Why state the mil thickness of the vapor barrier?

Because it's the main thing separating your bid from a cheaper one, and it's invisible in a finished crawlspace. A 6-mil barrier and a 20-mil reinforced liner are different products with different lifespans — printing yours is the fairest way to explain a higher price.

Should the dehumidifier be optional?

Quote it as part of the system, not as an add-on. Sealing a crawlspace without moisture control creates the exact humidity problem your warranty will be blamed for — and if the customer declines it, that decision belongs in writing.

How do I write the as-found repair line?

As a per-unit rate — per joist, per pier, per square foot of rot — noted as billed only after photo approval. It prices the unknown honestly without pretending you can see through a vapor barrier you haven't lifted yet.

Crawlspace Encapsulation Estimate Template (Free)

What belongs on the estimate

Business name, license number, contact info
Customer name, property address, phone
Crawlspace square footage and wall linear footage
Access description — hatch size, headroom
Debris and insulation removal
Vapor barrier — square footage and mil thickness
Wall liner, termination, and seam tape
Drainage, sump, and dehumidifier
As-found repair rate
Payment schedule, warranty, and exclusions

The template

[Your Business Name] · License #________
[Phone] · [Email]

Estimate #____        Date: __________
Prepared For: [Customer Name]   Phone: __________
Property: _____________________________________
Crawlspace: ______ sq ft   Walls: ______ lf
Access: [hatch size]   Headroom: ______ in
Standing water observed: [yes / no]

--------------------------------------------------
Description                              Amount
--------------------------------------------------
Debris + old insulation removal          $______
Mold / fungal treatment — ___ sq ft      $______
Vapor barrier — ___ sq ft, ___ mil       $______
Wall liner + termination — ___ lf        $______
Seam tape + mechanical fasteners         $______
Rim joist insulation — ___ lf            $______
Drainage matting — ___ lf                $______
Interior perimeter drain — ___ lf        $______
Sump pit + pump ([backup: y/n])          $______
Dehumidifier — ___ pints, w/ drain       $______
Vent sealing x___                        $______
Access door replacement                  $______
AS-FOUND REPAIRS (photo approval req'd):
   Joist repair/sister — $___ each       $______
   Pier repair — $___ each               $______
   Subfloor rot — $___ /sq ft            $______
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal                                 $______
Tax (if applicable)                      $______
Estimate Total                           $______

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
  ___% materials deposit at signing       $______
  ___% draw at liner + drainage complete  $______
  Balance at completion                   $______

WARRANTY: ___ yrs on installed liner system.
Dehumidifier per manufacturer warranty.

NOT INCLUDED: plumbing or HVAC repair, radon
mitigation, exterior grading or gutters, structural
engineering, electrical service upgrades.

Exclude the exterior

Half of all crawlspace water comes from gutters and grade. Excluding exterior drainage in writing — and recommending it separately — protects your warranty and often sells you a second job down the line.

Photograph everything before the liner goes down

Once encapsulated, nobody can verify what was underneath. Photos of the joists, the piers, the standing water, and the finished install are the record for the warranty, the sale of the house, and pretty much any question in between.

Skipping the copy-paste

Software with your per-square-foot and per-linear-foot rates saved builds this estimate from the inspection photos and schedules the deposit and mid-job draw automatically.