A humid basement or crawl space may not seem like a big deal compared to flooding, but it can actually lead to multiple health and structural problems. Terre Haute’s subsoil is rich in clay, so it retains water easily. All that moisture that exists around your foundation makes its way through in the form of water vapor via your concrete walls. Humidity causes mold growth and wood rot, and it promotes pest infestation. While many would think that waterproof paints would be the answer, Indiana Foundation Service can give you better results with a vapor barrier. A vapor barrier is an impervious, thick plastic that is meant to keep water vapor from getting into your basement or crawl space. Unlike waterproof paints, vapor barriers never peel or flake, and they are so durable that they cannot be torn apart in the same way a regular plastic sheet could. They have anti-microbial protection, so you won’t have to worry about them harboring any mold or bacteria. Because these vapor barriers keep your basement or crawl space dry, they can actually reduce your energy consumption by 20%. The barriers are completely white, so they make your basement or crawl space look clean and bright. When a vapor barrier is applied to the walls of a basement, it’s meant to be there for a long time. The entire process takes one day or less, and it’s a completely non-intrusive procedure. The sheets are applied to the wall in an overlapping fashion as professionals fasten the seams by drilling plastic fasteners. Vapor barriers can work with interior drainage systems to help direct the moisture towards the drain. While a dehumidifier gets rid of the moisture in a basement or crawl space, a vapor barrier makes sure it doesn’t get there at all. In a crawl space, the vapor barrier is used throughout the entire area to encapsulate it and isolate it from the earth.