Your crawl space is an incredibly vulnerable area within your home. If you do not encapsulate your crawl space or take waterproofing measures, you leave it open to flooding, dampness, and pests. This may seem like an isolated issue, but it will have an effect on your home as a whole.
A Safe, Clean Crawl Space
Vapor barriers are rarely (if ever) installed as an isolated or singular protective measure. This is possible, of course, but they are generally part of a wider waterproofing system. When used as a part of an encapsulation system, a good vapor barrier will essentially close your crawl space off from the rest of the world as a whole.
This makes a neat, tidy, and clean bubble within your crawl space. This bubble should have a dry, comfortable, hygienic climate that improves the overall climate of your property. An encapsulated crawl space will enjoy a more controlled level of humidity and a more stable temperature, which lowers the likelihood of freezing pipes in winter.
Extra Storage
As well as creating a clean, protective space under your home that acts as an extra buffer zone between your property and the soil, an encapsulated crawl space can also be a wonderful storage space. Many people who encapsulate their crawl spaces use them to store seasonal decorations and items that are needed only once or twice per year.
If you intend to do this, you should invest in a very thick and durable vapor barrier of at least 20-mil. This will ensure that the barrier does not tear or puncture when boxes or people move across it. A thinner barrier may need to be regularly replaced if the items you store are too heavy or you drag them across the ground when placing and removing them.