Sioux City is home to over 85,000 residents and is known as a hub for everything from business and trade to tourism and medical care. It is also known for having poor soil conditions for homeowners.
If you have a crawl space, you probably already have some problems associated with it. These problems can include mold and mildew, water intrusion, and cold floors. All of those issues can be corrected with a crawl space encapsulation from Epp Foundation Repair.
What Is Crawl Space Encapsulation?
The basics of crawl space encapsulation are simple. It essentially is the process that protects the crawl space and separates the area from the floor or ground underneath, as well as the walls. It does so with an overlapping layer of poly-sheeting that covers the floor and walls completely.
Repairs may also be part of the crawl space encapsulation process. We may need to install crawl space jacks or replace the posts and pads. If the insulation is wet or damaged, we remove and replace it. It may also be necessary to install a drain tile system to keep water out of the area.
As a final step, we install a dehumidifier. It is big enough to keep the entire crawl space dry and that benefits the whole house, as much of the air from the crawl space will end up in the living space.
Who Needs Crawl Space Encapsulation?
If you have a crawl space, you would benefit from crawl space encapsulation. After all, when you clean the space below your home, it will benefit the area of the home you occupy as well.
Those who are already experiencing problems with their foundation would benefit the most from crawl space encapsulation. That doesn’t mean that you have to wait until you have problems to head them off.
Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation
You can’t deny the benefits of crawl space encapsulation. You may begin experiencing them shortly after the job is done. Some may even surprise you, but they are likely to include the following benefits.
Reduces Heating and Cooling Costs
Would you like to save money on your energy bill? Since the humidity will be lower in the crawl space and home after encapsulation, you will pay less to heat and cool it.
Prevent Mold and Mildew Growth
Nobody wants to deal with mold and mildew. It can cause that 'old house smell' and can impact the health of your family. Mold can't grow on the poly-sheeting and the lower humidity will keep it from growing elsewhere.
Protect Structural Integrity
Several issues can be prevented when you encapsulate the crawl space, including dry rot and a sinking foundation. Reducing humidity can reduce or eliminate those issues and we offer repair services to help with anything further.
Improve Indoor Air Quality
Did you know that half of the air you are breathing is from the crawl space? By improving the quality of the air in the crawl space with a crawl space encapsulation, you are improving air quality throughout the home.
Stop Pest Infestations
Nobody wants pests in their home, even if they are in the crawl space where they are not seen. Those pests can cause serious problems, including wood damage (termites) and droppings that could make you sick (rats and mice). They can't get through the poly-sheeting, so the problem is solved.
Improve the Floor's Comfort
Cold air is one thing we are familiar with in Iowa. When the cold air leaks into the crawl space through gaps and cracks, it can chill the floor under your feet. We seal those gaps during the encapsulation process, so your floors will be much more comfortable.
Epp Foundation Repair Services
Epp is more than a company that does crawl space encapsulation. We got our start pouring basements but quickly became experts in a wide range of foundation repair services. They include the following.
Serious foundation problems occur when incompetent soil allows the foundation to sink or if waterlogged soil pushes on the foundation walls. In either case, without our repair services, your foundation could eventually fail.
We can stabilize or even raise a foundation using push piers or helical piers. They are driven to a level of competent soil and then attached to the foundation.
In the case of foundation cracks, we can stop the expansion with carbon fiber staples. The crack can then be filled permanently with deep epoxy injections.
Many people in Sioux City and the surrounding area have taken advantage of our basement waterproofing services. It takes a damp, dingy basement and transforms it into a dry, usable part of the home.
The process involves covering the walls to prevent any water from coming through, stabilizing the foundation walls, and installing a drain tile system to keep water out of the basement once and for all.
Concrete walks, driveways, stairs, and floors can all sink as the soil moves underneath it. This can cause a tripping hazard and could lead to permanent damage as the concrete cracks.
We can raise the concrete back to level again by injecting polyurethane foam under it. We inject it through small holes in the concrete and once the 2-part liquid is under the slab, it expands rapidly to push the slab back into place.
