We will tell you if crawl Space Vapor Barrier Installation is not what your Pawleys Island crawl space actually needs. Doing this stage out of order is the most common reason the work has to be repeated.
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 Pawleys Island 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.
Flood-zone construction around Pawleys Island is built elevated, which means newer homes have crawl spaces too. Newer framing, the same conditions underneath.
Pawleys Island at a glance
| County | Georgetown County |
|---|---|
| ZIP | 29585 |
| Elevation | about 3 ft |
| Region | Lowcountry and coastal plain |
Named water nearby
- Midway Inlet (bay)
- Pawleys Inlet (bay)
- Flagg Pond (lake)
- Jessamine Pond (lake)
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
Included as standard on Pawleys Island jobs:
- 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
A crawl space problem in Pawleys Island is not self-limiting. The conditions that created it are still there, and they are still working.
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 Pawleys Island: common questions
Barrier or full encapsulation for a Pawleys Island home?
A barrier covers the ground and stops soil moisture. Encapsulation seals the walls and vents too and controls humidity directly. Which one your Georgetown County property needs should follow a humidity reading, not a preference.
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 Midway Inlet, drainage comes first or the sheeting simply floats on it.
Do you cover all of Pawleys Island?
Yes — Pawleys Island and the surrounding part of Georgetown County, including the 29585 area. We also work in nearby Murrells Inlet, Georgetown and Surfside Beach.
What should I have ready when I call about my Pawleys Island home?
Your street in Pawleys Island, when you first noticed it, and what you can see or smell — standing water, a waterline on the piers, insulation hanging down, or a floor that has gone soft. Photographs help.
How quickly does water under a Pawleys Island house need to come out?
Quickly. Wood starts absorbing moisture immediately and mold can establish on damp material within roughly 24 to 48 hours. In Georgetown County that window is shorter in summer than in winter, because the space stays warm and humid.
Will a barrier fix water that is already coming in?
No. A barrier manages soil moisture and vapor, not liquid water under pressure. If groundwater or surface runoff is entering the space, that needs drainage and a sump before a barrier will do its job.
Vapor barrier near Pawleys Island
We cover Pawleys Island and the surrounding part of Georgetown County. The same service in nearby towns:
Other crawl space services in Pawleys Island
Crawl Space Water Removal in Pawleys Island
Standing water pumped and extracted from under the house, then the saturated material taken out.
Crawl Space Structural Drying in Pawleys Island
Joists, girders and subfloor dried back to a measured target with air movers and dehumidification.
Crawl Space Mold Remediation in Pawleys Island
Contained removal of mold-affected material, HEPA cleaning, and the moisture source shut off.
Crawl Space Drainage and Sump Pump Installation in Pawleys Island
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 Pawleys Island
Rotted joists, girders, rim joists and subfloor sections repaired or replaced once the space is dry.
Or see everything we cover in our Pawleys Island service area, and how this service works across the state on the South Carolina page.
Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Installation in Pawleys Island
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.