Icynene Crawl Space Encapsulation: The Schertz Owner’s Guide
We stock and install Icynene-compatible crawl space encapsulation systems in Schertz, with most complete jobs running between $2,800 and $5,400 depending on crawl square footage and existing moisture damage. Same-day installation is available when we have your liner specs on the truck, which we usually do for the LD-C-50 and MD-R-200 series common in Schertz homes built 2015-2022. Most owners realize something’s wrong when their hardwood floors cup in summer, the crawl smells earthy even in dry weeks, or their dehumidifier runs nonstop - all signs the vapor barrier has torn at the seams or the Icynene closed-cell foam has pulled away from the sill plate.
Which Icynene Models This Applies To
Icynene’s crawl space line breaks into two families: the LD-C series (light-density, open-cell, 0.5 lb/ft³) and the MD-R series (medium-density, closed-cell, 2.0 lb/ft³). The LD-C-50 is the 5.0-inch lift thickness spec; the MD-R-200 is the 2.0-inch closed-cell used for rim joist and band joist sealing in conditioned crawl applications. Both are spray-applied, so there is no “part number” in the traditional sense - what fails is the membrane assembly: the reinforced polyethylene vapor barrier (typically 12-20 mil), the seam tape rated for Icynene’s solvent chemistry, and the closed-cell spray layer at the sill plate transition.
To identify what you have, check the Icynene application tag left by the original installer, usually stapled to a floor joist near the crawl entry. The tag lists the product series, pass thickness, and install date. If the tag is missing, measure your vapor barrier thickness with a caliper at a seam edge - 12-mil was standard in Schertz until 2019, when 20-mil became code-preferred for the clay-heavy soils here. We carry both OEM Icynene-spec seam tape and a compatible aftermarket from Johns Manville that meets the same ASTM E1745 Class A standard. The aftermarket tape runs cooler on price and performs identically in our blower-door-verified jobs; we use OEM only when the original warranty is still active and transferable.
Signs Your Icynene Crawl Space Encapsulation Is Failing
- Musty odor rising through floor registers. This means your vapor barrier has breached at a seam or penetration, letting soil gas and moisture into the conditioned envelope. In Schertz’s gumbo clay soils, hydrostatic pressure pushes upward year-round, so even a 6-inch tear at a pier wrap will pump moisture into the crawl.
- Hardwood cupping or laminate bubbling in winter. Wood absorbs moisture from below when the crawl relative humidity climbs above 60%. Icynene’s open-cell foam is vapor-permeable by design; if the polyethylene ground cover is compromised, the humidity spike reaches your flooring.
- Dehumidifier running continuously or icing up. A properly sealed crawl with intact Icynene and vapor barrier should hold 50-55% RH with minimal dehumidifier cycling. Nonstop operation means the space is rehumidifying faster than the unit can extract.
- White chalking or flaking on the foam surface. This is UV degradation from work-light exposure during service visits, or chemical incompatibility with pest-control treatments. Icynene’s open-cell chemistry is stable in darkness but breaks down under sustained UV; the fix is a protective coating or replacement of affected lifts.
- Visible gaps between foam and sill plate, or foam pulling from band joists. Thermal cycling in Schertz - 30°F winter nights to 100°F summer days at the crawl perimeter - causes differential expansion between the wood framing and the foam. The MD-R-200 closed-cell handles this better than LD-C-50, but neither lasts if the substrate wasn’t properly cleaned and primed at install.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
In Schertz, a full Icynene crawl space encapsulation replacement runs $2,800-$5,400 for crawl spaces between 800 and 2,000 square feet. Here’s how that breaks down:
- Vapor barrier replacement (12-mil): $1.20-$1.60/sq ft installed
- Vapor barrier replacement (20-mil): $1.60-$2.10/sq ft installed
- Icynene LD-C-50 spray (open-cell, rim/band joist): $3.50-$4.50/board foot
- Icynene MD-R-200 spray (closed-cell, sill plate transition): $5.50-$7.00/board foot
- Seam tape, mechanical fasteners, and pier wraps: $200-$400 flat
- Dehumidifier re-hang or replacement (if needed): $800-$1,400
The range depends on three things: how much of the existing barrier we can salvage (partial replacement vs. full strip), whether the sill plate shows rot requiring sistering, and if we need to bring in a dedicated dehumidifier sized to the new air leakage rate. Every job gets a written price before any work starts - Haven Standard Clause 1 - and the 365-Day Done Right Promise covers both materials and installation. We also publish before-and-after blower-door numbers when the crawl is tied to the conditioned envelope, so you can verify the air-sealing result in CFM50, not just a contractor’s word.
