Huge Crawl Space Encapsulation DIY Money Waster

Most people fix their own crawl space to save money. What if the opposite was true? How do you keep from wasting thousands of dollars on your do it yourself crawl space encapsulation project? Also, what is the first thing you should tackle during crawl space repair?

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[jimmaule]

After years of damp and sewer smells finally tackled the the crawl space (daughter's house). Started by digging up all the sewer lines and had a company repair/replace. Then I spent the past week cleaning everything up, leveling the dirt, sealing all the duct work and finally installing a vaper barrier. I have just 1 wall to complete this week...yes...very very time consuming! Spending hours on your hands and knees and hitting my head on everything was not fun. 6 years of my daughter saying her house smelled funny...it was nice to hear...."dad I don't smell it anymore"! I did not jump into this blindly...I spent many a nights reviewing your videos for all the tips and "do's and don't's".... Thanks!!!!

[iviaverick]

I love fixing things. It gives me pride in what I own and have fixed myself. I also enjoy knowing that either I do it right, or I learn how to do it right after making a mistake. Some folks like me simply aren't one to pay someone else to do something they are capable of. The cost savings is just an added benefit (assuming you complete the project).

[RussSchampers]

1) Been burned by "professionals" many times who charge a lot and do lower quality work than I can do. Every time I've hired out they've cut corners and it's always a headache. Even now I hired out a roof job and they didn't do what they billed so they're not getting paid until they fix it.
2) Save money
3) The knowledge I learn invests in me and my future ability to do more DIY.

I wouldn't be a DIY'r if more professionals out there did a professional job. But the problem is professionals need to make money and the more quality you put into the job the more that cuts into the profit from their estimate. Thus, by design professionals are rewarded for cutting corners. DIY'rs on the other hand are always willing to spend the extra hour here or day there to invest in their life long property. It's not just a job to them. It's their home.

I say all this recognizing you're a professional and recognize you may factor quality into your estimates. I would say to you that you're the exception and not the norm if that's true.

[marvinmartian]

I want to thank you for all the videos and time and effort to give out information. Yeah it came down to cost for me too. You would not believe the amount quoted to me for encapsulation. I'm convinced that they were trying to scare me into agreeing to a different lower-level of work/cost to make that offer seem more palatable. At any rate, you are correct about the time and effort to DIY. It's enormous. I knew it would be from the beginning - I didn't kid myself. I'm one weekend away from being done with the entire project. I had the humidifier installed professionally because I didn't trust myself for the electrical wiring and the drainage system involved. Here's what I did myself - removed old insulation, scrubbed all floor joists and anything wood to remove mold spores that were very visible, replaced my dryer venting just because I was already down there, fixed cables that were just on the ground (lazy cable company) off the ground, removed the old vapor barrier that had deteriorated, removed lots of sharp rocks and concrete pieces that could tear the new barrier, replaced a couple of very long 2 by 4s that were in bad shape, cleaned the walls and piers cinder blocks, wrapped the cinder blocks with 6 mil plastic, applied 6 mil plastic to the walls (used the butyl tape I ordered from your website store), and 10 mil vapor barrier on the floor, used a ton of garden anchors and husky tape. It has taken me about 10 days of 4 or 5 hours each time. Maybe more. Exhausting work when you're not used to much manual labor, like me. I know the results aren't perfect, and this might not count as a 'true' encapsulation, but I did save a ton of money and I am seeing it through to the end. It looks MUCH better down there and smells MUCH better. Also, I do enjoy having the experience/knowledge.

[rickywrenn]

10 days? Like 10 months for me! We had a lot more to do though and worked on and off. Replaced some joists and built beams. It really looks nice though and clean and cool. My Wife and me could not have done it right without your products and videos. It give us appreciation for those who do it for a living but at the same time, a sense of accomplishment.

[charlesputnam]

I didn't know I had a problem till two bedroom floors failed. Couldn't believe the mold between sub floor and main floor. I put down new plastic and have dehumidifier going brushed off all the mold I can see . I know from watching your channel I need to remove insulation. It a hard job my crawlspace is exactly that about big to crawl in. Appreciate all the good info. I know I have a ways to go. It took 4 week ends to replace plywood in two bedroom s. I replaced most of floors years ago due to powder post beetles. The bedroom s were not bad than. I never knew about humidity. I need to put one in the house my humidity is staying around 62 in the house except on real cold days. I have learned allot from watching your videos. Money is a problem for me so I have to DIY. I think I need a bigger dehumidifier in crawl space. I learned the other day you need to figure in height to get right cubic feet. I didn't due that. So I think mine is too small but it is pulling lots of moisture out for now.

