It’s hard to believe something so small can cost so much.

Homeowners spend thousands to repair damage done by termites. Roughly 600,000 U.S. homes fall prey to termite damage each year.

So how do you get rid of termites and can crawl space encapsulation help?

At First Call, we have the answers through our leading crawl space encapsulation services. As a family owned business, since 1989 we’ve been caring for the homes and businesses of the Triad and Triangle areas. Why do we have so many loyal customers? We invite you to contact us to examine your current crawl space to find out why so many believe First Call is the right call.

The Life Cycle of a Termite

The growing termite goes through several stages. Once the eggs hatch into larvae, they then transform into nymphs that start to molt. When the termite is an adult, its new exoskeleton emerges and hardens.

There are three different kinds of termites in a colony. They are the workers, the soldiers and reproductive termites (called alates).

What Will Repel Termites?

The key element in repelling termites is eliminating their access to what they need to thrive: water and moisture. If you do that, you’ll go a long way toward keeping them out of your house.

Crawl space encapsulation, which eliminates standing water and moisture in your crawl space, is a key element in your battle.

What Is Crawl Space Encapsulation?

During crawl space encapsulation we carefully measure and examine the crawl space under your home and then insert a barrier, which is typically made of polyethylene plastic. This not only keeps the moisture out of this space, but it eliminates problems such as standing water, musty odors and mold.

Because the area cuts off a water supply for vermin, it’s also a great way to keep out pests — including termites.

How Do I Keep Termites Out of My Crawl Space?

Encapsulation will go a long way toward keeping these annoying pests out of your home. We’ll also make sure your crawl space vents are sealed off. If flooding has occurred in the space, you should consider installing a sump pump.

But one of the best solutions is to use the durable plastic liner that comes with our crawl space encapsulation services. However, in order to be effective, every measurement must be precise, which is why this is a job best left to the professionals and kept off your DIY list.

Does Crawl Space Need Encapsulation?

Yes! Crawl space encapsulation offers many more benefits than keeping pests outside. It can also provide useful insulation that can help you save on power bills.

You’ll also find that crawl space encapsulation helps:

• Eliminate standing water, which can lead to sagging floors and even foundation damage
• Get rid of musty smells in your house
• Keep moisture out—moisture leads to mold, so keeping a dry crawl space can eliminate mold
• Make your home more comfortable – no more drafty floors

We can speak with you about the additional benefits crawl space encapsulation services near you can provide through the expertise of First Call.

Want to Reduce the Chances that Your Home Will be a Target for Termites? Contact First Call

We’re always the right call when it comes to home restoration services, whether you’re seeking water restoration, mold removal services, or even air quality testing. See why we’re the home restoration company of choice in the Raleigh, Greensboro and Burlington areas. 

We’ll always treat your home with the respect and care that it deserves. Contact us today for an estimate and make First Call the Right Call.

Termites are just one of many threats that can take root in a neglected crawl space. In fact, most homeowners are surprised to discover just how much is going on beneath their feet. Let’s take a closer look at what else might be lurking down there — and what it means for the rest of your home.

What’s Lurking in Your Crawl Space?

Let’s take a tour of your house.

But this isn’t the type of tour you might be expecting. You might get your shoes dirty, and you’ll likely have to be on your hands and knees.

We’re going underneath your house to your crawl space.

It’s easy to ignore this part of your home—after all, out of sight, out of mind—but it has a powerful impact on the rest of your house, including the quality of your air. 

We’ll take a quick tour, examining some of the common problems and how crawl space encapsulation can help.

What Is a Crawl Space?

Many homes aren’t nested on the ground—there’s a hollow area that is under the floors. This keeps the house elevated between the ground and the first floor. Generally, this area is no more than three feet high.

It is where you typically find ductwork, plumbing and heating/AC….along with some other things that we’ll explore in this article.

Taking a Tour

Every home is different, but we’d like you to imagine that you feel a draft on your floor when you walk across it when you’re wearing socks. That could indicate that something’s going on below your house, so you put on some of your old clothes and head outside to take a closer look.

You have to get on your hands and knees for this one, as you slowly open the entrance you’re met by damp, muddy ground that gets all over your jeans. Why is the area damp when it’s been closed off?

Something moves in the corner. Was it a mouse? A rat? Can animals live down there?

The answer is yes.

All kinds of vermin such as mice, termites and roaches can call your crawl space home. They can damage ductwork and even the foundation.

So how do you get rid of them?

We’ll give you the answers, but your tour is not quite done yet…

The damp air makes it difficult to breathe and you realize that there’s no ventilation in your crawl space, and the excessive humidity has been building up. Above you, there’s something that is grayish green. Is it mold?

You’re not surprised that mold could build up in an environment that is moisture-rich, but you had no idea that it could be lurking below —and sending spores into your home! Now all your allergy issues as of late start to make sense.

You need a dehumidifier.

It’s also important to take better care of your crawl space.

When you do, you’ll find that you need crawl space encapsulation.

Repairing Crawl Space: Where to Start?

This brief visit has brought a lot of issues to light. You have a lot of work ahead of you. Where do you start?

Crawl space repair is not a DIY job—often, repairs need to be measured and precisely fixed by those who have the equipment and experience.

Those like First Call.

First Call is always the right call.

