What Is A Vapor Barrier?

A vapor barrier is a thin layer of impermeable polyethylene sheeting that prevents moisture from seeping through your basement or crawl space walls (and floors). This barrier is around 10 to 20 millimeters thick and catches water and moisture seeping through your concrete, channeling it downwards to a connected drain tile system. If you have drywall or paneling on your basement walls, this will protect them from being ruined by mold, moisture, or rot. Note: In order to apply a vapor barrier to a finished basement, we will need to remove any finishes.

A vapor barrier will lower the temperature in your basement or crawl space, reduce humidity, and prevent moisture from damaging stored items, including structural supports such as joists.

When To Use A Vapor Barrier With Insulation

Insulation will prevent air from entering or escaping your basement, but it will not stop moisture diffusion. A vapor barrier will stop moisture diffusion and should be applied directly to your concrete walls (plus crawl space floors). If you decide to add insulation in your basement, it should be applied after you install a vapor barrier.

How Do We Install Vapor Barriers?

The vapor barrier installation process is straightforward. First, we make sure your crawl space is clear of any debris. If you have a basement, we’ll need to remove any finishes on your walls, such as drywall or paneling. The next step involves wrapping the sheet along your walls (and crawl space floors) and sealing the edges using waterproof seam tape.

Our Basement And Crawl Space Waterproofing Services

Contact The Real Seal For Basement and Crawl Space Vapor Barrier Services In Chicagoland

If you live in Chicagoland, call The Real Seal today. We’ll inspect your foundation and find out why water is seeping into your basement or crawl space. Vapor barriers are just one part of our complete foundation waterproofing system, which also includes a drain tile system and sump pump. Schedule your free foundation inspection today and receive your personalized estimate.

