Skip to Main Content
crew member installs intellijacks in crawl space

Crawl Space Repair & Encapsulation

JES Foundation Repair installs lasting crawl space repair solutions that address sagging floors and damaged floor support systems.

Get Your Free Estimate

Sagging floors and unpleasant odors might seem like the norm to homeowners with a crawl space. But these common crawl space problems are far from normal. 

The condition of your crawl space greatly influences the health and safety of your home overall. Problems that stem from moisture and excessive humidity include mold growth that can be dangerous for many people to breathe, as well as wood rot that compromises your home’s structural integrity.

These issues are serious, but they’re not beyond repair! JES Foundation Repair specializes in crawl space encapsulation that will protect your home for years to come.


Causes of Crawl Space Issues

Here's what's compromising your crawl space:

Open crawl space vents let in moisture, which creates the perfect environment for wood rot, mold, mildew and dust mites. Plus a vented dirt crawl space can also cause your energy bill to be nearly 20% higher!

Exposed dirt in your crawl space absorbs moisture open crawl space vents allow inside. As damp soil dries, it rises through your house, changing relative humidity inside your home, contributing to high energy bills.

Spring showers are great for your flowers & landscaping, but create problems for your crawl space. Extra moisture forces the soil to expand & press against your crawl space foundation, eventually causing cracks.

If your home doesn’t have a drainage system in place, then all the water that flows out of your gutters or roof will land near your foundation. That water forces the soil to expand & will push against your crawl space foundation, forcing water in & creating cracks.

Most of us think about the damage to the inside of our home when we find a plumbing leak. Those problems spread to your crawl space. Cracks in pipes or water lines leading to your home create a mess out of your lawn but can also harm your foundation, & create water damage in your crawl space.

Award-Winning Service

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Paul Grauer he’s a real peach. Seriously, very friendly, kind and professional. Highly recommend.

Paul Grauer he’s a real peach. Seriously, very friendly, kind and professional. Highly recommend.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

John was really knowledgeable and helpful.

John was really knowledgeable and helpful.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Trent and his colleague did a fantastic job lifting and leveling our large front porch slab. The whole process took less than 90 minutes…

Trent and his colleague did a fantastic job lifting and leveling our large front porch slab. The whole process took less than 90 minutes and we?re very happy with the result.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Excellent job. Performed a thorough and clean job onsite.

Excellent job. Performed a thorough and clean job onsite.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Awesome crew! Paul Watkins, Yasser Garcia and Thomas Jackson came to my home to waterproof my crawlspace and install a sump pump. The…

Awesome crew! Paul Watkins, Yasser Garcia and Thomas Jackson came to my home to waterproof my crawlspace and install a sump pump. The process was explained in detail and was completed on time. At the end of each day, there were photos and an explanation of the work that was done. I am extremely pleased with the work that was completed by JES! Will recommend to my friends!

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Our front walkway had separated and sunk down from the driveway edge due to years of settlement helped by water run off from some…

Our front walkway had separated and sunk down from the driveway edge due to years of settlement helped by water run off from some downspouts. JES Foundation Repair was the most responsive, professional, and customer service oriented of all the companies I reached out to for quotes. Mack came to inspect the job and was more thorough than I was. He took the time to explain the company and the procedure, while inviting any questions I had. Once the contract was signed and the job scheduled, Bryan and Chris came to do the concrete work. They also asked if we had any questions and let us know what we could expect as a result. They took care of the job in less than an hour. We're very happy with the entire process and the results!

