Taken on its own, crawl Space Vapor Barrier Installation treats one part of the problem. Taken in order, it is the part that makes the rest hold. That is how we schedule it on Andrews jobs.
Bare soil under the house is evaporating moisture into the space every day.
Vapor barrier on lowcountry and coastal plain ground
A barrier earns its keep faster around Andrews than almost anywhere. With the water table close to the surface the soil underneath is damp more or less permanently, so an uncovered crawl space floor is evaporating into the space every day of the year.
Low ground and a long wet season change what this work has to withstand around Andrews. Homes near the Black River Swamp in particular tend to need the drainage question answered as well, or the space simply returns to how it was.
Andrews at a glance
| County | Georgetown County |
|---|---|
| ZIP | 29510 |
| Elevation | about 20 ft |
| Region | Lowcountry and coastal plain |
Named water nearby
- the Black River Swamp (swamp)
- Ackerman Pond (reservoir)
- Kellys Pond (lake)
- the Johnsons Swamp (stream)
Signs you need this
- Bare soil anywhere on the crawl space floor
- Existing sheeting that is torn, bunched or not sealed at seams
- Barrier that stops short of the walls and piers
- Crawl space relative humidity holding above 60 percent
What the work involves
What we do on a Andrews job of this kind:
- Clearing and preparation of the crawl space floor
- Reinforced polyethylene barrier across the full soil area
- Overlapped and sealed seams
- Barrier carried up and sealed to walls and piers
Why it is worth dealing with now
The cost of this work does not stay flat. Every season a Andrews crawl space stays wet moves more of the job from drying towards framing repair.
The full method and the step-by-step for this work is on the Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Installation page, and how it behaves across the state is on the Vapor barrier in South Carolina page.
Vapor barrier in Andrews: common questions
There is already plastic under my Andrews house. Is that enough?
Often not. Most of what we find has been laid loose, has torn, or was never sealed at the seams and walls. Unsealed sheeting performs much closer to bare soil than to a finished barrier.
Will a barrier stop water that is already getting in?
No. A barrier manages soil moisture and vapor, not liquid water under pressure. If water is entering the space near the Black River Swamp, drainage comes first or the sheeting simply floats on it.
Does storm flooding reach crawl spaces around Andrews?
Yes, and often with nothing visibly broken. After a tropical system the usual picture in Georgetown County is a saturated crawl space where the water came up through the ground rather than out of a pipe.
Why is my Andrews crawl space wet when nothing has leaked?
Near Andrews that is the normal pattern rather than the exception. At around 20 feet on the coastal plain, the water table sits close enough to the surface that soil under the house can be saturated with no pipe broken.
Can I stay in the house while the work is done?
In almost all cases, yes. The work happens under the floor, and access is usually through an exterior hatch. We will tell you up front if anything about your Andrews property changes that.
Should the crawl space vents be closed?
It depends on your climate. In humid regions, open vents often bring in air that is wetter than the crawl space, which deposits moisture on cool surfaces instead of removing it — so sealing vents and controlling humidity mechanically usually performs better. In drier climates venting can work. This should follow readings, not a rule.
Vapor barrier near Andrews
We cover Andrews and the surrounding part of Georgetown County. The same service in nearby towns:
Other crawl space services in Andrews
Crawl Space Water Removal in Andrews
Standing water pumped and extracted from under the house, then the saturated material taken out.
Crawl Space Structural Drying in Andrews
Joists, girders and subfloor dried back to a measured target with air movers and dehumidification.
Crawl Space Mold Remediation in Andrews
Contained removal of mold-affected material, HEPA cleaning, and the moisture source shut off.
Crawl Space Drainage and Sump Pump Installation in Andrews
Interior drainage to collect water, a sump and pump to lift it, and a discharge that takes it away.
Crawl Space Wood and Subfloor Repair in Andrews
Rotted joists, girders, rim joists and subfloor sections repaired or replaced once the space is dry.
Or see everything we cover in our Andrews service area, and how this service works across the state on the South Carolina page.
Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Installation in Andrews
Call (888) 724-1354 and tell us your street and what the space looks like. We will tell you whether this is the right stage to start at.
Tell us what you are seeing under the house and we will tell you what it needs.