Vapor Barrier · Sealed Walls · Cleanup · Insulation
Master Attic encapsulates crawl spaces across Somerset, New Jersey, sealing a vapor barrier across the ground and the walls to stop the moisture the Millstone and Raritan send up through the ground, in older foundations from Franklin Township's growth years and in newer construction just as much. Free estimates anywhere in Somerset County.
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The Millstone River empties into the Raritan right at the edge of Franklin Township's Somerset section, and living that close to two rivers keeps the water table within reach of a vented crawl space almost anywhere in town. That crawl space breathes in ground moisture along with the outside air all year, and left unchecked it works into whatever insulation is down there and eventually reaches the floor joists above it, which is exactly what encapsulation is built to stop.
The work starts by clearing out anything already in the crawl space, old poly sheeting, debris, insulation that has taken on water. From there a thick liner covers the dirt floor and runs up every wall and pier, taped and sealed seam to seam. Vents get closed off, and any gap where outside air was getting in gets sealed at the same time, since an open gap anywhere undoes the barrier everywhere else.
What that barrier gets sealed to, and how the piers or ductwork in a particular crawl space get handled, comes down to how the space was originally built, so a walk-through always comes before a number gets put on paper. That paper is a free written estimate, laid out room by room with exactly what the inspection turned up.
Six services that often accompany a Somerset encapsulation job, each one starting with a free inspection.
Four things a Somerset encapsulation walk-through turns up more often than not.
Somerset sits in the low ground between two rivers, and on that kind of lot the earth rarely drops far before it turns wet. A vented crawl space built there pulls that moisture in with every breath of outside air, which is exactly the geography encapsulation is built to answer.
When Franklin Township's Somerset section was going up in waves through the postwar decades, a vented crawl space was the default, sealing them was simply not standard practice at the time. Those original vents are usually still there today, quietly working against whatever insulation is inside.
Squirrels and raccoons move easily through the mature trees lining the Raritan corridor, putting them within reach of most Somerset yards, and the same foundation vent or skirting gap that lets in humidity gives them a way inside too. Closing it solves both problems at once.
Somerset winters do not settle into one long cold stretch, and that back and forth around the freezing mark keeps moisture cycling in an unsealed crawl space instead of staying frozen and inert. A sealed, encapsulated space is far less affected by those swings.
Dry ground. Sealed walls. Cleaner air upstairs. Lower bills.
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Master Attic did a phenomenal job with our attic insulation and duct replacement. We had a loss from smoke damage from a neighboring fire and we were met with compassion and excellent customer service from Danny Jones and Jorge Diaz. We chose them for their quality of work, expertise and fair pricing and they got the job done promptly. Thank you for the excellent work and we will be recommending you highly!
We just had our attic insulation replaced, and the entire experience was pleasant from start to finish. Robert is knowledgeable, honest and easy to work with at the initial estimate period. Roberta and his crew did a great job replacing the attic insulation for our house. They were very professional, efficient and respectful. They did everything that needed to be done and left the space clean and in excellent condition. I am very happy that I chose Master Attic and would highly recommend them.
Dan Jones and the Ronald crew did a great job from start to finish! I had original insulation in my attic with no electricity, not an easy job. Our upstairs was very hot in the summer and cold in winter. With having central air, we still needed AC units and space heaters to manage. Dan set up a great plan to eliminate that. He and his crew were able to come and finish the job shortly after we first met. They were quick, clean and managed to crawl into small spaces to remove old insulation and install fresh insulation. We have already noticed a major difference! Highly recommended!!
We hired Master Attic to clean out debris, mice, old insulation, and replace with new insulation in both our attic spaces. Roberto and his crew did a phenomenal job. They were extremely professional, polite, and did a fantastic job. They invited my husband to see the attic after each step, and took pictures on their phone to show me since I could not get up in the attic. They took the time to protect the space with plastic sheeting before the job up in the attic, and then cleaned up everything perfectly afterwards. I highly recommend them!
Great job by the team. Cleaned out the entire attic and replaced all the old insulation with new fresh insulation. Made a huge difference. Alex was great to work with and was very professional. Would highly recommend.
Awesome experience from start to finish. Rob provided a great assessment and capabilities overview, arrived on time and was very generous and thorough in explaining the work. I signed on the spot. A crew of six arrived (again, on time) and completely transformed our attic space - thoroughly cleaned out the old insulation (looked spotless afterwards), sanitized the space, sealed it/rodent proofed it, added baffles and of course, replaced the insulation and added more in areas that needed it. Completed the whole job in half a day and we are delighted with the result. Thank you, Master Attic team, for a job very well done! Highest recommendation.
