We start by pumping out any standing water, then move straight into liner installation and humidity control.
A rushed encapsulation job with unsealed seams or unwrapped piers looks fine on day one and fails within a season. We treat seam sealing and pier wrapping as core parts of the install, not optional add-ons that get skipped to save time.
We follow manufacturer specs on liner overlap and seam tape so the barrier actually holds up over time.
Cheltenham, MD crawl space calls get scheduled fast, especially when there's standing water or an active mold smell involved.
Pricing is based on your crawl space's actual square footage and condition, quoted in writing before liner installation begins.
A dedicated crawl space dehumidifier is sized to your square footage, not a one-size-fits-all unit.
We scope every Crawl Space Encapsulation job in person before quoting it, since two properties with the same symptom rarely need the same fix.
Before any liner goes down, we pump out existing standing water and remove debris left behind by prior drainage failures.
We install heavy-duty liner rated for crawl space conditions, sealed at every seam and pier to stop ground moisture from reaching the floor joists.
Sealed vents are paired with mechanical dehumidification so the space doesn't just trap humidity instead of venting it.
A crawl space needs its own sump basin and discharge line separate from any basement system, since the two spaces drain differently.
We also check subfloor insulation for water damage and replace anything compromised before closing the liner.
This helps us bring the right liner thickness and dehumidifier size on the first visit.
We take humidity and moisture readings to establish a baseline before recommending a system.
You'll see square footage, liner grade, vent sealing, and dehumidifier specs broken out in the written estimate.
We re-test humidity after installation to confirm the space is holding at a healthy level before we consider the job done.
"Our crawl space had standing water and a mold smell we couldn't get rid of no matter what we tried. Full encapsulation with a dehumidifier fixed it in one visit."
— Cheltenham Homeowner
"Sump discharge from the old system was dumping water right back next to the foundation. They rerouted it and the crawl space finally dried out."
— Cheltenham Customer
"They caught duct condensation we didn't even know was happening down there. Sealed everything up during the same visit."
— Cheltenham Homeowner
"Humidity reading before was over 80%. After encapsulation it's holding steady in the 50s."
— Cheltenham Customer
A vapor barrier is just the liner on the ground; full encapsulation seals vents, walls, and often adds a dehumidifier for complete moisture control.
Most residential spaces do well with a 12-15 mil liner; spaces used for storage or with foot traffic often need 20 mil for durability.
Some jurisdictions have code requirements around vent sealing, which we'll flag during the inspection if relevant.
Often yes, if the crawl space is the source — sealing and dehumidifying typically resolves musty odors within a few days of installation.
Yes — we extract existing water first, then proceed with liner and vent sealing once the space is dry enough to work safely.
Most residential jobs finish in one to two days depending on square footage and how much prep work is needed.
Tight access or an unusually large crawl space? Call +1-866-476-1348 and we'll confirm scope and scheduling for your specific Cheltenham property.
Zip codes we serve in Cheltenham, MD: 20623
One call gets you a licensed specialist, a written quote, and a same-day time window.
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