[ApartmentMaintenancePro]

Just bought a house. Got a crawlspace that needs work. Going to be binging this channel for awhile. Thanks for the good info brother I feel like I'm in the right place 👍

[loganswank]

We just did a 2300 sq ft addition (crawlspace footprint) - Encapsulating more challenging than I thought, but not bad. I was able to get all the rigid (R15) on the walls pre-framing and had the vapor barrier down there ready to go pre-cut. Didn't finish it until after framing (didn't want the guys walking on it, etc.) The most annoying/challenging part was was all the concrete sealing/vapor barrier attachments. Good night. Got it done though after a solid weekend of crawling around. Aprilaire 1830 in and just amazed at the RH/dewpoints/temperature. I did learn a lot from this channel pre-tackling the job though. Good stuff.

[elainenilsson]

I am a DIY because 1. Save money. 2. Want it done right. So, with that said I hired someone, paid them, called them back, and now I will upgrade what they did.

[allpointsorganized]

In my crawl space it's approximately 36 to 40 in deep everywhere plenty of working area and not cramped. I've been testing my crawl space posts and beams lumber with a wood moisture meter for a couple of years now. The posts, the beams, and the floor joists, and the floor planks wood moisture levels consistently stay between 10% to 14%, which is a proper moisture level for lumber in an open crawl space. I'm getting a steady reading of about 60% humidity. I have a lot of crawl space vents, around my Foundation into the crawl space. The vapor barrier, is old needs replacement, with tears everywhere. I want to use 10 mm polyethylene Virgin vapor barrier, which I understand to be good and does not smell like cat urine.

The posts sit on full-length concrete strip footings that run the full length of the my crawl space, and there's four or five of those huge strip footings at the posts sit on to support the beams, thus there's no dips, and the floor above, in our downstairs is flat and level. No sagging. Fortunately whoever built this house, positioned the posts 30 inches off center. The last contractor that was here said my crawlspace posts and beams, was over engineered which I already suspected. My supposition is that, because of the deep depth of the crawl space the large amount of venting around the foundation frame, and the over-engineering of the 4 x 6 post 30 inches off center and 4 X 6 beam, has really helps thwart any mold and mildew problems over the decades. There's no mold or mildew on the wood structure in my crawl space. There's a Zoeller M53 1/3 horsepower sump pump that's been in place for 7 years, in the low spot in the crawl space. It has been working properly. There's only a few places where the water minimal that percolates up through the broken plastic and torn vapor barrier. However the water under the VB continues to drain towards the sump pump, and the sump pump works periodically but, does not overwork and there's no flooding.

The crawl space has been in the same condition for 44 years since the house was built in 1978. There's no mold, water staining, no rotting wood, and no mildew smells at all. Fortunately there has never been insulation between the floor joists and the crawl space, to draw moisture and cause premature rotting of the wood. In 2022, I had Boracare sprayed by a pest specialist throughout the crawl space, and joists, no bugs, or rodents. In the 3 years since we've moved into this house, December 2020, I've been in the crawl space at least 30 times learning, looking and observing. I've had some crawl space contractors come over and tell me the same thing when I looked & went down into my crawl space. It does not smell mildewy and there's no mold. I have a good feeling that the lumber used in the late 70's, is better than the lumber they use now on new homes.

I've been keeping records on the relative humidity, in the crawl space, the outdoor humidity, the outdoor temperature, and the constant mean temperature in the crawl space. It stays a constant temperature of approximately 55° currently and this is Southern Oregon in the winter 2023.

I'm gathering my momentum, making bullet lists of how I'm going to carry out this project, and watching your videos.

I plan on digging a new sump pump basin, getting a proper sump pump plastic perforated Basin that you sell. And then I'm going to commence on digging trenches around the crawl space perimeter at the footings. I'm carefully planning out my project. It'll be 90% preparation, and 10% perspiration. That way I'll think/plan through potential problems and setbacks, before they arrive when I'm physically in the crawl space doing the physical work. I plan on hiring a second person to help me, I know several people that I know and trust that are handyman or work for other contractors that I know that I can pay them hourly wage that's affordable to me. I can't justify having a contract to do this because the ones that I've had out, charge for instance $475 to install a new check valve what about the sump pump. I looked them up and they only cost $25.30. So that contractor wanted to charge me 19 times more!? Never. You're right about the contractors, almost impossible to find one that would do it as good as a DIY or to do if they're well-researched, and well prepared for the task at hand.

