Bethesda, Montgomery County, MD — documented crawl-space repair scope. This page explains what the available plan calls for; it does not treat an unverified homeowner complaint or post-installation result as a fact.
At a glance: The plan covers approximately 1,300 square feet of crawl space, a floor vapor barrier, insulated wall liner and rim-joist work, a dehumidifier, and condensate removal. The original customer complaint, as-built quantities, and later performance have not been independently confirmed from the records reviewed.
What did the Bethesda crawl-space plan include?
The written scope calls for a 20-mil floor vapor barrier carried up the walls and sealed at seams and penetrations. It also specifies an insulated wall liner and approximately 230 linear feet of rim-joist insulation. These are separate parts of the enclosure: the ground covering limits soil vapor, while the wall and rim-joist details address heat and air movement.
The plan also lists a 70-pint-per-day dehumidifier and two condensate pumps. Condensate equipment removes water collected by the dehumidifier; it is not the same as a sump system designed to control groundwater. The available record does not establish the final discharge route, so we are not claiming one here.
Would a vapor barrier alone solve every crawl-space problem?
No. A ground barrier can reduce vapor coming from exposed soil, but it cannot by itself repair bulk-water entry, insulate an unprotected wall, or correct every air leak. Whether a home needs drainage, insulation, air sealing, or dehumidification depends on what an inspection actually finds. Our crawl-space repair guide explains how those decisions fit together.
What can this record establish about the result?
It establishes the proposed components and approximate project size. It does not document a measured before-and-after humidity level, a verified change in floor temperature, a rain test, or long-term performance. We will add a completed-work account only when the installation record and same-property photographs are matched to this plan.
Bottom line: For a Bethesda homeowner comparing encapsulation proposals, ask what each layer is meant to control, how condensate will leave the crawl space, and which observations support the recommended scope. A detailed plan is useful; a demonstrated outcome requires separate evidence.