What Our Customers Are Saying

Great experience with Real Seal. We moved into a remodel where a former contractor (not sure which company) sealed up a basement leak incorrectly leading to water in our basement months after moving in. Real Seal promptly came out to inspect and consult, quoted a fair price, and then repaired the crack; educating me along the way about what went wrong and how they would repair to ensure there would be no more water. I'm so thankful for their service and lifetime warranty.
Great to work with and clear in explaining how their process works. No pressure on the estimate. Arrived on time, answered our questions and were complete professionals. I would recommend this company. 💯
Sal and Omar arrived on-time and did an excellent job repairing the cracks in the foundation and installing the new piping for the crawlspace sump pump. Sal completed the exterior work in the dark nd cold and took the extra time to make sure it was just right ! The whole process from quote to completed job was what was promised.
Fantastic organization to do business with. The process was professionally handled from the initial call to the end of project. They quickly identified the issue, provided a solution, and quote in the same day. Our yard looks like it was never touched and there was a ton of digging performed. We went through the heavy rains the other day and no issues. Thank you to the entire team!
Fantastic service by Omar and Rob! Would definitely use The Real Seal again!
Our foundation had developed cracks, and the corner of our house was sinking by nearly 3/4 of an inch. After getting multiple quotes, Real Seal offered a competitive price and appeared to be highly knowledgeable. Their warranty was also the best among all the vendors. They scheduled the work for six weeks later and started on time. The project was set for three days, and they completed everything as planned. The crew was professional, respectful, and did an excellent job cleaning up the area afterward. Highly recommend them!
Quality materials, trained and experienced staff that made us feel confident thoroughly the process.... no new decisions were made until we has all options and safety concerns discussed... highly recommend The Real Seal!!!
We had a fantastic experience with Real Seal Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Repair! Rob, the structural engineer, came out first to inspect and assess the damage. He was extremely thorough, professional, and took the time to explain what he was seeing, which helped us feel confident in the next steps.George, our technician, did an outstanding job with the repair. During the process, he discovered a 2x4 that had been bolted directly into the foundation wall—a possible cause of the cracking we were seeing. He explained how that kind of pressure can lead to long-term structural issues, which we never would have realized on our own. George not only fixed the problem, but also walked me through the repair process and what was being done to ensure the wall would be properly supported going forward.Both Rob and George were professional, knowledgeable, and respectful throughout. It’s rare to find a company where both the inspection and the repair sides are this strong. I’d highly recommend Real Seal to anyone needing foundation repair or basement waterproofing. Their team brings both skill and great communication—exactly what you want for something as important as your home’s foundation.
Real Seal was professional throughout. Communication was clear, and they helped us seal cracks in our basement foundation while also offering helpful guidance on a few home improvements. Initially, their quote was a bit on the higher side, but they worked with us to resolve the issue at a very fair price. We’d definitely use them again.
Jesus and his team did amazing job to install french drain system in our basement. They were fast, efficient, organized and super clean at the site. Everyone in the company is great , very knowledgeable at their job. On top of that their price is very reasonable, highly recommend!
Very pleased with my experience. Hired to install foundation piers.
Real Seal came out and was able to provide a clear, well-thought out plan to address water issues in the basement. The installation of the drain tile system and sump pump was quick, the crew was great, and the system is running very well. Really wonderful job--thanks!
Great Company with excellent employees. Highly recommend !!!!!
I had such a great experience with the real seal. David and Susan were awesome and answered all of my questions when I started the process. The crew that came to install the liner was also amazing they were very respectful, kind, and helpful with any questions that I had. They came the day after a snow storm and the temps dropping and still got everything done.
Promot, efficient, knowledgeable, and reasonably priced. Would hire again.
Great work, super friendly service and very communicative.
Great communication with their team and excellent quality of work. Their specialist went the extra mile on site which we all appreciated. Would definitely rely on them again.
George Ledezma is a very hard worker! He pays attention to details, make sure the jobs are completed to customer satisfaction and is a leader. He deserves a promotion for his loyalty towards Real Seal.
the most dependable and thorough waterproofing company in the Chicagoland area. Been using them since we moved into our house in 2011. Austin and his team consistently crush it.
I can't recommend this company enough. Theirs is by far the best customer service I've ever experienced from any company regardless of the business they're in. There are a lot of choices for basement waterproofing, especially in Chicagoland, but Real Seal is a standout.
The crawlspace to basement conversion was great! The crew clearly knew what they were doing and paid close attention to detail. For such a large project, we had a lot of anxiety going in, but Real Seal went above and beyond to make sure the project went smoothly. Every contractor and inspector who stopped by was also impressed by their work!If you have a crawlspace want to add square footage to your home (or have a nice new spot to wait out tornados), I highly recommend reaching out to Real Seal about a conversion.
I'm so grateful that I got The Real Seal to solve my basement water issues. They sealed several cracks and did drainage work outside to get the water away from my foundation. The guys that did the work were very friendly and knowledgeable.
I never used them personally but they respond to all the comments on their website and offer whatever help they can which is very helpful for DIYer’s like me. If they were in Philadelphia I would undoubtedly use them. Great people.
Great job RealSeal. This is my second sidewalk leveling project. Both have been performed very well.
