Crawlspace Encapsulation Services for Pownal VT Buildings

Vermont is prone to crawlspace moisture issues, encapsulate your crawlspace and stop persistent mold, and health issues in their tracks

Crawlspace encapsulation for your Pownal VT home or building can be the best investment you make for not only your properties value, but your health and the health of everyone involved.

Most likely the problem that led you to this webpage was the presence of moisture or water in your crawlspace, or the continued, ongoing growth of mold, or a persistent mold odor coming from your crawlspace.  Additionally you, a loved one, or an employee may be suffering from undetermined health issues and you may suspect air quality to include the presence of mold as the culprit. These are all great reasons to consider crawlspace encapsulation.

You may be wondering if crawlspace encapsulation is good for your crawlspace, and your health, and the short answer is yes. Always necessary? No, but often it’s a great idea, and here is why.

In climates where there is either drastic temperature swings from day to night, and those where there is high humidity or large rainfalls leading to constantly damp conditions, or even just long periods of seasonal rainfall causing seasonal wetness, there is the potential for moisture borne air quality issues as well as persistent harmful mold.  Additionally older homes that have been built on old stone foundations can be particularly susceptible to crawlspace moisture and water penetration, creating an environment that is bad for health and property. Just solving the acute problem may not be enough.

Solving the problem of water and moisture penetration into your crawlspace in many cases, is just the first step. Ensuring that any future penetration doesn’t cause long-term effects is critical to the permanency of any solution.

Many persistent moisture issues tend to come and go, even after measures to stop the base problem have been undertaken. In those instances crawlspace encapsulation can be a way of mitigating those persistent issues.

What is the difference between wet crawlspace solutions and crawlspace encapsulations?

Solutions to remedy moisture and water problems in crawlspaces are obviously a great thing, anything you can do to remove the moisture source is a necessary undertaking. Solutions such as sump pumps, proper drainage, dehumidifiers, and properly configured ventilation to keep temperature variations between sections of the building at a minimum are all solutions that should be considered. However they often don’t go far enough in situations where persistent moisture remains, in those cases creating a barrier between the moisture and the structure is key to removing the long term problem and it’s affects. It’s this barrier that ensure, that in combination with the removal of the water source that will mitigate future moisture issues such as pesky and harmful mold.

A Quick Note on Mold

“Any visible mold should be removed, no matter what its color or species,” says Tiina Reponen, PhD, professor of environmental health at the University of Cincinnati. “In a healthy building, you don’t have visible mold.”

The CDC’s Perspective on Mold Testing and Removal

“Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a residence, and CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds. Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the susceptibility of individuals can vary greatly either because of the amount or type of mold, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk. If you are susceptible to mold and mold is seen or smelled, there is a potential health risk; therefore, no matter what type of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal. Furthermore, reliable sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable or tolerable quantity of mold have not been established.”

The EPA’s Perspective on Mold Testing and Removal

Is sampling for mold needed? In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards. Surface sampling may be useful to determine if an area has been adequately cleaned or remediated.

Peniel Environmental Does All of the Heavy Lifting so You Don’t Have to!

In many cases when undertaking a crawlspace encapsulation project it becomes necessary to perform light electrical during the location of sump pumps and dehumidifiers, Peniel Environmental will pull all of the necessary permits needed at the local level and order all of the inspections needed to ensure local building codes are adhered to. If you have any questions pre-project you can always consult your local building department, or alternatively call us and we can answer them for you. We have provided the information for you below.

From time to time pre-project questions do arise and in those cases you can always call the local health department, or alternatively, contact is here at Peniel and we can answer them for you. Our consults are always no obligation and risk free so you can rest easy knowing that we have your best interest in mind, and we are more than happy to provide any information you may need.

VT Department of Health Contact Details if Required

Contact Details

Phone Number:

(802) 863-7200

Mailing Address:

108 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05402

Street Address:

108 Cherry Street
Burlington, VT 05402

With proper crawlspace encapsulation you can expect

• Improved Air Quality
• Mold, mildew, bacteria, and other contaminants are present in damp crawlspaces. If your crawlspace is damp or moldy, the air quality in your home is likely to be impacted as well
• Property Damage Mitigation
• Encapsulation can protect floors from buckling and wood framing and supports from rotting. It can also prevent pest infestations
• Heating and Cooling Savings
• Leakage from your crawlspace can cost allot annually, some estimates peg that number as high as 18%.

Call Peniel Environmental today and see if crawlspace encapsulation is a candidate for your Pownal VT property, the estimate and inspection are always free. 603-541-7979