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

We needed a replacement barrier for our crawlspace entrance. While other companies deemed our job too small for them, JES provided a timely …

We needed a replacement barrier for our crawlspace entrance. While other companies deemed our job too small for them, JES provided a timely and professional service for our home. They also followed up on their work by checking back with us a few days later to ensure we were satisfied. I'd especially like to thank Chaun and his crew for their exceptional work. A clear master of his trade, Chaun ensured our concerns were met beyond expectations. His professionalism was matched by his crew's quality workmanship, and it was clear that he excelled in the role of both leader and mentor by coaching his teammates throughout the project. We would absolutely go with JES for any additional work on our property; 10/10 would recommend.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Andre W. was awesome! He came out for the annual maintenance check and he was very knowledgeable and helpful. He gave me options, but…

Andre W. was awesome! He came out for the annual maintenance check and he was very knowledgeable and helpful. He gave me options, but didn't try to push anything on me.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Rene was on time, quickly identified the problem and took appropriate action to resolve the problem.

Rene was on time, quickly identified the problem and took appropriate action to resolve the problem.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Blake Snidow omg he was great and helped us with soo much.

Blake Snidow omg he was great and helped us with soo much.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Very grateful to groundworks

Very grateful to groundworks

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

JES did an exceptional job! Particularly, Bruce Chase provided great follow-up and clarity. Mike Baines, Chris Robinson, Jesse Frye, Erik…

JES did an exceptional job! Particularly, Bruce Chase provided great follow-up and clarity. Mike Baines, Chris Robinson, Jesse Frye, Erik Hudson, Eric Towns were all exceptional workers and extremely respectful! I would highly recommend them for their service and work completed.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Codi Martin was very personable, knowledgeable, professional and patient with me. He gave good information, answered questions and…

Codi Martin was very personable, knowledgeable, professional and patient with me. He gave good information, answered questions and educated me on the process/materials. This house is 114 yrs old & needs proper work done. Too many have come in and done sloppy get by work through the yrs my grandma bought it 1974. Codi gave me names & #'s of others that can help with other issues. This was more than I expected, very grateful. I would adopt Codi, he reminds me of my eldest son that passed. Casandra Wichita KS

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

We hired JES to install a sump pump and repair a crack in our gym after we discovered water damage. While going through the permitting…

We hired JES to install a sump pump and repair a crack in our gym after we discovered water damage. While going through the permitting process, we discovered that the water damage was being caused by an unrelated issue with our front steps. Nic from JES came back out to our house free of charge to evaluate the situation and ease our mind. He listened to us and our concerns. After confirming that the water damage was not being caused by the crack in the gym and that the sump pump was not necessary, Nic fully refunded our deposit with JES. Thanks again Nic for stepping in!

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

JES is just fantastic! I experienced water coming through my basement walls after two bad rainstorms last September; JES sales…

JES is just fantastic! I experienced water coming through my basement walls after two bad rainstorms last September; JES sales representative Adam Crall came later that month to generate a thorough estimate for waterproofing. JES was able to schedule the work for the three days before Thanksgiving. Foreman John Rector and crew members Darrin and Paibai were OUTSTANDING! They were very accommodating and understanding, patient with me who was very apprehensive about jackhammers in the basement (and about the dust potential!). They cleaned up thoroughly! Worth the expense! I recommend them without hesitation!

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

JES and the entire crew (Rudy Gonzalez, Joel Lugo, Jose Garcia, Luis Trejo) did an outstanding job on our foundation and beam support work. …

JES and the entire crew (Rudy Gonzalez, Joel Lugo, Jose Garcia, Luis Trejo) did an outstanding job on our foundation and beam support work. Great crew to work with, very communicative and professional. They kept me informed of progress every step of the way.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

JES installed my sump pump in October 2023. Today (9/25/24) was my annual maintenance appointment to be sure that everything was working…

