Crawl space vapor barrier in Burnsville MN - a drier crawl space under your floors
Musty smell, cold floors or damp dirt in the crawl space? We cover the ground so soil moisture stays under the plastic.
Do I need a vapor barrier in my crawl space?
A crawl space vapor barrier is a plastic ground cover laid over the dirt under your house, and in Burnsville we put one down to help keep ground moisture and soil gases like radon from rising into the space under your floors.
Most calls about a crawl space start with cold floors over it, a musty smell in the rooms above, or someone looking down the hatch at bare dirt or old plastic that's torn and bunched against one wall. The price mostly moves with the size of the space, how much old plastic and junk has to come out, and whether we're keeping the vents or closing the space, and the schedule turns on whether there's water to sort out first. If the floor still runs cold after that, crawl space insulation is usually the next step, and either way I'll give you your own number once I've been down there.
How we lay a crawl space vapor barrier
I start by working out with you whether your crawl space stays vented or gets closed, because that decides how the edges and seams of the plastic get finished. Any standing water gets traced to where it's coming from before a single sheet goes in, and then our crew clears out old plastic and debris, lays the new ground cover across the dirt, works it around piers and pipes, and finishes it to fit the plan. We leave the drainage under your house working the way it does now, so water keeps going where it already goes instead of pooling on top of the sheet.
Damp under the floor is sometimes only part of the story. If another part of the house needs a moisture barrier, that's our vapor barrier installation work. When the floors upstairs stay cold too, warm air leaking out the top of the house is often pulling cold air in down low, so attic air sealing, closing the gaps up there before anything else goes in, is worth a look while I'm out.
Crawl space vapor barrier work in Burnsville, from permits to what we find
Burnsville issues building permits for some projects, and its list names mechanical, plumbing and electrical work and changes to an existing structure, but vapor barriers aren't on it, so that list alone doesn't settle your job. I check with the city before we start, and if the plan touches something on that list, like gas equipment when a space gets closed, we take care of the permit and set up and meet any inspection. If you'd rather ask yourself, the city takes permit questions at 952-895-4444 and has an online portal for applying.
We're based in Burnsville and work in a lot of the cities around it, and the crawl spaces we open up are usually under an addition or one wing of the house, often with old plastic that's torn, bunched up or never reached the walls. We see the same setups on jobs in Apple Valley and Eagan, so the first thing I check is what's down there now and whether it's doing any good.
How a vapor barrier job goes
Call or send a message
Call (952) 234-9016 or use the form and tell us a little about the space. We'll set a time for me to come out that works for you.
I look at the space
I go down with a flashlight and check the dirt, the old plastic, the vents, any water and any gas equipment, then tell you what has to be handled first. You get a price for your space, my call on vented or closed, and anything another trade should fix, so you know the whole cost before you decide.
Our crew lays the barrier
Our install crew does the work the way we planned it at the estimate. They work from the hatch, so the rest of your house stays out of it.
We walk the finished job
I check the finished crawl space with you before we leave, looking at the edges, the seams and where water runs. That way you know what's under your floor even if you never go down there again.
Get a price for your crawl space vapor barrier
Send the form and we reply within one business day to set up a visit. I come out, look at your crawl space in person and leave you a free estimate, with no pressure to book.
Crawl space vapor barrier questions
Should I close my crawl space vents in Burnsville?
You can, but it takes a plan that goes past sealing the vent openings, because sealing them alone can raise moisture down there and can turn deadly if a gas furnace or water heater that vents by natural draft sits in the crawl space. Federal guidance for installers seals the plastic's seams and the spots where pipes pass through only in a closed space, so a vented crawl space gets a different finish. I'll tell you which way I'd go after I've seen your equipment and how wet the space runs.
Does a crawl space vapor barrier help with radon?
Yes, a well-laid ground cover helps hold down soil gases like radon along with ground moisture. Dakota County Public Health recommends a radon test for every home in the county, and colder months are a good time because the heat running tends to draw radon up from the soil. Dakota County sells test kits to residents for $10 each.
What should I do if my crawl space has standing water?
Get the water out and find and fix where it's coming from before any vapor barrier goes down, which federal guidance says must happen. If the source stays, the water comes back and the moisture climbs again, so that repair belongs in your plan and your budget. When it's a gutter, grading or plumbing problem, I'll tell you to call that trade first rather than sell you plastic that ends up under water.
How much does a crawl space vapor barrier cost in Burnsville?
Basic crawl space encapsulation in the Minneapolis area usually costs about $2 to $4 per square foot. That's the going rate for a basic job, not our price, and where yours lands depends on what I find down there, so I give you your own number after I look.
How do I get my crawl space ready for a vapor barrier?
Clear out stored boxes and loose junk ahead of time, because the cover needs to reach as close to the whole floor as it reasonably can. Federal guidance for installers runs the sheet up the walls, piers and footings too, so anything leaning against them is in the way. We take care of the old torn plastic ourselves.
How do I know if my crawl space vapor barrier is working?
Look down the hatch now and then for water sitting on the plastic, damp spots on the walls or a musty smell coming back. If you'd like a steadier check, a humidistat, a small gauge that tracks moisture down there and flags readings that aren't normal, is an option some owners add, and I can tell you whether it's worth it for yours.
Why Burnsville homeowners call Thermal Burnsville Insulation Company for crawl spaces
I come out to every job
I look at every crawl space in person and put the estimate together myself, so the person deciding vented or closed is the one you're talking to. You're not getting a number someone guessed at over the phone.
A Burnsville business since 2021
I learned this work next to my dad in attics and crawl spaces, and I started the business here in 2021. Doing the steps in the right order is the habit I came up with, and it's what keeps a new cover from hiding an old problem.
Licensed and fully insured in Minnesota
Minnesota requires a license for residential contractors and remodelers who take on more than one kind of skilled work for a homeowner. We're licensed and fully insured, so you're not carrying the risk of someone getting hurt in a tight space under your house.
The vent question and any water get settled before the plastic goes down. Send us a message or call (952) 234-9016 to get on my schedule.
Other work that pairs with a crawl space barrier
Vapor barrier installation
For walls and other spots where damp air needs stopping before it reaches the insulation.
Attic air sealing
Closing the gaps around lights, pipes and the hatch so heated air stays in the rooms you use.
Book your crawl space vapor barrier estimate
Have the rough size of the space, whether the vents are open, any standing water and any furnace or water heater down there handy when you call, so I know what to look for on the first visit.
