What Happens When You Go With the Lowest Bid
Walked a Crawlspace Done by the Cheapest Company
HERE'S WHAT THAT "SAVINGS" ACTUALLY COST
I'm standing in a crawlspace in Vonore that was encapsulated a few years ago by one of the cheaper companies in the area.
The homeowner saved a few thousand dollars going with the low bid. I get it - nobody wants to overpay.
But I'm down here sweating. The wood moisture is high. The humidity is high. There's mice droppings everywhere. And the homeowner is going to have to pay to redo all of this.
I'm not showing you this to trash my competition. I'm showing you this because you need to understand what you're actually saving money on when you go with the lowest bid.
It's not just about price. It's about what you get for that price. And more importantly, what you don't get.
What I Found in This "Finished" Crawlspace
Let me walk you through what I'm seeing down here.
The insulation is falling. It's hanging down all over the place. We would have pulled this before encapsulating. Instead, they just left it. Now it's a mess.
Fungal growth covers the subfloor. Nobody treated this wood. They just put a vapor barrier over it and called it done. The fungal growth is still there, still eating away at the wood.
The vapor barrier is paper thin. Literally 10 times thinner than what we use. It's a reinforced barrier that will delaminate and smell like cat pee eventually.
They installed it in the wrong spot. It's supposed to be down low where I put it back. But they ran it up on the rim joist. The homeowner couldn't get a termite warranty because of it. I had to fix that just so they could.
The tape seams are a joke. Gaps everywhere. Completely unprofessional work. This isn't sealed at all.
The dehumidifier is too small and doesn't circulate. You need proper air movement in a crawlspace. This unit isn't cutting it. The high humidity proves it.
No lighting. You can't even see what's going on down here without a flashlight.
The door has no weather stripping. Air is coming in and out constantly. Makes the whole system inefficient.
And there's mice poop everywhere. Because nothing is sealed properly.
This is what happens when a company is trying to hit a price point instead of actually fixing your crawlspace.
Why These Problems Exist
Here's how companies end up doing work like this.
They bid low to win the job. Maybe they're trying to beat out other companies. Maybe they're new and need work. Either way, they promise a price that doesn't leave room for quality.
Then they have to cut costs somewhere. They can't lose money on the job. So they use thinner materials. Skip steps that take time. Don't treat the wood. Don't pull the insulation. Use cheap tape that doesn't seal right.
They rush the installation. Time is money. The faster they get in and out, the better their profit margin. So installers are told to move quickly, not carefully.
They use whatever materials are cheapest. That thin vapor barrier costs way less than the thick stuff we use. That undersized dehumidifier is cheaper than a properly sized one. Every little cost cut adds up for them.
And there's no follow-up. Once they've got your money and the job is done, they're gone. No maintenance visits. No checking on the system. No making sure it actually works long-term.
The whole business model is built around volume and profit margins, not quality and customer care.
The Hidden Costs of Going Cheap
Now let me tell you what this "savings" actually costs the homeowner.
You pay twice. First for the cheap job. Then again when you have to redo it properly. This homeowner is going to spend more total than if they'd just hired a quality company the first time.
Your energy bills stay high. That door with no weather stripping? The improperly installed vapor barrier? The inefficient dehumidifier? All of that means your HVAC system is working harder and costing you more every single month.
Health risks stick around. That untreated fungal growth is in your crawlspace. About 50% of the air you breathe in your house comes from down there. Your family is breathing that.
Foundation problems develop. High wood moisture and humidity lead to rot. Rot leads to structural issues. What started as a crawlspace problem becomes a foundation problem. And foundation repairs cost serious money.
You're dealing with pests. Those mice didn't just wander in for fun. The crawlspace isn't sealed properly. Now you've got a pest problem on top of everything else.
The system doesn't work. The whole point of encapsulation is to control moisture and protect your home. If the humidity is still high and the wood moisture is still high, the system isn't doing its job. You paid for a solution that didn't solve anything.
What Quality Work Actually Includes
Let me break down what should have been done in this crawlspace from the start.
Pull the old insulation. If it's falling and deteriorating, it needs to go. We remove it completely before we start the encapsulation.
Treat the subfloor. Kill that fungal growth. Let the wood dry out properly with the dehumidifier running. Don't just cover it up and pretend it's not there.
Use a thick vapor barrier. We use barriers that are 10 times thicker than what's in this crawlspace. They're warrantied against delamination and that cat pee smell. They actually last.
Install it in the right location. The vapor barrier goes where it's supposed to go. Not wherever is fastest or easiest. We make sure you can get your termite warranty.
Seal the tape seams properly. No gaps. No shortcuts. Professional installation that actually keeps moisture out.
Install a properly sized dehumidifier. It needs to circulate air throughout the entire crawlspace. We size it correctly for the space and make sure it's doing its job.
Add lighting. You should be able to see what's happening in your crawlspace. We install lights so you can check on things without a flashlight.
Rebuild the door with weather stripping. Seal it up right. Keep outside air where it belongs - outside.
Create a clean, functional space. When we're done, your crawlspace should be somewhere you can actually use for storage if you want. Not a dirty, humid mess you're afraid to go into.
That's what quality work looks like. That's what you should be getting.
How to Evaluate Bids
If you're getting multiple quotes and the prices are all over the place, here's how to figure out what you're actually comparing.
Ask what thickness vapor barrier they're using. If they can't tell you or it's less than 10 mil, that's a red flag. Ask if it's warrantied against delamination and odor.
Find out if they're treating the wood. If there's fungal growth, it needs to be treated. If they're just covering it up, that's a problem waiting to happen.
Ask about the dehumidifier size and placement. How are they sizing it for your space? Where does it drain? Is there a condensate pump? These details matter.
See if insulation removal is included. If you've got old, falling insulation, it should be pulled. If it's not in the quote, ask why.
Check what's included for follow-up. Do they come back and maintain the system? Or is it install and disappear?
Get it in writing. Everything we've talked about should be spelled out in the quote. Materials. Installation details. Maintenance. Warranty. If it's not written down, you can't hold them to it.
Compare what you're getting, not just the price. A $5,000 quote and a $12,000 quote might sound totally different. But if the cheap one is using thin materials, skipping steps, and providing no follow-up, you're not comparing the same thing.
The lowest bid usually costs more in the long run. I've seen it too many times. Save $3,000 now, spend $15,000 later to fix it and redo it properly.
Get an Honest Assessment
If you want someone to come out and actually look at your crawlspace - whether it's never been worked on or you're dealing with someone else's mess - give us a call.
I'll come out personally or send one of my managers. We'll do a real inspection. Take pictures. Show you exactly what's going on down there.
We'll give you an honest quote for what needs to be done. Not the kitchen sink. Not a bunch of stuff you don't need. Just what actually needs to happen to protect your home.
No laptop presentations. No pressure tactics. No "sign today for a discount" games. Just a straightforward conversation about your crawlspace.
And if you decide to go with someone else? That's fine. At least you'll know what questions to ask and what to look for. You'll be able to make a smart decision instead of just going with whoever is cheapest.
Your crawlspace is part of your home's foundation. It's worth doing right.