JES installed my sump pump in October 2023. Today (9/25/24) was my annual maintenance appointment to be sure that everything was working well with it. My technician, Ben, contacted me on 9/24/24 to check in with me on any possible issues that he needed to be made aware of prior to my appointment as well as to confirm my appointment. Very professional and polite. Fast forward to the appointment, Ben arrived on time, once again was very professional. I showed him where it was installed so he could get to work. Unbeknownst to both Ben and I, well there was no power going to the sump pump. That was as easy as flipping a switch on the breaker box. Then, Ben noticed a leak in the piping that was installed when the sump pump was installed. Ben ended up having to cut my drywall in which JES will incur the cost to repair it back. But this was nothing he couldn't handle although he did have to make an unexpected run to Home Depot/Lowes to get the tool needed to cut the pipe. Ben returned in a decent amount of time and got right to work. Ben repaired the pipe, cleaned the sump pump bucket, and ensured everything was working correctly. Towards the end of the appointment, Ben made a few recommendations and ending up finding out that the piping that is coming out of the from of my house that pushes the water out was installed incorrectly and was not was I paid for. Therefore, Ben made a call to his supervisor, Megan Hartman, to put her on notice about this issue as well. Ben assured me that someone from the service department would reach out to me to schedule repairs for the piping outside as well as the wall repair. Overall, I would give Ben a 10/10 and would highly recommend him as your service tech. He made sure to answer any questions I had to the best of his ability, remain professional, kept me informed throughout the whole appt, valued me as a paying customer, and advised me that if I had any further questions after this appt that I shouldn't hesitate to reach out to him. Ben was AWESOME‼

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Yasser Garcia and Jonathan Rouse did a wonderful job encapsulating our crawl space. They were efficient and cleaned up when they were done. …

Yasser Garcia and Jonathan Rouse did a wonderful job encapsulating our crawl space. They were efficient and cleaned up when they were done. They explained all the work that was done and made sure we were satisfied before they left.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

Abdul was very responsive and professional from the start. He arrived on time, walked me through the entire process, and made sure I…

Abdul was very responsive and professional from the start. He arrived on time, walked me through the entire process, and made sure I understood everything clearly. I never felt pressured into making a purchase — instead, I felt like he genuinely cared about my concerns and wanted to provide the best solution for my situation. He took his time answering all of my questions and explaining each recommendation thoroughly. I was initially skeptical about one of the suggested services, but after speaking with him and hearing his knowledge and expertise, I’m confident moving forward. I’m sure the rest of the team is great as well, but I’ll definitely be recommending Abdul to anyone I know.

  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
  • 5/
Review Logo

It was a pleasure working with Desmond James and Eric Good guys hard working didn't get to talk too much to today cuz they were working so…

It was a pleasure working with Desmond James and Eric Good guys hard working didn't get to talk too much to today cuz they were working so hard really appreciated how they treated me my family Desmond and his guys answered any questions ahead and explained everything that they were doing and great detail my house already feels more sturdy and I appreciate their hard work

Is Crawl Space Encapsulation the Right Solution for Me? 

Homes in southern coastal areas like Hampton Roads and the Outer Banks typically have crawl spaces. Crawl spaces buffer the house from the ground, and they often contain essentials like plumbing pipes, ductwork, and HVAC equipment.  

Since the mid-20th century, crawl spaces have been built with open vents and dirt floors which cause a lot of their problems. Moisture and pests can enter through them and damage your crawl space. 

You don’t have to live with these crawl space problems. Our crawl space expert at JES help you create a safer, healthier living environment with permanent crawl space encapsulation solutions. 

Call us today or fill out this form to get started!

FAQs

Humidity, unfortunately, is not a harmless visitor in your home. If you allow humidity to gather in your crawl space, then you may find yourself contending with unwanted damage in the days, weeks, and months to come. Humidity, after all, does more than make your space uncomfortable to live in. Unwanted moisture in the air can cause significant damage throughout the whole of your home, such as: 

  • Unpleasant smells 
  • Mold growths 
  • Warped door frames 
  • Damaged windowsills 
  • Sagging floors 
  • Rotting floor joists 
  • Wood rot 
  • Foundation sinkage 

If you find yourself contending with crawl space humidity, you can reach out to a professional contractor in your area to schedule a home inspection. During a home inspection, you can find the source of a leak and determine how best you can resolve the damage done to your home. You can also discuss what waterproofing measures might help you protect your home from unwanted moisture after repairs have been completed.

