Does My House Need Basement Encapsulation?

Back to Blog
Many houses throughout Maine, especially older ones, suffer from various basement issues. If your home’s basement is unfinished and unencapsulated, you may be dealing with these problems regularly and not even know it.

Many houses throughout Maine, especially older ones, suffer from various basement issues. If your home’s basement is unfinished and unencapsulated, you may be dealing with these problems regularly and not even know it.

Most homeowners aren’t even aware of just how serious the issues can be if not properly addressed. Your basement has an influence over just how healthy, energy efficient and pleasant your entire home is, so if the basement in your house has problems with leaks, cracks, mold or pests, it needs to be encapsulated.

Common Basement Problems

From Bar Harbor down to Cape Elizabeth, many homes are suffering from the same concerning issues, including:

  • Leaks Causing Problems with Moisture & Mold

Basements that aren’t encapsulated tend to experience a buildup of moisture, particularly in the transition from winter to spring when leaks can easily appear due to the melting snow and influx of rain. The dark, damp environment fosters the growth of mildew and mold which can weaken the structural integrity of your home.

The moisture and mold also compromise indoor air quality. With mold spores and contaminated particulates floating around in your home’s excessively humid air, allergy and asthma symptoms are exacerbated.

  • Air Escaping & Entering

Air leaks contribute to poor indoor air quality. Radon, a colorless, odorless and radioactive gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer, can more easily infiltrate and endanger your family.

With cracks and gaps constantly letting air in and out, your home’s energy efficiency begins to suffer. You’ll notice chronic discomfort with areas of your home that are never quite the right temperature. Your heating and cooling systems will work exceptionally hard to keep you comfortable, increasing your energy bills.

  • Breeding Grounds for Pests & Rodents

Basements with cracks and gaps are perfect homes for pests and rodents. Their presence affects indoor air quality and can even introduce other illnesses. Over time, these unwanted creatures can also make their way upstairs and infest your home.

Basement Encapsulation Process

At Evergreen Home Performance, we strive to address all the problems that can be plaguing your basement with a comprehensive encapsulation process. It will make your home healthier, more comfortable and energy efficient while also being the first step towards a finished basement, if that’s an upgrade you’re considering in the future.

1. Drainage for Bulk Water

Since moisture is one of the main issues affecting basements from the Midcoast down to Southern Maine, we begin by drawing away excess water. We build a trench and install a sump pump system to address bulk water. Our team also installs an effective water channeling system to draw water away.

2. Vapor Barrier Installation

Since water can also infiltrate through excess moisture in the air, our expert team will install an airtight, durable vapor barrier. The vapor barrier always runs under support posts and appliances, and up the foundation walls, where it’s fixed with spray foam insulation.

3. Concrete Slab

After the vapor barrier is in place, most homeowners have a new concrete slab installed. A durable, level surface will make it easier to convert the basement into living space in the future.

4. Radon Mitigation Preparation

We want your home to be safe and healthy for you and your family. That’s why our basement encapsulation process includes measures for radon mitigation preparation like helping with radon testing and making sure your project is fully compatible with a radon ventilation system.

Midcoast & Southern Maine Basement Encapsulation by Evergreen

If your basement is damp, moldy, drafty and infested, it’s time to encapsulate the space. Not only will this make finishing the basement much easier in the future, but you’ll also get rid of issues that cause discomfort, health and energy efficiency concerns in your home. The experienced, professional and caring experts at Evergreen Home Performance are here to help.

Ready for improved home health, comfort and energy efficiency? Take the first step towards a finished basement by contacting us or calling 207-594-2244 to schedule a consultation for basement encapsulation today.

Contact us today to learn more!

207-594-2244

I was extremely pleased with the professionalism and quality of service that I received from the Evergreen team. I met Richard to discuss options for insulation. I knew immediately that I wanted to do business with them because he did not try to over-sell extra services that I did not need. Dave was the project manager. He was not only kind, but very respectful of my home. I would highly recommend this company.

Darlyann M

Bath

I have always been impressed by the high level of service, quality of work, and excellent follow-through provided by Evergreen Home Performance in the three projects that they completed at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm over the past several years.

Paul D.

