A 115-Year-Old Home Reveals the True Cost of Cheap Encapsulation.

What we discovered when checking a billboard company’s 5-year-old crawl space work When you own a historic home, you’re not just a homeowner – you’re a caretaker of history. These houses have stood for over a century because they were built right, with attention to detail and quality materials. That’s why what I discovered during a recent inspection hits especially hard. I was called to look at a 115-year-old home where a billboard company had installed crawl space encapsulation five years ago. This house had weathered over a century of seasons, but it took just five years of poor workmanship to create serious problems underneath. The homeowners trusted a big company’s reputation, paying premium prices for what they thought would be premium protection. Instead, they got corner-cutting that put their historic home at risk.

The Evidence Speaks: What Five Years Revealed

Walking into this crawl space was like reading a manual on how not to protect a historic home. Here’s what five years of billboard company work left behind:
  • The insulation was completely gone, leaving the home’s original structure exposed
  • The crawl space had become a “waterbed” due to missing drainage and no sump pump
  • Areas of encapsulation were simply left unfinished, as if nobody would notice
  • Critter damage and droppings were everywhere, showing how vulnerable the space had become
These aren’t just typical wear-and-tear issues – they’re direct results of incomplete work and cut corners. In just five years, this supposedly professional installation had actually made things worse for this century-old home.

Where Billboard Companies Cut Corners

What makes this situation particularly frustrating is how easily it could have been prevented. The billboard company skipped fundamental elements that any experienced contractor knows are essential:
  • No drainage system installation, despite clear water issues
  • Missing sump pump in areas that desperately needed one
  • Incomplete encapsulation coverage, leaving vulnerable areas exposed
  • Basic waterproofing measures ignored
These aren’t optional extras – they’re crucial components of proper crawl space protection. When big companies skip these steps to save money or time, they’re gambling with your home’s future.

Protecting Your Historic Home’s Foundation

Historic homes require special consideration, especially when it comes to their foundations. These structures have unique characteristics that demand proper protection:
  • Original stone or brick foundations that need specific moisture control
  • Historic wood elements that can’t be easily replaced
  • Settlement patterns that developed over decades
  • Architectural features that must be preserved
When you choose the right crawl space solution, you’re not just fixing a problem – you’re preserving history. But when you trust a billboard company that treats your historic home like any other job, you risk undoing a century of structural integrity.

How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Historic Home

Look beyond the billboards and TV commercials when selecting someone to work on your historic home. Here’s what matters:
  • Experience with historic properties specifically
  • Understanding of old home construction methods
  • Willingness to explain their process in detail
  • Proof of successful work on similar homes
  • Local reputation and accountability
The right contractor won’t just sell you a service – they’ll help you understand what your specific home needs and why. They’ll take the time to address unique challenges instead of applying a one-size-fits-all solution.

Preserving Your Home’s Legacy

Here’s the truth about historic homes: they don’t need flashy solutions from billboard companies. They need careful, considered work from professionals who understand what’s at stake. Your home has stood for over a century – its continued preservation deserves better than shortcuts and half-measures. When we repair the damage left by this billboard company’s work, we’re not just fixing a crawl space. We’re helping preserve a piece of history. We’re ensuring this 115-year-old home can stand proud for another century. Remember: proper crawl space protection isn’t just about preventing problems – it’s about protecting your home’s legacy. Don’t let a big company’s shortcuts put that at risk.
Stetson Morgan
Owner