The stack effect is a condition in a home describing the behavior of air based on its density. Air that is warmer has a less significant density than cooler air. As a result, warmer air tends to rise to the top of a home. However, if the air in your crawl space takes on an excessive amount of moisture, the density of the air can increase significantly. In most cases, you’d assume that’d mean air would remain in the bottom of your home. However, if the moisture from your crawl space starts to leak into the rest of your home, that dense air can spread, exposing all belongings and other structural supports to conditions that might result in damage. 

There is no getting away from the stack effect, unfortunately. No matter what steps you take, the warmer air in your home will always rise to the top of your home. However, if you work to eliminate the excess moisture in your crawl space, you can prevent wood rot and other moisture-induced damage from appearing in the rest of your home. It is in your best interest to see what you can do to seal off the entirety of your crawl space. Even if you haven’t taken any preventative measures yet, you can keep the vents in your crawl space closed and blocked off while also making sure your crawl space door fits well in its frame.

Crawl space encapsulation is the process of sealing a crawl space with a durable vapor barrier and other moisture-control measures to help reduce humidity and water vapor. Depending on the home’s needs, encapsulation may also include sealing vents, insulating walls, and installing a dehumidifier to create a drier, healthier crawl space environment.

Crawl space encapsulations help you create a sealed area within your crawl space. In doing so, they make it easier for you to prevent unwanted humidity and, in turn, to deal with it accordingly. If something breaks the seal you have on your crawl space, you might find yourself contending with a spread of moisture throughout the rest of your home. 

An ill-fitting crawl space door will let moisture into the rest of your home. You’ll want to work with the professionals in your area to first identify the source of moisture in your crawl space and fix it. With a leak fixed, you can then go about removing the rest of the unwanted moisture from the rest of your crawl space. Only once your space has dried out should you go about replacing your crawl space door and its frame. Once you’ve reached that point, you can make sure that the door fits well into its frame and benefits from another waterproofing measure you may have installed in your space.

Crawl space encapsulation can help lower energy costs by reducing moisture, outside air, and temperature transfer beneath the home. JES Foundation Repair uses solutions such as vapor barriers, dehumidifiers, drainage, sump pumps, and insulation panels to improve crawl space conditions and enhance energy efficiency.

On an aesthetic level, an unlined crawl space tends to smell unpleasant. These types of smells tend to arise as a result of precipitation and the unprotected dirt or materials you’ve left unlined in the space. The smells coming from your crawl space can rise up through your home along with unpleasant, moist air and permeate otherwise clean spaces. It can be extremely difficult to get rid of these smells, even if you make a point of clearing out the rest of your home. Leaving a crawl space unlined can also result in: 

  • Warped door frames 
  • Damaged windowsills 
  • The stack effect 
  • Sagging floors throughout your home 

In short, by lining your crawl space, you protect that space from extensive damage. You can reach out to professional contractors in your area to determine what kind of crawl space lining might help you protect your space against the aforementioned problems. Note that not all linings are waterproof, but that you can invest in waterproof lining when you’re first installing the protective measure. Some other types of linings are merely aesthetic, but they can still provide tentative support in your fight against unwanted moisture.

That “musty smell” that many people think of as being indicative of a regularly functioning crawl space is actually not an intended crawl space feature. The musty crawl space smell actually occurs because of mold growth, which feeds off moisture to grow.

This is exactly why a “musty smell” should be a sign that you need to fix something. If your crawl space smells musty and stale, there’s something wrong. You can fix it and avoid potentially permanent damage from mold and moisture, but you have to take the first step. Don’t wait to check out your crawl space; there’s a decent chance that there’s something happening you can fix.

That “musty smell” that many people think of as being indicative of a regularly functioning crawl space is actually not an intended crawl space feature. The musty crawl space smell actually occurs because of mold growth, which feeds off moisture to grow.

