Kittery crawl space encapsulation — local context
Encapsulating a Kittery crawl space means sealing it with a 12-mil wall / 20-mil floor vapor barrier, dimpled drainage matting, a dehumidifier, and a sump — not a loose plastic sheet. Two facts make that worth doing here. Kittery sits on a tidal estuary: Spruce Creek, a 5.25-mile tidal creek, runs through town before emptying into the Piscataqua River (Wikipedia, "Spruce Creek (Maine)"), so low, tidal ground keeps the seasonal water table high under a crawl space. And Kittery is the oldest town in Maine, incorporated in 1647 and first settled around 1623 (Town of Kittery, kitteryme.gov) — old housing means the dirt-floor and fieldstone crawl spaces we specialize in. A crawl space is also a direct soil-gas path, and the EPA maps York County as Radon Zone 1 (EPA, Map of Radon Zones — Maine). Crawl space encapsulation runs $3,000–$25,000 (603 KB §B1). Radon mitigation, if needed, is a separate add-on, typically $1,950–$2,250. See our crawl space services or radon mitigation.
What a recent customer said
603 basement solutions was a great company to work with. They provided me with multiple different options to keep water out of my crawl space and optimize my discharge area in the back yard. Other companies came in trying to sell me $25,000+ worth of services, whereas Corey from 603 walked me through multiple options starting with a minimum viable option for what I was trying to accomplish, rather than saying I need to spend $25,000 for the full suite of services etc. Angel and his crew on install day were extremely respectful and professional walking me through everything and agreeing on the plan before they started. Angel kept me updated throughout the day and was a pleasure to work with. Would recommend 603 basement solutions to anyone who is in need of basement / crawlspace services!
Frequently asked questions
Why does a Kittery crawl space stay damp?
Kittery sits on low, tidal ground. Spruce Creek, a 5.25-mile tidal creek, runs through town before draining into the Piscataqua River (Wikipedia, "Spruce Creek (Maine)"), and the town is documenting worsening tidal and stormwater flooding at the Route 1 / Spruce Creek crossing (Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership). That coastal, tidal setting keeps the seasonal water table high, so moisture and standing water load a crawl space from below. Encapsulation — a 12-mil wall / 20-mil floor vapor barrier, dimpled drainage matting, a dehumidifier, and a sump — seals that ground off.
Do older Kittery homes need crawl space encapsulation?
Often, yes. Kittery is the oldest town in Maine, incorporated in 1647 and first settled around 1623 (Town of Kittery, kitteryme.gov), so its housing stock includes genuinely old homes with dirt-floor or fieldstone crawl spaces and no vapor barrier — exactly the foundations 603 specializes in. Crawl space encapsulation runs $3,000–$25,000 (603 KB §B1), covering the full system: a 12-mil wall / 20-mil floor vapor barrier, dimpled drainage matting, a dehumidifier, and a sump.
Is radon a concern in a Kittery crawl space?
It can be. The EPA maps York County, where Kittery sits, as Radon Zone 1 — its highest tier, where the predicted average indoor screening level runs above the 4 pCi/L action level (EPA, Map of Radon Zones — Maine). Radon forms in soil and rock and filters up into the home (Maine CDC), and an open crawl space is a direct entry path. Encapsulation seals that floor; if testing shows elevated radon, mitigation is a separate add-on, typically $1,950–$2,250.