Wells

They were highly recommended. I found them to be very knowledgeable and so helpful, with practical ideas. Despite my not living within their service area, they were generous with their knowledge, describing the usual solutions to correct leaks in my basement, and what the result is likely to be by following path A, B or C, and why. I was discouraged. Talking with Evergreen helped me see that my basement problems are far from insurmountable and really, fairly common in 100-year old homes. There are proven solutions.

Rosalind J

Damariscotta

I waited a year to write this review. Evergreen finished our job late last winter. Terrific results!!! we've gone from 12-day propane deliveries to 30+ day propane deliveries. The house is noticeably warmer. The Evergreen crew was/is professional, prompt, thorough, scientific, gracious and immaculate with respect to keeping our house clean. Money well spent.

John E.

Boothbay

We just finished a large project of air sealing and reinsulating our 1890s basement and attic which had been completely renovated 8 years ago but still felt cold and lacked proper energy assessment and corrections. We met with Justin in December and were very impressed with his knowledge, professionalism and communication skills and knew Evergreen was who we wanted to work with. Dave was our on hands project manager and was excellent. The office staff has been quick to respond and helpful as well when needed.

Emily Gallant

The crew members from Evergreen Home Performance each made sure to greet us every day, while maintaining their distance in this time of the pandemic. Their work took a total of nine days, spread over three weeks. Even though they were working in multiple rooms of our house, as well as the basement and attic, they were unobtrusive and always cleaned up after themselves every day. The on-sight manager kept us informed of their daily schedule so we'd know which parts of the house they'd be working on.

Bob & Sue

Whitefield

Working with Evergreen was a dream! Professional, knowledgeable, and super clean work. Communication was fast and service impeccable. The bedroom floors in our 1960's split ranch will be warm with the new insulation between them and the garage. Bring on the snow! (not really, but sort of)

Jess Dee Proctor

We needed basement encapsulation to stop moisture coming up into the house from our regularly flooding basement. We had mold growing on windowsills and furniture. All the staff were friendly, respectful of our home, and easy to work with. Humidity has gone from 70% down to 40% and mold has not grown back after two months. Very grateful.

Sarah C.

Belfast

A thorough inspection of our (older) house and its energy needs. Competent and personable work crew.

Jacob Watson

My husband and I bought a home on the water in Owls Head and decided to make the investment in Evergreen's recommendations for insulation. Brian Robinson spent 3 hours examining every nook and cranny before he made practical suggestions and explained them thoroughly to us.

Marie McNeely

Owls Head

Very Satisfied with the work performed by Evergreen. Professional employees, high quality work done in a timely manner. My sales rep was Justin, and he was phenomenal During the initial walk around my house, he gave me great ideas for how to improve the efficiency of our home. We will consult with Evergreen for our future home projects.

Adam G.

Westbrook

I had gotten estimates from several other companies, but Evergreen was in another league entirely with their professionalism. If you want the job done correctly, I couldn't recommend this company enough.

Rayna Mayo

Freeport

Evergreen completed the work at my home thoroughly and professionally. An inspector from Efficiency Maine came to inspect afterwards and described it as "state of the art" and "outstanding". The crew was very pleasant and considerate during the project. Their cleanup each day was perfect. Communications with the office were easy and reliable. I am very satisfied.

Catherine H.

South Portland

Evergreen is the "go-to" company for improving the efficiency of your home. There are others to choose from but none so effective, honest, and capable as Evergreen. They did a great quantity of dense packing cellulose to improve our home (both for energy efficiency and for sound insulation) and it was totally successful. They are on-time, helpful, and caring. They clean up to a level that can't be over emphasized. This was the second time we employed them and we'd use them again if the opportunity came. You'll not be sorry to select Evergreen.

Dirk F.

Belfast

Our basement was the eyesore of the house. I wanted to make improvements, but first needed to make structural, insulating and moisture mitigation improvements. Evergreen was professional and competent in taking on a complex project of not only encapsulation and insulation of basement and crawlspace, but completed needed improvements to the structural integrity of the wood floor platform above a crawlspace and brought in a concrete contractor to pour where there was once a rotting, tiered wood platform - replacing that area with a more functional and tight tiered concrete area.

Duane B.

East Boothbay

Portland Buy Local
Efficiency Maine
EPA Lead-Safe Certified
Building Performance Association
BPI Certified