This is exactly why a “musty smell” should be a sign that you need to fix something. If your crawl space smells musty and stale, there’s something wrong. You can fix it and avoid potentially permanent damage from mold and moisture, but you have to take the first step. Don’t wait to check out your crawl space; there’s a decent chance that there’s something happening you can fix.

Some people seem to think that fixing bouncy or sagging floors can be a DIY project that you may be able to fix with the addition of a brick or a stack of wood. However, you should always consult an expert if you’re experiencing issues with bouncy floors.

It’s true that this method of providing additional support, also called “sistering,” can be beneficial in some cases. However, this additional support will only last for a short period of time. If the floor joist is bouncy because it’s over-spanned or full of wood rot, you’re just putting a bandage over the problem rather than addressing it head-on.

Incorrectly supporting the floors can sometimes be worse than not supporting them at all. Cinder blocks can tip or crumble, which can damage your home when they fall. Jacking up floor joists very quickly can cause the floor to buckle and drywall cracks to form. Using any pieces of wood may just add fuel to the fire and allow mold and wood rot to spread.

Clearly, the only answer is to contact a crawl space expert to fix your bouncy floors. You want the job done right the first time, and the only way to do that is to contact a JES expert for help.

For a long time, people thought open crawl space vents were actually a benefit in a home. The idea was that crawl spaces needed ventilation because the ventilation would help “dry out” the crawl space. In fact, many building codes required ventilated crawl spaces, with minimal exceptions for unventilated crawl spaces.

Although this was a popular idea for many years, it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny nowadays. Because of the different temperatures of outside air and air in your home, open crawl space vents may actually increase the amount of humidity in your crawl space, rather than reducing it. Clearly, it’s not a good idea to leave your crawl space vents open.

The good thing is that there are many ways to return your crawl space to an encapsulated state. JES seals crawl space vents to avoid the entrance of water, moisture-laden air, or anything else into your crawl space.

Dehumidifiers can serve as effective waterproofing measures in your crawl space. Whether or not a dehumidifier can help you solve your crawl space problem, however, will depend on the extent of damage you’re seeing in your space. Dehumidifiers help pull moisture from the air and can run fairly consistently, as long as you cycle them regularly. If a contractor believes that the extent of your damage can be confined to high levels of humidity and not, for example, mold growths or standing water, dehumidifiers can help protect your space against immediate damage while also preventing a build-up of air pressure that might, later down the line, circulate moist air through the rest of your home.  

However, note that dehumidifiers are not fix-all devices. If you’re contending with more significant moisture levels in your crawl space, it may be in your best interest to pair a dehumidifier with another set of waterproofing measures, like a vapor barrier, interior drainage system, and a sump pump. This way, the multiple waterproofing measures can support one another as they draw unwanted moisture out of your space.

Wet insulation will not do its job in your home, but it can also become a host for mold spores. You can again work with a professional to inspect your crawl space and reveal any insulation that might have suffered damage as a result of a leak. Should you find wet crawl space insulation, you may have to hire a professional to effectively remove it and replace it.  

You can remove that moisture, dispose of it in accordance with your county’s regulations, and install new insulation material. We recommend rigid, waterproof panels called ExTremeBloc™ that also are treated to resist termites. Above all else, be sure to check over the space where your insulation used to be for signs of mold growth. You’ll want to do what you can to remove all such growth from your home before they have the opportunity to spread further.

Why Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation Are Needed 

Just as crawl space problems have a variety of impacts, crawl space repair and encapsulation offer your home and family countless benefits. Here are just a few of them: 

Improves Energy Efficiency

Vented crawl spaces allow the unconditioned outside air inside your crawl space and home. This can make your floors feel cold during the winter and warm during the summer. Thus, you would be constantly fighting with your HVAC system to find a comfortable temperature. This not only strains your HVAC, but its constant operation can drive up utility bills. But with crawl space vent sealing, a vapor barrier, and a dehumidifier, your home will be more comfortable and energy-efficient. 

