Thinking about crawl space encapsulation in Westmont, IL? Learn what’s included in a professional encapsulation system and why it protects your home and health.
If your Westmont home has a crawl space, it plays a bigger role in your home’s health and efficiency than you might think. A damp, vented, or unsealed crawl space can lead to high indoor humidity, mold growth, musty air, structural decay, and even higher utility bills.
Encapsulation is the most effective way to transform a crawl space from a problem area into a sealed, dry, and energy-efficient part of your home. But what exactly does the process include—and why does it matter?
Crawl space encapsulation is more than just putting down a plastic liner. It’s a multi-step system designed to control moisture, improve air quality, and prevent long-term structural damage.
Here’s what’s typically included in a professional encapsulation project:
Before any materials go in, your crawl space is inspected for signs of water intrusion, standing moisture, wood rot, and mold. Identifying and addressing these issues first is critical to making sure the encapsulation works long-term.
If mold is found, remediation may be required before sealing begins.
If water is entering the crawl space from below or around the foundation, drainage solutions are installed first. This may include a perimeter drain tile system, sump pump, or regrading around the home’s foundation to move water away.
Without proper drainage, encapsulation materials may trap moisture—making the problem worse.
A vapor barrier is a heavy-duty, reinforced plastic membrane that covers the entire crawl space floor and walls. It’s sealed at the seams and edges to lock out ground moisture. In high-quality systems, the material is at least 12 to 20 mils thick and resistant to tearing or punctures.
In homes with pier-and-beam foundations, columns and footings are also wrapped and sealed.
Open vents and gaps allow humid air, cold drafts, and pests into the crawl space. During encapsulation, all foundation vents, wall openings, and utility gaps are sealed with foam or insulated covers to block outside air.
This turns the crawl space into a controlled environment—similar to the rest of your home’s interior.
Depending on your home’s construction, insulation may be added to crawl space walls or floors. In many Westmont homes, traditional fiberglass batts have sagged or collected moisture. These are removed and replaced with rigid foam insulation or other moisture-resistant materials that support better energy efficiency.
To maintain proper humidity levels year-round, a crawl space–rated dehumidifier is often installed. This helps prevent future mold growth and supports a healthier indoor environment, especially in humid months.
The system is sized to your crawl space and can operate continuously with minimal maintenance.
Every part of a crawl space encapsulation system plays a specific role in protecting your home:
For Westmont homes built before encapsulation was standard, these improvements can dramatically increase home value, comfort, and durability.
Some contractors offer quick “crawl space sealing” with thin plastic sheeting and minimal prep. While this might offer short-term improvement, it often leads to trapped moisture, material failure, and no real performance.
True encapsulation includes drainage, sealing, vapor barriers, and environmental control—everything needed to permanently solve crawl space problems, not just cover them up.
At Accu-Dry, we customize every encapsulation project based on your home’s age, condition, and moisture levels. Our process starts with a full crawl space evaluation and moisture check. From there, we build a step-by-step plan that may include:
We use reinforced materials, expert installation techniques, and back our work with warranties that Westmont homeowners can trust.
A clean, sealed crawl space doesn’t just protect your home’s foundation—it supports better indoor air quality, lower energy bills, and fewer headaches over time.
If you’re dealing with crawl space odors, sagging floors, mold, or high humidity, encapsulation might be the upgrade your home needs.
Contact Accu-Dry today for a free crawl space inspection. We’ll walk you through what’s included, what your home needs, and how to make it happen—without the guesswork.
