Humid summers under the floor
Warm, humid summer air can reach 100% humidity once it cools in a crawl space, and the condensation it leaves can lead to rot, which is common across Pennsylvania.
Vapor barrier installation in Altoona PA - a drier crawl space under your house
Musty air under the house or bare dirt in the crawl space? We lay a sheet that cuts down the ground moisture coming up.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We reply within 1 business day.
What a crawl space vapor barrier does
Vapor barrier installation in Altoona means laying a plastic sheet over the bare dirt in your crawl space, which cuts down the moisture rising from the ground into the space under your house.
Most of these calls start with a musty smell, damp dirt under the house or floors that never feel quite dry, and in a lot of older Altoona homes the crawl space is still bare ground. The price and the schedule mostly come down to the size of the crawl space, how much has to be cleared out first, how tight the access is, which sheet you pick and whether the job stops at the floor or goes on to the walls and vents. I'll give you your own figure once I've crawled in and looked. We're based in Altoona and also work in Hollidaysburg, Tyrone, Park Forest Village and other cities around them.
I look before I quote
I come out myself and crawl in before I give you a number, because the dirt, the walls, the vents and the equipment down there decide what the job really needs.
Moisture first, insulation after
We deal with the ground moisture before anyone talks about insulating the floor above, since insulation put in over a damp crawl space doesn't do what you paid for.
A walk-through when it's done
Our crew does the install, and then I go through the finished crawl space with you, so you can see where the sheet runs and how it was laid.
How we lay a crawl space vapor barrier
I start by crawling in to look at the ground, the walls, any vents and whatever equipment you reach through the crawl space, and then we go over what I found. You clear out stored things and loose debris before the crew comes, so the sheet can cover the ground completely. We help you choose a sheet that will hold up to the traffic it'll see, because a thin one tears where someone crawls back to the furnace or a water line, while a tougher reinforced sheet lasts. Then the crew lays it edge to edge, and I'll be honest with you about whether a floor-only barrier is a fair first step or your crawl space needs more.
A drier crawl space is often the first step, not the last. Air from under the house tends to rise and slip out through gaps up top, which is why attic air sealing often comes next, and once the moisture is handled, retrofit insulation adds insulation to an older home's walls, floors or attic.
Why crawl space moisture matters here
Bare dirt under older homes
Ground moisture keeps rising out of bare dirt into the space under your house, and a well-laid sheet over the whole floor helps keep that moisture down where it belongs.
Cold floors above the crawl space
A sheet deals with moisture, not cold, so if your floors are cold we'll talk about crawl space insulation too, done after the ground is covered and dry.
Water that already drains away
Some crawl spaces already shed water toward a low spot or a drain, and the sheet should go down so that water keeps its path instead of pooling on top.
Get a free look at your crawl space
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, crawl in and give you a free estimate at your house, with no obligation.
Tell us about the vents
Let us know whether your crawl space has vents in the walls and if they're open, since that changes how far the job goes, as the questions below explain.
What's stored down there
A rough idea of what you keep in the crawl space helps us plan, because it all needs to come out before the sheet goes down over the ground.
Equipment you reach through it
Mention a furnace, ductwork or pipes you get to through the crawl space, because anywhere someone crawls to service them needs a sheet tough enough for the trips.
Crawl space and insulation examples
These photos show sheet materials, seam and wall details and crawl space layouts we can talk through when I come out to look.
Questions about crawl space vapor barriers
Here's what Altoona homeowners usually ask me about crawl space vapor barriers, from sheet thickness to radon to who can do the work.
How thick should a crawl space vapor barrier be?
Federal installer guidance calls for a sheet at least 6 mil thick, and thicker reinforced plastic holds up better. Plain 6-mil sheet needs protecting anywhere someone crawls in to service a furnace, ducts or pipes, so if your equipment lives down there you'll usually want the tougher sheet. I'll show you both when I come out.
Is a floor-only vapor barrier enough for a crawl space?
It's enough to cut the moisture coming up from the ground, but it leaves damp walls, the humidity in the air and the vents alone. One cost guide calls a floor-only barrier significantly less effective than full encapsulation, where the whole crawl space gets sealed, but a reasonable first step on a tight budget. When I look, I'll tell you which fits your house.
Does a crawl space vapor barrier help with radon in Pennsylvania?
Yes, a well-installed sheet also helps minimize soil gases such as radon coming up from the ground under your home. That's worth knowing here, because the state Department of Environmental Protection says Pennsylvania has one of the most serious radon problems in the country, with an estimated 40% of homes tested in the state above the EPA action guideline.
Does it matter if my crawl space has vents?
Yes, because it changes what the job includes. Federal installer guidance calls for sealing the seams and anything that pokes through the sheet with a durable sealant that suits the plastic, but only in crawl spaces without open vents. With open vents, that step usually isn't part of the job, and I'll tell you which kind you have when I look.
Does a vapor barrier contractor need a license in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has no state license for most construction contractors, but most home improvement contractors have to register with the Attorney General's Office. They also have to carry minimum insurance and use contracts that meet the state's home improvement consumer protection law, and you can read more on the state's contractor licensing page. We're fully insured and glad to answer whatever you'd like to check.
Book a look at your crawl space
What your crawl space needs is easier to settle with a flashlight than over the phone, so call (814) 369-6056 or use the form.