DIY or Call Us?
There is no safe DIY path for Icynene spray foam replacement - the two-component chemicals require respirator-fit-tested technicians, controlled spray environment, and proper substrate prep that most homeowners can’t achieve in a 36-inch crawl. What you can check safely: verify your dehumidifier drain line isn’t clogged, confirm the crawl access door seals tight, and look for obvious vapor barrier tears at the perimeter walls. Do not pull at loose foam or cut into suspect areas; disturbed Icynene releases particulates, and the seam chemistry is unforgiving if you try to patch with hardware-store tape.
We stock 12-mil and 20-mil reinforced polyethylene, Icynene-compatible seam tape, and both LD-C-50 and MD-R-200 on the truck for Schertz calls. Most encapsulation replacements we do in the Sedona subdivision and along FM 1518 are completed in one day. Call (830) 402-5240 - a live person answers, and we’ll schedule a free inspection with a written price before anyone lifts a tool.
FAQs
How long does Icynene crawl space encapsulation last in Schertz?
Properly installed Icynene with a 20-mil vapor barrier typically performs 15-20 years in Schertz’s climate, though the clay soils and seasonal expansion put extra stress on seam integrity. We’ve seen 12-mil barriers fail at year 8 in high-hydrostatic crawl spaces near Cibolo Creek. Call (830) 402-5240 for a free inspection if you’re past year 10 - estimates are free.
Can I repair the vapor barrier instead of replacing it?
Patching works only for isolated punctures smaller than a quarter, using tape rated for Icynene’s solvent profile. Multiple seams, widespread chalking, or foam detachment means the system has reached end of service life and needs replacement. We offer free second opinions on any written estimate you’ve received - bring us the quote and we’ll read it with you.
How long does a full encapsulation replacement take?
Most Schertz jobs finish in one day for crawls under 1,500 square feet; larger or rot-compromised spaces may need a second day. We arrive with a named technician, text when we’re on the way, and leave you with a Documented Photo Record and written warranty before we leave. Call (830) 402-5240 to check same-day availability.
Do you stock Icynene parts on the truck?
We carry Icynene-compatible vapor barrier in 12-mil and 20-mil, OEM and aftermarket seam tape, and both LD-C-50 and MD-R-200 spray foam for same-day installation. We also stock Reflectix radiant barrier materials for hybrid crawl systems. We are an independent service provider, not affiliated with Icynene - we source materials from Icynene, Johns Manville, Owens Corning, and other manufacturers so we’re never locked into a single product line.
Seal the leaks first. Then insulate. The attic doesn’t care how thick the insulation is if the air is still moving through it. That same sequencing applies to your crawl: fix the vapor barrier breaches, seal the rim joists, then verify the result with a blower-door test or at minimum a humidity log. We’ve been doing this in Schertz long enough to know which homes on the corridor have the clay-heave problem and which don’t - and we price accordingly, with a written scope you can hold us to.
Ready to get your crawl space dry and documented? Call (830) 402-5240. A live person answers 24/7, and every job starts with a written price before any work starts - no exceptions.
Written by Wes Okafor, Owner, Topside Attic Insulation Schertz at Topside Attic Insulation Schertz, serving Schertz and nearby areas.