Ayers Dictionary: Common (and Complicated) Crawl Space Terms

When it comes to problems in your home, things can get complicated in the blink of an eye. There’s a ton of terminology that you have no reason to know until it related to you. While our System Design Specialists are great at breaking down problems and solutions so you understand and feel confident in your choices, sometimes it helps to have a cheat sheet.

This summer, we’re explaining some often used and unnecessarily complicated terms you'll run into as you search out solutions for your basement, crawl space, or foundation problems.

This week, we’re talking about crawl spaces, even though no one wants to acknowledge their existence. 

Ambient Moisture: Ambient moisture is a fancy term for humidity. It’s the water content in the air. Moisture in the air is a concern for a few reasons. One, it can help mold grow, and two, it’s easy to ignore if you don’t also have standing water. A dehumidifier is a great option for reducing ambient moisture and the smells and problems that come along with it.

20mil Polyethylene Vapor Barrier: That was a mouthful, right? It’s just the longwinded way to describe our CleanSpace material. 20mil is the thickness, polyethylene is the material, and vapor barrier refers to the fact that it will keep moisture out of the crawl space. 

Encapsulation: Encapsulation is our process for protecting the crawl space from the elements with the CleanSpace vapor barrier. Most crawl spaces have a dirt floor, which means the crawl space (and home above it) is directly exposed to nature. CleanSpace is affixed to the floor and walls of the crawl space to encapsulate - create a seal - that keeps air, moisture, and anything else that comes along with dirt out of the crawl space.

Antimicrobial: Antimicrobial means a material kills microorganisms and/or stops their growth. This is important in humid environments (like a crawl space) to prevent mold from growing. CleanSpace contains an antimicrobial agent that will help prevent mold growth. Working in conjunction with a dehumidifier, the crawl space will stay dry and mold-free.

Unless you’ve done HVAC work or had problems that seem to be originating down there, you’ve probably never even been in your crawl space. And there are lots of unfamiliar terms surrounding it. Call today to schedule your free inspection and let us take it from there.