Some of the Most Common Crawl Space Problems

Moisture lies at the heart of some of the biggest crawl space issues. You can easily tell you have a problem if you experience:

• Musty odors in your home or living area
• Mildew or mold in your crawl space
• Rotting wood framing
• Insects, rats or other vermin in your crawl space
• Hardwood floors that are buckled
• Drafty areas of the house
• Areas of high humidity

One of the best and simplest solutions is encapsulation.

What Is Encapsulation?

During encapsulation, we create a vapor barrier made of polyethylene plastic that keeps out moisture. We carefully use it to cover the ground and walls, making sure every measurement is accurate.

How Does Encapsulation Help?

Through encapsulation and dehumidifiers, we can eliminate problems such as:

• Bugs, termites and other vermin in your crawl space
• Flooded or moisture-ridden crawl space
• Foul odors
• Mold and mildew
• High power bills due to inefficient insulation
• Allergy or asthma problems due to moisture in crawl space

Let First Call Guide You Toward a Healthier Crawl Space

When was the last time you took a tour? 

Did you like what you saw, or were you surprised by the multiple problems you encountered? 

First Call serves the Triangle, Greensboro and Burlington areas, establishing our reputation for excellence and outstanding customer service. We respect your home and treat others as we would like to be treated. If you recently took a tour of below your house and weren’t happy with what you found, make the right call. Contact us today.

Now you know what can live in your crawl space — and what encapsulation can do about it. But how do you know if things have already gone too far? Many homeowners wait until a problem is obvious before calling for help, but your crawl space often sends signals long before the damage becomes severe. Here are ten warning signs to watch for.

10 Indicators You Need Crawl Space Repair

Some surprises are good. Others, not so much. Especially when they show up on your energy bill.

When you open that power bill every month, you have a general idea of what to expect.

If you have had one of these nasty surprises, you might need crawl space repair. In fact, this is one of several indicators that there are crawl space problems. We’ve outlined ten of them to help you decide if there may be damage to your home and you need crawl space repair.

1. An Unexpectedly High Electric Bill

If outside air is easing into your home, your power bill may be one of the first indicators. The problem centers on a chain reaction. First, high humidity levels indicate that outside air is entering your crawl space. Then, this humidity forces your HVAC system to run overtime.

A high bill may also be an example that your crawl space is poorly insulated or the insulation has been damaged.

2. Sagging Floors

This can be a problem on so many levels. It sometimes points to foundation damage that has affected the floor joists. As a result, your foundation is weakened.

The source of the issue? It could be water in your crawl space. This causes the beams under your home to rot.

Let’s be clear: You should not have standing water in your crawl space. Have us take a look and evaluate your crawl space before it causes foundation damage.

This is definitely a case where you may need crawl space repair.

3. That Musty Smell

If you get a hint of this odor, it’s an indicator that you could have problems on the horizon. First, your crawl space—and your home—should certainly NOT smell musty. A musty odor means there’s sure to be moisture present.

4. There’s Evidence of Standing Water

This is always a bad sign. As we mentioned earlier, there should not be water in your crawl space. If there is, you may want to consider crawl space encapsulation.

Eliminating the water is only solving part of the problem. The issue lies with trying to find the source of the water. If there’s a leak, it needs to be repaired.

In addition, wherever there is standing water, there’s the possibility of mold. Speak with us about our mold remediation services and how they can help you.

5. Seeing Mold

Speaking of mold, its presence almost always calls for checking your crawlspace. While it may be tempting to try DIY mold removal there can be several dangers associated with it. First, you may unknowingly spread it to other areas as it circulates throughout your house. Second, exposure can have a negative effect on your health, particularly if you have allergies or asthma.

6. High Humidity Levels in Your Home

Your home should be comfortable. That means humidity is an unwelcome guest. Moisture in your crawl space can cause a spike in humidity levels. Look for signs of condensation in your home or paint/wallpaper that is peeling from the walls.

7. You’ve Never Had Your Crawl Space Examined

Okay, this may not technically be a visible sign, but the bottom line is that you can’t evaluate the overall health of your home if you don’t know what’s there.

We can evaluate your crawl space for safety, taking into account how it might benefit from encapsulation.

8. Evidence of Vermin

No one wants pests inside their house! Yet if you see evidence of mice, roaches or other unwelcome visitors, they could be coming in through your crawl space. By using plastic “flooring” we can prevent these creatures from making a beeline into your house.

9. Damage to Your Wood Flooring

Termites, condensation, or any sign of wood rot means that there may be issues with your crawl space. We’ll take a look and, if you need repair, we can work directly with your insurance company to save you a world of headaches.

10. Signs of Efflorescence

Efflorescence is a type of salt. You can see these crystalline deposits on surfaces such as stucco, brick or natural stone. This is an indicator that water is present in the masonry surface. It’s hard to miss it. It’s white, sparkly and will flake off the surface.

If You Have Any of These Signs, Make the Right Call for Crawl Space Repair

First Call is the right call when it comes to crawl space issues. We’ve helped hundreds of homeowners throughout the Raleigh, Greensboro and Burlington areas maintain efficient crawl spaces and offer crawl space repair when needed. 

The result? Lower power bills and a more comfortable home. 

Our first-class service and unwavering dedication to customer service make us the premiere restoration company near you. Contact us today for an evaluation.