A great way to keep moisture out of your crawl space is to put in a crawl space vapor barrier.  It can prevent many problems from arising in your crawl space and can even get rid of issues that might already be there.  The crawl space can house many dangerous types of mold and mildew and taking care of the problem will only keep your house as healthy as it can be.

Many people do not think of mold building up in the crawl space.  They think about it in the bathroom around the grout in the shower, and they also think about it when they see a water leak somewhere in the house, but many forget about other places in the home that may be prone to developing mold and mildew.

The crawl space attracts mold and mildew and decay, because of the air temperature difference between the crawl space and the rest of the house.  Not only is the temperature different but there is also no proper ventilation that keeps the air moving accordingly.  Home builders are required to put vents in the crawl space but more often than not, the vents do not do a good job.  They do not do a great job because unlike the upstairs of the house, the crawl space does not have the same kind of flowing air you would expect in other areas of the house, so while a vent keeps moisture out of the bathroom, it does not do very well in the crawl space.

Many people decide to put a crawl space vapor barrier in the space to get rid of or prevent trouble from arising.  A vapor barrier keeps everything flowing properly and maintains a proper amount of air quality and air flow as to prevent any moisture from accumulating.  There are a few ways to go about putting in a barrier, and some work better than others.

The best way to put one is to isolate the crawl space using a thick and strong vapor barrier.  This will consist of multi-layered 20 mil poly sheets.  It should also be puncture resistant so that holes are not accidentally put into the plastic and defeat the entire purpose of the barrier and hard work!

You can use mastic tape to seal any seams in the walls and caulk to seal any openings in the walls and structures.  For an even more professional look, you can try adding strips and caps to keep an eye on any termite and ant issues.

Many people install the wrong kind of vapor barriers.  They might install a vapor barrier or a rigid foam insulation board on the ceiling of the crawl space.  Or they might close vents and leave the ground uncovered.  Some people even seal the ground with vapor barrier but leave the vents open.  It is also not advised to use fans to blow outside air into the crawl space or use fans to blow air out of the crawl space.  For the ultimate crawl space vapor barrier it is recommended that you follow proper instructions.