Helps Deter Pests

Pests access crawl spaces through the soil, foundation cracks, and gaps caused by open or damaged vents and doors. They are attracted by the isolation, darkness, and moisture your unconditioned crawl space offers. But by deploying moisture control methods, you can decrease their interest in the space and make it more difficult for them to get inside. This can be done with vent sealing, a thick vapor barrier, rigid insulation panels (that are integrated with a termiticide), and an energy-efficient dehumidifier

stack effect illustration

Offers Positive Impact from the Stack Effect

Nearly half of the air you breathe in your house comes from your crawl space. That is largely due to the stack effect, the natural movement of air throughout your home from bottom to top. This means that anything in your crawl space like mold spores, pest waste, and unpleasant odors also circulates elsewhere in your house. This is unhealthy and unsafe, especially for people with existing breathing conditions. But once your crawl space is properly encapsulated and dehumidified, the cleaner, conditioned air within this space is circulated. 

Common Crawl Space Encapsulation & Repair Tips & Mistakes 

We’ve seen pretty much everything during our 30 years as crawl space encapsulation experts. To equip you with knowledge and advice, here are some helpful dos and don’ts:

Tips to Consider: 

  • Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts: While crawl space encapsulation systems are internal, you also need to protect your crawl space from the outside. Your gutters and downspouts are your first line of defense against excess water around your home. Regularly inspect and maintain yours at least twice a year in the spring and fall. Check for any holes, remove clogs and debris, and ensure the downspouts and extensions drain away from the house.
  • Correctly Grade Your Yard: Having a positively graded yard also prevents excess water from collecting near your crawl space. A yard with a positive grade slopes down and away from the house, draining water away from it.
  • Add Backup Waterproofing Protection: Our region experiences a considerable amount of precipitation, and flooding is prevalent in coastal areas. Along with encapsulation solutions, having waterproofing measures, such as an interior drainage system and a sump pump, is critical. In the event of a power outage, be sure your crawl space sump pump has a battery backup pump to ensure continuous operation when you need it the most.

Mistakes to Avoid: 

  • Enter Your Crawl Space Without Proper Protection: Your crawl space may be full of mold, and it might even be caving in. We recommend you don’t go in there without proper protection. In fact, you should leave it to professionals if you haven’t been down there in a while and don’t know what to expect.
  • Waste Money on Partial Solutions: When your crawl space needs repairs, it can be tempting to address them with quick, partial solutions. Pumping sand into the crawl space to try to sop up water, placing fans or conventional dehumidifiers inside to try to dry the air, and laying a thin, 6-mil vapor barrier liner on the crawl space floor—these are all partial solutions. And they can end up making crawl space problems worse.
  • DIY Your Crawl Space: While it may be tempting to repair your own crawl space with solutions from big-box stores, most of those solutions simply won’t cut it and you may make crawl space issues worse. You may also be putting yourself at risk of exposure to mold and other hazards. Leave it to the pros!

Providing Expert Crawl Space Repair & Encapsulation in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia & North Carolina

Pennsylvania trusts JES for reliable basement waterproofing, crawl space, foundation, and concrete repair services. Contact us for a free inspection!  

Top Cities We Serve


JES Foundation Repair service area map of the Mid-Atlantic region.

Our Locations

Baltimore

8361 Town Center Ct
Nottingham, MD 21236

Fredericksburg

311 Central Rd.
Suite 2-02
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Hampton Roads & NE NC

2569 Quality Ct
Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Northern VA & DC

7940 Gainsford Ct.
Bristow, VA 20136

Richmond

309 Quarles Rd
Ashland, VA 23005

Southwest Virginia / Roanoke

2033 Cook Dr.
Salem, VA 24153

Western Virginia

456 Old Courthouse Rd
Appomattox, VA 24522

Winchester

45 W Boscawen St,
Winchester, VA 22601