement Systems. They'd be glad to help!

These estimates are available to homeowners in Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Redmond, Everett, and Shoreline, and many areas nearby.

Each estimate includes a free on-site crawl space inspection with a specialist, a no-obligation written quote, and a free 88-page "Crawl Space Science" book, valued at $14.95 on Amazon.com. Rainy Day Basement Systems' specialist will have all the time you need to talk about the best options, answer questions, and go over any details. Call or e-mail Rainy Day Basement Systems today to get started!