What a great experience I had with this company and its employees. It started with initially interacting with Joe who came out for the estimate. He was funny because he came down from my attic and said "have you seen up there". I laughed because I had and I knew it was bad. He was no pressure and no nonsense. Gave me an estimate and said if I wanted we could have the work done next day. I wasn't ready for that but after some schedule juggling I told him we could be ready. Joe had his guys out next morning with the best part being Jorge calling me to advise he was about thirty minutes out. I appreciate when I am given a heads up as to ETA. Three of them arrived Jorge set out plastic and covered exposed furniture. Jorge, Angel and Gonzalo were all polite and worked hard to complete the task. They worked efficiently and were done quickly. Jorge made sure he included me in each step of the process and when I saw the finished product I was amazed. I can actually use my attic for storage if I choose to do so. I did not realize when they were here that they also do work on crawlspace areas. I will be calling them back to see what they can do for my crawlspace which easily rivals the diasaster called my attic. I recommend at least giving this company and its employees an opportunity to help you.
Great company to work with. From beginning to end, Dan came out, spent plenty of time with me going over everything that needed to be done, and the process of everything that needed to be updated it both attics. His professionalism was top notch, answered all my question and concerns. When it came time for George and his six-man crew to do the work their quality of workmanship was well above average, they were here the whole day, and I don't think they even had a lunch break (hopefully I don't get him in trouble). They all worked and everyone knew what their job was, they removed all the insulation, cleaned, spray foamed all holes and top plates, re-insulated both attics and cleaned up like they weren't even here. Will definitely use them again.
Master Attic remediated a bat issue for us back in October and I can’t say enough about what a wonderful job they did. The work was guaranteed and they encouraged us to call if we say any further evidence of bats. Well, there were a few droppings in the attic and they quickly responded to our concerns. Jose’s crew came out on a SUNDAY, inspected the attic, and sealed up several spots that could be entry points. They were professional, efficient, and kind. I would highly recommend them. You will not be disappointed.
Whatever is already down there, old poly sheeting, debris, waterlogged insulation, comes out first. A liner then wraps the dirt floor and climbs every wall and pier, sealed at the seams so it reads as one continuous surface rather than patched sections. Any vent or gap that was letting outside air in gets closed at the same time, since a single open gap can undo the barrier everywhere else in the space.
A dry, accessible crawl space with nothing to remove first moves quickly. Old insulation that has to come out, or extensive vent and gap sealing, stretches the timeline out. Rather than guess at a number before seeing the space, a technician walks it first and works the actual schedule into the paperwork you get back.
Encapsulation by itself sits outside what most rebate programs pay toward. Bundle in new insulation, though, and the combined work has fit within what PSE&G and the state have funded through past Clean Energy Program cycles. Current offerings are worth checking at the time of your estimate.
Often, yes. That upstairs odor usually starts as humid air working its way out of an open, vented crawl space and into the living space above it. Once the ground is covered, the walls are lined and every vent is shut, that moisture no longer has a path upward, taking away the damp conditions mold and mildew need to keep growing in the first place.
The walk-through settles that question every time. A crawl space that already has a functioning liner and dry insulation may only need targeted sealing and a vent closed. One with a vented, uncovered dirt floor near the Millstone or Raritan almost always calls for a full ground and wall barrier, since that geography keeps pushing moisture up no matter how the insulation above it is handled.
Only if it is compromised. A dry, intact liner or insulation can sometimes stay while the new barrier goes in around it. Wet, sagging or moldy-smelling material has to come out first, because a fresh barrier laid over ruined insulation just seals the damage in rather than fixing it, and that is common in older Somerset crawl spaces that have never been touched. Flooding is handled differently: a crawl space that has taken on standing water in a storm needs to be pumped out and left to dry fully on its own before any barrier work can start.
Somerset County is fully covered, with Somerville to the west and Bound Brook nearby seeing regular encapsulation work alongside Somerset itself. Across the river in Middlesex County, North Brunswick and New Brunswick get the same attention, and Franklin Park rounds out coverage to the south.
Once it is installed correctly, there is not much upkeep involved. A properly sealed liner is not something that needs regular attention, though we are not going to promise it lasts a specific number of years, since that depends on what the space is used for afterward. If we are ever back at a Somerset property for something else, checking the barrier costs nothing extra.
Free inspection and a written estimate, no obligation.
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