Most homeowners don’t think much about their crawl space—until something goes wrong.
Maybe you’ve started noticing a musty smell in your home. Maybe your floors feel damp or drafty. Or maybe you found mold, standing water, or high humidity under your house and thought:
“Do I need to hire someone for this… or could I do it myself?”
The truth is, you can encapsulate your crawl space yourself, and the cost savings can be huge. We’re talking thousands of dollars—saved in labor alone.
Let’s break it down, and walk you through what it really takes to do it right.
Jorge’s Story: A Real DIY Win
Jorge, a homeowner in New York, found himself in a worst-case crawl space scenario. A septic line had broken and gone unnoticed for months, and then his main water line burst—flooding everything under his home. It was a mess.
Instead of hiring a contractor, Jorge decided to take on the project himself. He didn’t rush in blind—he learned the process, watched videos, followed tutorials, and made a plan. And even though it took time and effort, he ended up saving over $4,000 by doing it himself.
“Once I understood what each step involved, it became very doable,” Jorge said. “I just followed the steps, and things started to fall into place.”
It’s Not About Being a Pro—It’s About Having a Plan
You don’t have to be a contractor to fix your crawl space.
You don’t need fancy tools.
You just need a clear roadmap and the right products.
That’s what makes all the difference—knowledge removes the guesswork.
The DIY Crawl Space Roadmap
Here’s the simple, step-by-step approach that works for homeowners just like you:
1. Remove Debris
Start by clearing the crawl space. That means removing old plastic, torn insulation, broken pieces of wood, trash, and any standing water. A clean space is your foundation for doing the job right.
2. Seal
Seal up any outside air entry points—vents, cracks, or gaps in the block wall and rim joists. This helps keep moisture and unconditioned air out and sets the stage for a controlled environment.
3. Install a Dehumidifier
Getting a quality crawl space dehumidifier in place early helps dry out lingering moisture and regulates humidity levels during and after the job. It also prevents new mold growth while you're working.
4. Mold Remediate
Now that things are dry and sealed, treat any visible mold using a mold cleaner and inhibitor. This ensures your clean space stays healthy and odor-free.
5. Insulate
Add insulation to the crawl space walls (not the subfloor). This keeps the space more energy-efficient and improves comfort in the rooms above.
6. Encapsulate
Finally, install your vapor barrier. Cover the floor and extend it up the walls. Tape all seams tightly and seal the edges. This layer locks out ground moisture and protects your home from future problems.
Everything You Need—All in One Place
If this sounds like a lot, don’t worry—Crawl Space Ninja DIY has you covered.
We provide everything you need to handle:
- Mold and mildew
- Standing water
- Musty smells
- High humidity
- Air quality issues
- Pest prevention
- Energy loss
We also offer step-by-step videos, written guides, and real support so you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
Whether you're working evenings, weekends, or tackling it in phases, you can make real progress with the right setup.
Is DIY Right for You?
Here’s a quick way to find out.
- Do you enjoy fixing things around the house?
- Are you willing to learn and follow a process?
- Do you have time to work on evenings or weekends?
- Are you looking to save thousands in labor?
If you answered yes to most of those, you can absolutely do this. And when you’re done, you’ll not only have a dry, clean crawl space—you’ll have the confidence of knowing you did it yourself.
Final Thoughts
Doing your own crawl space encapsulation isn’t always easy. But it’s not impossible. And with the right roadmap, it becomes a real opportunity to take control of your home, your air quality, and your energy costs.
Jorge did it. And so can you.
Ready to get started?
You don’t have to know it all today. You just need to take the first step.
?Schedule a Free Consultation and we’ll help you build your game plan.