A damp or musty crawl space
If the dirt under your house feels damp or the space smells musty, a ground cover slows the moisture rising from the soil before it reaches the framing and the floors above.
Crawl space vapor barrier in South Pasadena CA - less ground moisture under your floors
A musty smell or damp dirt under the house? We lay a plastic ground cover so less moisture rises from the soil into your home.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What a crawl space vapor barrier does for your house
A crawl space vapor barrier is a plastic ground cover laid over the soil under your house, and in South Pasadena it's how we cut down the ground moisture and soil gases that rise into the crawl space and the rooms above it.
Most calls I get about this start with a musty smell, damp dirt under an older house or a torn sheet someone laid years ago. The price depends on how big and how low the crawl space is, how much old material has to come out, how many walls and posts we wrap, and whether there's a leak to fix first or you want the space sealed instead of vented. The schedule turns on the same things, since any repair comes before the plastic and some work may need a permit, so I look at the space and put the work in writing before we set a date.
We're licensed and insured, based in South Pasadena and working in the cities around it, including Pasadena, Alhambra and Glendale. The city requires every contractor working here to hold a city business license, so it's fair to ask any bidder to show you theirs, ours included.
I look before we talk materials
I come out myself and look hard at the crawl space before we discuss plastic or foam, because a leak, a torn sheet or gas equipment down there changes the whole plan.
The work in writing first
You get the estimate in writing, with what we'll cover and what has to be fixed first, so you understand what you're paying for and can compare bids fairly.
I walk the finished job with you
Our install crew does the work, and I walk the finished crawl space with you before we call it done. The job is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
How we lay a crawl space vapor barrier
Before any plastic goes down, I look for standing water, because a cover laid over a puddle only hides the problem. Water down there usually comes from a leaking pipe above or groundwater seeping in, so we find the source and get it repaired first, and only then does the cover go in.
Our crew lays the sheet across the floor, as close to every edge as the space reasonably allows, and runs it up the walls, posts and footings. We overlap every seam, lay it so the crawl space still drains the way it already does, and fasten it where it needs holding so it stays up on the walls. If another part of the house has a moisture problem, we handle vapor barrier installation there with the same care.
A ground cover with the vents left open is the simpler job, and it's what I suggest for most houses. If you'd rather have the crawl space sealed, I treat that as a bigger planned project, because closing only the vents can raise the moisture down there and, with gas equipment that vents naturally, create a deadly situation. So we check any gas equipment first and plan every other detail of the space before a single vent is closed. If drafty rooms are what's really bothering you, I'll look at attic air sealing too, since closing the gaps up top often helps comfort more.
When a crawl space vapor barrier makes sense
An old sheet that's torn
Older houses often have a thin, patchy sheet that's been crawled over for years. We pull out what's torn and lay a new cover that protects the floor again.
Before insulating the floor above
When cold floors are the complaint and you plan to insulate under them, the ground cover goes down first so the new insulation isn't sitting over damp soil.
A first step toward sealing
If you're considering a sealed crawl space later, a well-fastened ground cover is where that plan starts, and we can lay it now with the later sealing in mind.
Ask for a written vapor barrier estimate
Send the form or call, and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at the crawl space and give you a free written estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
Tell us about the vents
Let us know whether the crawl space vents are open, blocked or already closed, since that tells me whether we're looking at a simple ground cover or a bigger sealing job.
Mention any water or gas
If you've seen standing water or know there's a gas furnace or water heater down there, please say so, because both change what has to happen before the plastic goes in.
Say where the access is
Tell us where the crawl space hatch or door is and roughly how much room there is to move, since a low, tight space takes more care to work in.
Crawl space and insulation work examples
These photos show ground covers, overlapped seams and insulation layouts like the ones we can talk through when I come out for your estimate.
Questions about crawl space vapor barriers
Here are the practical questions South Pasadena homeowners usually ask me about covering, sealing and permitting a crawl space under their house.
How much does a crawl space vapor barrier cost in South Pasadena?
There's no fair single price, because every crawl space is different, so I give you a written figure after I've seen yours. A cover in a vented crawl space costs less than a sealed one, since sealing means taping the seams and the openings around pipes as well, and a leak repair adds to either.
Does a crawl space vapor barrier help with radon?
Yes, a well-installed vapor barrier helps keep down soil gases such as radon, along with ground moisture. It won't tell you your level, though. The state's radon maps are only advisory, and testing is the only way to know your home's radon level, so a test gives you a reading for your own house that a map can't.
Do I need a permit for a crawl space vapor barrier in South Pasadena?
It may need one, and we check with the South Pasadena Building Division for your job before work starts. The division issues permits for altering buildings, and its list names insulation but doesn't mention crawl space vapor barriers. When a permit is needed, we handle the application and set up the inspection, and the division inspects the work it has permitted.
Do I need to empty my crawl space before a vapor barrier goes in?
Yes, stored items and debris usually need to come out so the cover can reach the whole floor, for a new install or a repair, so plan to clear it before work day. For most of South Pasadena, construction hours run 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, with shorter hours on weekends and city holidays, and Southwest Monterey Hills has its own rules.
How thick should a crawl space vapor barrier be?
The Energy Department's checklist sets a minimum thickness for the ground sheet and a cap on how much vapor it lets through, so ask any contractor how their sheet compares. I'll show you the sheet we plan to use at the estimate, so you can compare bids on the material and not just the price.
Related work for your crawl space and attic
Call us about your crawl space
We answer (626) 597-0202 until 11 PM every day, so you can call after work or send the form tonight.