Vapor barrier installation in Castle Rock CO - a crawl space covered wall to wall
Musty crawl space or bare dirt under the house? We cover the ground and walls to help hold back moisture and soil gas.
Do I need a vapor barrier in my crawl space?
Vapor barrier installation in Castle Rock means laying a plastic ground cover, which some people call a vapor retarder, over the bare dirt in your crawl space so less ground moisture and soil gas, radon included, rises up into your house.
Most people call Reliable Castle Rock Insulation Services about a musty smell coming up through the floor, cold floors over the crawl space, or a dirt floor they finally looked at with a flashlight. The price moves with the size of the crawl space, how much has to be cleared out before plastic goes down, and whether you want the vents closed and the space sealed up, which is more work than a ground cover alone. The schedule turns mostly on water, because a leak has to be fixed before any plastic goes in, and the on-site estimate is where you get your own number. Before we start, we check which city or county office covers your address, and when a permit is needed we apply for it and set up the inspections. If the floors above are still cold once the ground is covered, crawl space insulation is usually the next thing to look at.
How our vapor barrier installation works
We start by clearing out stored things and debris, because the cover can't reach a corner that's buried under boxes or old lumber, so it helps if you move your own things out before we come. With the space clear and any water problem already fixed, our installers roll the plastic across all of the ground and run it up the walls, columns and footings, getting as close to complete coverage as the space allows. On walls and piers we fasten it where it needs holding, so it stays put instead of sagging back down. If you're closing the crawl space, the seams and every spot where a pipe comes through get sealed with a sealant that suits the plastic. Before any vents get closed, we make sure your furnace and water heater have another way to get the fresh air they depend on, because those vents may be what's feeding them now.
A crawl space is only the bottom of the house, and I like to work in order. If the upstairs runs hot or drafty, attic air sealing closes the gaps up top where your heated air escapes. In an older house where the walls or attic came up short, retrofit insulation adds to what's already there without tearing out finished rooms.
Why Castle Rock homeowners call Reliable Castle Rock Insulation Services for vapor barriers
I write every estimate myself
I come out to look at your crawl space and write the estimate myself, and our own installers do the work. You hear the plan from the person who answers for it, and the people under your house are our crew.
Licensed and insured in Castle Rock
We're licensed and insured. The Town of Castle Rock also requires contractors to apply, pay a fee and register before alteration or repair work, so it's a fair question to ask anyone you're comparing.
Commercial training, home crawl spaces
We've been in business since 2017, and before that I spent years on commercial crews spraying foam in warehouses and metal buildings. That's where I learned to fix what's wrong first and cover it second, because plastic laid over a leak just hides it.
Have your crawl space size, any standing water, whether the vents are open and any radon test result handy, then call (720) 408-0974 or send us your details. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
Get a free on-site estimate for your crawl space vapor barrier
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time to look at your crawl space. The estimate is free, done on site and comes with no obligation to hire us.
Vapor barrier work up close
Questions before you book a vapor barrier
What does a vapor barrier do in a crawl space?
It's a plastic ground cover that helps keep ground moisture and soil gases like radon from rising into the crawl space and, from there, into your house. A cover that's torn, short of the walls or buried under stored boxes can't do that job well, which is why so much of our work goes into prep and coverage.
How much does crawl space encapsulation cost near Castle Rock?
Crawl space encapsulation in the Denver area usually costs about $2 to $11 per square foot. An empty, dry crawl space that only needs a ground cover sits toward the low end, while clearing debris, fixing water and sealing the space push it higher. Castle Rock also charges building use tax on construction materials whether or not there's a permit, so ask whether any quote you get includes it.
What causes standing water in a crawl space, and does it have to be fixed first?
Standing water in a crawl space usually comes from a leaking pipe in the house above or groundwater coming in, and yes, it has to be dealt with before a vapor barrier goes in. The water has to go and its source has to be found and repaired, or it comes back and keeps the space damp under the new plastic. Plan on that repair being part of the job, and I'll show you what I'm seeing at the estimate.
Should I test my Castle Rock home for radon?
Yes, Douglas County Health Department advises testing to find out whether your home needs a radon mitigation system, and Colorado residents can order a free radon test kit, one per household. A vapor barrier helps minimize soil gases, but it isn't a radon system. For dirt-floor crawl spaces, radon guidance prefers a separate setup with a sealed sheet over perforated pipe, plus its own fan outside the crawl space and a vent pipe, so a high test result means planning for that work too.
Can I install a crawl space vapor barrier myself in Castle Rock?
Yes, Castle Rock lets homeowners act as their own contractor for residential additions, alterations or repairs, and you can check the Town's residential permit rules before you start. The hard part is slow work on your knees, getting plastic into every corner and up the walls so it stays, and sealing seams if you're closing the space.
How long does crawl space vapor barrier installation take?
Laying the plastic is usually the quick part, and most of the time goes into clearing the space out, fixing any water first and, if you're closing the crawl space, sealing seams and sorting out the vents. Once I've seen how much is down there, I can tell you what your schedule turns on.
Other work that pairs with a vapor barrier
- Attic air sealing
Worth a look if the upstairs feels stuffy in summer or the power bill climbs every winter, since leaks at the top of the house pull air up through it.
- Retrofit insulation
Helps when an older house still has cold rooms after the crawl space is done, by adding insulation where it's thin without opening finished walls.