Real seal has been very helpful with all the projects that I had completed this summer. I had foundation cracks repaired, two basement windows and wells replaced at a reasonable price. The work was completed as promised and area cleaned of the debris. They also referred me to a contractor who completed the foam spray for insulation in my crawl space who completed the work as I requested.
Did a great job of explaining whats needed, what's less important, and happy with results so far.
Used real seal for 2 foundation cracks. From the estimate to having the repair done was great. Very fast and efficient. I was called to schedule and I lucked out did repair same day. Now that's Service.
This sump and battery backup are a great value. It was purchased for my mom which lives 1 hour away. I like the feature that if there is a failure ( highly unlikely ) it will notify my phone.
I had some previous work done by a waterproofing company. I haven’t had any issues with it other than feeling like a I paid too much. When I had another basement crack that needed to be repaired, my contractor recommended Real Seal. I am glad he did and I wish I would have known about them sooner. The communication from the time I made the appointment until the work was complete was spectacular. The fees they charge for work is black and white and incredibly reasonable. I’ve hired them for a third job and would recommend them to anyone in need of their services. I’ve also gotten to know the owner of this outfit and some of the other employees and I couldn’t be more excited to see where a company goes in the future. Hats off to Austin and his whole crew!
Jim was very friendly and knowledgeable during the initial visit. He made sure to explain everything he was seeing and what he would recommend and why. He even looked into ways to reduce the financial burden a project like this would be. When it came time for the installation, Tomas and his crew were great and made sure the project was completed correctly. When they were done, they went above and beyond cleaning up and making things look the best they could. I hope no one needs to fix the issues our foundation had, but if they do Real Seal is highly recommended!!!
Excellence all around. Professional, great pricing and awesome work
Quick and concise with their foundation repair. We had a helical pier stabilization performed on our 25 year old home with a cracked foundation and the team from Real Seal were beyond professional with the whole experience from the sales associate, case assistant, repair team, and follow-up. Highly recommend them for your foundational repair needs!
My house was built in 1956, split levels with an English basement. When Pete came out to assess my situation, he made quick notes of common issues with a house like mine, and we came up with a couple of solutions. I opted for doing my own demo. I really liked that Pete was was down to earth about the project and what to expect. More than that, he expressed a real pride and appreciation for the whole team of people that would be involved along the way.First, Polyjacking was required for front and rear exterior concrete areas of the house. That was done on a separate visit. They did a great job of leveling the concrete, which will really help to keep the water away from the house.Next was interior installation of the Drain Tile and Sump Pump with batttery backup. My project was completed in 2 days, but I expected 3 days. Permit process depends on township, but in our case we only had one hiccup.On the big day, the guys showed up as scheduled and got right to work! I wish I had all of their names because I want to say thank you to them all. They were all INCREDIBLE! Thank you all so much for your hard work!!!Side note: I appreciated the management of dust created while breaking up the concrete with jack hammers. They had these cool air vacuums that collected the dust while jackhammering the floor, which really helped keep the dust to a minimum. Also, I'm grateful the guys were taking precautions with face protection during that part of the process to protect themselves.Exterior drainage entailed the installation of a french-type drain, evacuating sump pump water and integrating gutter downpipes. There was lots of digging on a hot day,. They carefully handled the routing of drain pipes in an area with lots of tree roots and hedges. I really appreciate their care for my plants while helping to improve an outdated water management setup.I would recommend this company strongly! Real Seal did a fantastic job of getting my project done right, and making the process as seamless as possible.
I spoke to the owner, Austin Werner, about my basement leaks and flooding in FL. He was very helpful giving me advice even though he would not be able to do the job. He was very knowledgeable and I would be hiring him immediately if he was local to me.
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Vapor Barrier FAQs

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What material can be used as a vapor barrier?

The Real Seal Basement Waterproofing and Foundation Repair uses 10 to 20-mil thick impermeable polyethylene sheeting.

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Can I install a vapor barrier myself?

Yes, you can install a vapor barrier yourself. But if you want the job done correctly without stressing and crawling in a confined space, call The Real Seal.
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How long does a vapor barrier last?

Our vapor barriers will last for life and can even outlast the foundation.
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What is the difference between a vapor barrier and a moisture barrier?

The terms vapor barriers and moisture barriers are used interchangeably.
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What happens if you don't install a vapor barrier?

Without a vapor barrier, your foundation is at risk of increased humidity, condensation, water damage, and more.
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Does mold grow under a crawl space vapor barrier?

Mold does have the ability to grow under a vapor barrier if there is organic matter. A professional company should clear that material before installation so there is nothing for mold to grow on. Additionally, Real Seal’s vapor barrier has an anti-microbial additive to help prevent the growth of mold.
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Will a vapor barrier reduce humidity?

Yes.
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When should I replace my vapor barrier?

If you notice your vapor barrier is ripping or falling apart, call The Real Seal for an inspection. Our vapor barriers come with a lifetime warranty.

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Google Rating
4.9
Based on 482 reviews
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