What Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Thickness Do You Need?
The 8 mil Pure Guardian® is a great product when there is limited head height or for use on the crawl space walls. Since the crawl space walls require very little durability from the vapor barrier, it can be used to offset the cost of a thicker, stronger one. Even though this is the lowest mil available by CrawlSpaceRepair.com, it is still no wimp.
If the crawl space has a lot of rough ground, contains many stones, or heavy foot traffic or storage is desired, then the 20 Mil SilverBack® is the one you want. It is the strongest vapor barrier, and it contains the most reinforcement. The 20 mil barrier has two layers of polyester reinforcement and three layers of virgin polyethylene.
To ensure a long service life for all of our crawl space vapor barriers, the ground must be clear of any sharp objects.
Protection for Your Floor
For those crawl spaces that have a lot of stones or sharp objects and there are just too many to be removed, take a look at our felt underlayment. The Felt550® was designed to protect your crawl space liner from your crawl space floor.
The install of a vapor barrier will prevent moisture from entering the crawl space from the ground. Installing a vapor barrier allows for the elimination of foundation vents altogether. Additionally, installing insulation will significantly reduce moisture penetration at the rim joist and sill plate. These installations, along with the elimination of vents, are the first steps in providing your home with a healthy conditioned crawl space®.
This is a very common question, and it really depends on what is going to happen within the space after you encapsulate your crawl space. Most people want nothing to do with the crawl space and are only going to go down there to do home maintenance. For those homeowners, a 12 mil vapor barriers would be perfectly suited for them. The 12 mil vapor barriers are all-around durable products that allow for some light storage and traffic while still providing superior moisture protection. All Crawl Space Encapsulation® Approved vapor barriers have a polyester reinforcement mesh. This makes the vapor barrier much stronger and durable, greatly reducing the chances of any punctures.
