We start by pumping out any standing water, then move straight into liner installation and humidity control.

A rushed encapsulation job with unsealed seams or unwrapped piers looks fine on day one and fails within a season. We treat seam sealing and pier wrapping as core parts of the install, not optional add-ons that get skipped to save time.
We follow manufacturer specs on liner overlap and seam tape so the barrier actually holds up over time.
Our technicians carry encapsulation materials on the truck for most standard-size crawl spaces, cutting down on return visits.
Pricing is based on your crawl space's actual square footage and condition, quoted in writing before liner installation begins.
A dedicated crawl space dehumidifier is sized to your square footage, not a one-size-fits-all unit.

Every Lake Forest, IL Crawl Space Encapsulation job starts with an inspection, not a generic package — here's what that typically includes.
Before any liner goes down, we pump out existing standing water and remove debris left behind by prior drainage failures.
Liner thickness is selected based on foot traffic and how the space will be used going forward, not a flat default.
Sealed vents are paired with mechanical dehumidification so the space doesn't just trap humidity instead of venting it.
We route discharge lines well away from the foundation so pumped water doesn't just cycle back in.
We also check subfloor insulation for water damage and replace anything compromised before closing the liner.

This helps us bring the right liner thickness and dehumidifier size on the first visit.
We take humidity and moisture readings to establish a baseline before recommending a system.
You'll see square footage, liner grade, vent sealing, and dehumidifier specs broken out in the written estimate.
We re-test humidity after installation to confirm the space is holding at a healthy level before we consider the job done.

"Our crawl space had standing water and a mold smell we couldn't get rid of no matter what we tried. Full encapsulation with a dehumidifier fixed it in one visit."
— Lake Forest Homeowner
"Sump discharge from the old system was dumping water right back next to the foundation. They rerouted it and the crawl space finally dried out."
— Lake Forest Customer
"Access to our crawl space is tight and awkward, but the crew didn't seem bothered by it at all."
— Lake Forest Homeowner
"Musty smell in our upstairs hallway is completely gone now that the crawl space is sealed."
— Lake Forest Customer
A vapor barrier is just the liner on the ground; full encapsulation seals vents, walls, and often adds a dehumidifier for complete moisture control.
We'll recommend a thickness based on how the space is actually used, not just a default.
Some jurisdictions have code requirements around vent sealing, which we'll flag during the inspection if relevant.
If the smell persists after encapsulation, that usually points to a separate moisture source we'd need to investigate.
Yes — we extract existing water first, then proceed with liner and vent sealing once the space is dry enough to work safely.
Most residential jobs finish in one to two days depending on square footage and how much prep work is needed.
Tight access or an unusually large crawl space? Call +1-866-476-1348 and we'll confirm scope and scheduling for your specific Lake Forest property.



Zip codes we serve in Lake Forest, IL: 60045 60065
One call gets you a licensed specialist, a written quote, and a same-day time window.
Call +1-866-476-1348© SGP Waterproofing. All rights reserved.