Crawl Space Encapsulation Plastic Method Crawl space liners or encapsulation systems are a modern solution. Heavy duty plastic visqueen 10 mil in thickness is laid directly on top of the entire dirt or gravel floor surface.
This is usually white or clear. Some liner systems will extend this same vapor barrier to the top of the crawl space wall; this choice is up to the homeowner. The obvious benefit of plastic-only vapor barrier systems is the greatly reduced cost and ease of installation for very nearly the same benefits.
What Type of Visqueen Plastic? If you are using the concrete method, you can use clear 6 mil or something even thinner, depending on the moisture level of your crawl space. If you are using the encapsulation plastic method, we recommend at least 6 mil for certain, maybe even 10 mil, again depending on the moisture level of your space. Lay down the poly sheeting. Cover the entire crawl space floor with your 6 or 10 mil plastic sheeting. Using a wide roll we sell up to 40' wide, depending on the size of your room will allow you to cut one large piece to lay down in your crawl space.
The minimum 6 mil is also inadequate if the floor of the crawlspace has rocks, roots, or concrete chunks. Remember that one tear or puncture in your vapor barrier will allow moisture to pass through and render the barrier less effective.
To save cost without sacrificing durability, you can use a thinner poly, such as a 6 mil or 8 mil, on the walls of the crawlspace, while using a thicker poly on the floor. String-reinforced 6 mil is an economical choice when the overriding concern is cost. However, 6 mil is not recommended for areas where there will be activity or there are rough surfaces.
String-reinforced 8 mil works well over soils made of dirt, mud, clay, or sand. Our 8 mil is frequently used on the walls in conjunction with a heavier material on the floors. This option offers low permeability for excellent moisture protection. Because the 10 mil Pro Crawl Barrier is manufactured with virgin polyolefin-based resins, it has a high tensile strength and superior puncture resistance to small rocks.
Because of its puncture resistance, string-reinforced 12 mil is great for soils that are rough or contain small rocks or tree roots, or for crawlspaces where there will be light or moderate activity. This film is an excellent choice when you need to strike a balance of economy and quality. Antimicrobial 12 mil String-Reinforced Crawlspace Liner.
Although all polyethylene is inherently antimicrobial, this crawlspace liner is specially treated to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, fungi, mold, and algae.
Tests verify that fungi will not grow on, near, or around TSAM. String-reinforced 20 mil is one of the thickest and toughest films on the market. It is great for commercial applications where an extra heavy-duty product is required.
Its puncture resistance makes it great for use over soils that are hard or contain large rocks or broken concrete. Our 20 mil is the best product to use where there will be heavy activity. We generally recommend two types of tape for crawlspace applications:. We recommend our Christmas Tree Ratchet Fasteners — they can be easily installed with a drill bit every inches through the butyl tape, creating an airtight seal around the hole.
Do you have questions about deciding which crawlspace vapor barrier is right for your project? Call to speak with an Americover representative today at or email us at sales americover. We offer special pricing, volume discounts, short lead times and a dedicated account manager who will work with you to get exactly what you need. If you would like to speak with a representative, contact us at To browse our full inventory of plastic and polyethylene products, sign up to receive our catalog by mail, or access a digital copy here.
Americover is the smart source for plastic and polyethylene sheeting. Instead of worrying about how thick it is, focus on outcome metrics like puncture resistance, tensile strength, and permeance test results — in other words, durability and impermeability.
The best thing to do is get in touch with manufacturers and ask about their products. Ideally, you would want to find liners that use only virgin, prime polyolefin resins.
Virgin polymers will have more structure and integrity, as they have not been previously used and have never been exposed to the elements. Additives are also used during processing to strengthen and increase longevity in the liners.
This very specific procedure will provide a product with increased efficacy to control moisture and resist soil gas transmission. To achieve your moisture control objectives, it is essential to know what to look for in a vapor retarder. If installed correctly, the right vapor retarder will provide years of trouble-free use and adequately protect your crawl space from damage. Selecting the right crawl space liner is vital to achieving your desired result: a dry, protected crawl space that will remain that way for a long time.
Contact us if you are looking for a high-quality vapor barrier for your crawl space that exceeds industry standards. Now, his focus is geared toward vapor barrier solutions for new and existing homes as the Product Manager of the StegoHome and StegoCrawl brands.
Tom enjoys working with a wide range of project team members and customers to incorporate effective sub-slab vapor protection and create healthy, sustainable homes and buildings. Home Builders. When choosing a crawl space liner for your home, asking a few key questions at the beginning will help ease your decision and give you the best long-term value in the end.
Is 6-mil poly good enough?
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