Thanks for your videos, they're extremely helpful. God bless and hope you have a good New Year 2023! Thanks, Dan

[matthewhazen]

Definitely because I enjoy working with my hands and accomplishing new projects that I've never done before. Great videos, keep 'em going!

[gregmitchell]

Mostly I fall into the sense of accomplishment category DIY'r. I also don't like paying for something I'm physically capable of completing as well.

[kCI]

We did our 1500 sf crawlspace over a 3 day fall weekend. Day one, removed all the insulation, messy but easy work. Day 2, wrapped walls and columns, Day 3 did the floor and taped uo the seams. Took 2 people and $1300 in materials.

[ramblinjamman]

Interestingly enough I was willing to spend the money, but after a local Crawl Space Ninja rep chatted with me and identified that my crawl space was under the 24" depth requirement, he stated that they would not be able to help me given the height restrictions. With that said, I bought Stego's 15 mil product and accessories and have begun the painstaking task myself. Not because I wanted to, and not because I didn't have the money or didn't want to spend it, but the fact the pros I trust (thanks to your YouTube channel) didn't even want to fool with it. I do now fully understand why the company has set that height requirement though. Sheesh, this has been TOUGH work even for a slim guy!

[gatormark]

Fantastic video and advice. I'm stubborn and am going to try it myself after years of contemplating and research. I will document the process. :-)

[odbo_One]

I am DYI because I love doing it, I have money and money is not an issue. But, I am man of my house so I take care of my fam like my dad and his dad and his dad so forth has done.

[tommywallbanger]

I am a DIY'er and I went into my crawl space and did successfully fix clogged up dryer vent ducts and was in the process of patching up a crack in the foundation. I figured I would fix the crack on the inside and figure out what to do with the crack on the outside of the foundation later but at least seal up the inside to keep water, moisture, cols air out. The crack went all the way through. So I widened the crack and filled it in with some mortar but discovered some washout holes in my crawl space right by the crack. One of the holes was right where the water main came in. I thought leaking water main washing out the soil under my house. Then, I saw another hole right under a pier and that was causing the house to settle. I knew it was time to call the professionals. They have to put in 7 push piers under the foundation footers to keep the house from settling and jacks and beams under another part of the house due to settling. Then, they are going to encapsulate the crawl space, add a dehumidifier, french drains and a sump pump, extend the gutter down spouts 15' away from the house all for the price of $37, 000. There is no way I could do all that by myself. My crawl space is at 78-82% humidity. No bueno.
I'm just reading the contract and getting 2nd and 3rd opinions but I wonder what is causing the water to wash out the soil like that? I don't believe that was really covered in their explanation of the corrective work to get done and I need to have them explain how they are going to solve that problem before they begin any work on the house.

[ReadTheBible]

Great video that’s funny that you mention that, I’ve been working on my crawlspace for several months now only using Saturdays. Occasionally Sundays as well I usually only get to work on it once a week twice if I’m blessed. There’s so much work involved I do this stuff for a living so I at least know something. But right now I am laying down plastic which I am pretty much 99% done and also doing vent wells which takes some work there’s so much involved so yes crawlspace work is expensive but not not in the materials except for the dehumidifier. It’s the labor most people cannot do this job. To be frank I don’t even like crawlspaces especially low houses similar to mine.!!

[davesadventureshed]

Very helpful, I’m a 3 and 4 but have been getting lazy in my later years at 54. I have subscribed and will research more before I try to tackle the job…10 Saturdays is a lot of time!

[johnchapdelaine]

Was happy when the Chattanooga representative came out to assess (3rd company). First one said 9k. Another said 4k but I needed outlet installed. I installed 4 outlets. Bought an aprilaire for 2, 000 sq feet. The rep said my space was not in need of full encapsulation. Gave me a run down of needs. I ended up sealing all vents. Properly. Bought a crawl space fan unit. Installed. Ran another layer of vapor barrier over the thin one that was there. Plugged in the units with pump. And now… house feel good. Less humidity. No curling floors ( new hardwood and we noticed slight changes during heavy summer after that company installed) Now I just need to insulate my door. Ok. I work from home. So in between telehealth sessions I would do an hour here and there. Took 2+ months. DYI. Is therapeutic for this therapist. I also retired my back 1200’ workshop. Insulated and dry rocked. Love saving and feel proud about doing a job right.