Common questions about crawl spaces
- Can ‘dormant’ mold spores appear and affect a crawl space?
- Can I use plastic sheeting as a vapor barrier?
- Can you build a pole barn house with a crawl space?
- Crawl space is infested with mold, how do we go about properly fixing it?
- Does crawl space encapsulation increase home value?
- Does encapsulating a crawl space really work and is it worth the money?
Salem crawl space encapsulation — local context
If your Salem crawl space stays damp, it's usually the water table, not bad luck. The Spicket River runs through Salem, and the Town of Salem Master Plan records flood damage "since at least 1936 when spring rain combined with snowmelt," plus major events in 1968, 1984, 1987, 1996 and 1998 (FEMA reissued Salem's flood map that year). The same plan lists Arlington Mill Reservoir, Canobie Lake, Captain Pond and World End Pond as town water bodies — homes near these drainage corridors sit over a high seasonal water table that pushes moisture into dirt and vented crawl spaces. Census ACS data puts Salem's median home build year at 1977, so many predate modern moisture barriers. Our crawl space encapsulation seals the space with a 12-mil wall / 20-mil floor vapor barrier, dimpled drainage matting, a dehumidifier and a sump. Price runs $3,000–$25,000. Radon mitigation is a separate add-on, typically $1,950–$2,250.
What a recent customer said
"Gerald and his crew did an excellent job, first cleaning out all the debris and the dislodged insulation in the crawlspace. they were very communicative and understood my concerns and handled them professionally. When they were finished laying the sublayment and the top vinyl covering, carefully taping all the seams they put insulating foam around the perimeter, sealing the top of the vinyl. Gerald communicated two issues that were not part of the contract that I will subsequently take care of myself. Great job, very satisfied." — Alex C Arcisz, 5★ (Google)
Frequently asked questions
Why do Salem, NH crawl spaces get so damp?
Salem sits over a high seasonal water table fed by the Spicket River and named water bodies like Arlington Mill Reservoir, Canobie Lake, Captain Pond and World End Pond. The Town of Salem Master Plan documents repeated floodplain events since 1936, with a FEMA flood map reissued in 1998. Homes near these drainage corridors take on groundwater moisture through dirt or vented crawl spaces. Encapsulation with a 12-mil wall / 20-mil floor vapor barrier, dimpled matting, a dehumidifier and a sump keeps that moisture out.
My Salem home is older — does that affect my crawl space?
It can. The US Census ACS puts Salem's median home build year at 1977, so many local homes predate modern crawl-space moisture standards and were built with vented or dirt-floor crawl spaces and no vapor barrier. Those are exactly the spaces that collect humidity and risk wood rot or mold. We seal them with a full encapsulation system; crawl space encapsulation runs $3,000–$25,000 depending on size and condition.
Should I worry about radon in my Salem crawl space?
Salem is in Rockingham County, which the EPA classifies as Radon Zone 2 (moderate potential, a predicted average of 2–4 pCi/L). The EPA notes radon moves up from the soil into homes through foundation cracks and crawl spaces, and that any home type can be affected, with an action level of 4 pCi/L. Encapsulation reduces moisture but is not a radon system on its own — radon mitigation is a separate 603 add-on, typically $1,950–$2,250, and we can test and install it if your levels warrant.
Crawl Space Encapsulation in nearby New England towns
More 603 services in Salem
- Basement Waterproofing in Salem, NH
- Basement Finishing in Salem, NH
- Foundation Crack Repair in Salem, NH
- Radon Mitigation in Salem, NH