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My Branch:  43215 - Columbus >
Colleague installing vapor barriersColleague installing vapor barriers

Crawl space vapor barriers for your home

crawl space

Vapor barriers are designed to help stop the spread of moisture through buildings, preventing it from reaching living spaces or causing damage to the structure. They are highly resistant to the passage of water vapor and serve as a protective layer between the ground and the interior of your home. Typically, vapor barriers are made from durable, moisture-resistant materials such as plastic sheathing.

Crawl space vapor barriers are spread out over the ground and often secured to the foundation walls, creating a continuous cover that prevents moisture present in the soil from evaporating into the crawl space air. This is crucial because excess moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth, wood rot, and increased indoor humidity levels. Crawl space moisture barriers act as a shield, protecting your home's structural integrity from the potential damages caused by unchecked moisture.

crawl space

Keep moisture out with Terminix

Excessive moisture can lead to wood rot, mold, and mildew, which can compromise your home's integrity and safety. Terminix’s vapor barrier services focus on addressing and preventing the damaging effects that moisture accumulation in your home's crawl space can cause.

Terminix offers high-quality crawl space vapor barriers that can be directly applied to the soil in your crawl space. These barriers help block moisture and groundwater from reaching and condensing on the wooden parts of your home's foundation. Every vapor barrier we install is backed by a lifetime product warranty, giving you peace of mind knowing that your home is protected for the long haul. By choosing our vapor barrier services, you are investing in the long-term health and durability of your home.

House with back patio

What crawl space vapor barriers can do for you

As your home protection experts, we offer practical solutions. These solutions can help reduce conditions conducive to pest activity and maintain your home’s structural integrity.

Our crawl space vapor barriers are moisture-proofing barriers applied on top of the soil in your home’s crawl space. They help protect against wood rot and moisture-related issues caused by surface water runoff, wet weather, the natural evaporation of the subsoil, and excessive water vapor in the crawl space.

Our solutions can help protect your home against moisture damage issues such as:

  • Warped baseboards

  • Expanding and buckling wood floors

  • Blistering exterior wall paint

  • Corroding electrical conduits

  • Softening of floor adhesives

  • Decaying joists

  • Deteriorating insulation

  • Decaying wall framing

  • Rusting pipes

Destructive Wood-Decaying Fungi

Moisture in crawl spaces leads to three basic types of destructive wood-decaying fungi in the wood components of structures. Our vapor barriers help fight:

  • Cubical brown rot

    Often referred to as "dry rot," this type of fungus occurs when the wood is in dry-to-wet and wet-to-dry situations. The fungus specifically targets the cellulose in the wood, leaving behind a dark brown, crumbly residue that looks as if the wood has been deeply charred or burnt. The decayed wood becomes brittle and weak to the point where it completely disintegrates, compromising the safety and stability of the home.

  • White rot

    White rot infests wood exposed to continuous moisture and is commonly found in poorly vented crawl spaces. This variety of fungus attacks both the cellulose and lignin in wood, leading to a lighter, whitish appearance in the affected areas. White rot causes wood to become soft and spongy and may develop a stringy texture. Over time, this can severely weaken the wood's structure, making it unable to support the weight it was designed to hold.

  • Wood-conducting rot

    Wood-conducting rot is a specialized fungus that can be a slow destroyer of wood. It breaks down the cellulose in wood fibers, often leaving the wood-looking honeycombed inside with a surface that appears more intact than it actually is. The fungi can infest sound and dry wood by using water from a remote source, often many feet away.

Colleague installing vapor barriers

Non-destructive fungi

In addition to battling the more destructive types of wood-decaying fungi, our vapor barriers also fight the growth of non-destructive fungi, such as surface mildew, molds, and sap-stain fungi. These particular strains of fungi operate differently from their wood-destroying counterparts. Instead of attacking the wood's cellulose, these fungi feed on the starches and sugars that naturally occur within the wood cells. Although they do not weaken the wood structurally, their presence can indicate a more significant moisture issue and can contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Your home is your castle. We'll help defend it.

With almost 100 years of experience, you could say we're right at home getting unwanted pests out of yours. And we got the goods to get it done.

vapor barrier diagram

Vapor barriers

**Images, videos and animations are intended to be representative of the service offering(s) and not intended to be exact demonstrations nor all-inclusive.

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Frequently Asked Questions - Crawl Space Treatments

How often you need to replace your crawl space vapor barrier depends on several factors, including the condition of your crawl space and weather damage. Most vapor barriers can last 10-20 years. Seeing issues like cracks, water pooling, or significant wear and tear may be a good indicator that you need to replace your crawl space moisture barrier.

The cost of a crawl space vapor barrier depends on several factors, such as the location and size of your home. During your inspection, our technicians will give you an estimate for the cost of vapor barriers for your home.  

While it is possible to DIY crawl space vapor barriers, it may not be the best solution. Our experts are trained to ensure that the vapor barrier is installed correctly and efficiently, helping provide maximum protection against moisture and its potentially damaging effects. In addition, improperly installed crawl space moisture barriers can lead to moisture build-up, mold growth, and even structural damage over time. If not done correctly, taking the DIY approach can be more expensive in the long run. 

At Terminix, we offer several solutions to effectively moisture-proof your crawlspace and combat mold growth and wood rot. Encapsulation seals your crawlspace with a high-quality vapor barrier that prevents moisture penetration. In addition, enhancing ventilation can help reduce moisture levels and improve air quality by circulating dry air throughout the space. Together, these services form a reliable defense against moisture.