When compared to a home built on a concrete slab, a home with a crawl space can be colder in the winter. You should also take precautions against mold and mildew since they can be a problem in your crawl space.
More than just insulation is needed to keep your home’s floors warmer and stop mold and mildew from growing in the crawl space. American Crawl Space uses the following methods to insulate and lessen moisture in a crawl space underneath your Seattle area house:
Ground Covering
First we fix any issues you might have with water standing under your house. Next, we level the dirt in the crawlspace and fill in any holes or depressions. Then a layer of plastic sheeting is placed over the entire area underneath the house as a water vapor barrier. The plastic is extended all the way to the foundation walls, and the sheets are overlapped by about a foot. The sheets’ seams are taped together as an extra precaution to hold the plastic in place.
Insulating the Under Floor
For insulating between the floor joists in a crawl space, fiberglass insulation batts or rolls are the best option. In warm climates, the U.S. Department of Energy advises using R-11 (3 1/2″) insulation under floors, and in cold climates, R-25 (6″ to 8″). The insulation is installed, making sure that it fits tightly between the joists. Furthermore, the paper vapor barrier must be facing up toward the heated living space. Insulation support wires or chicken wire stapled to the underside of the joists are used to hold the insulation in place from below.
Foundation Enclosure
If your foundation isn’t completely enclosed, we’ll need to fill the space between the outside piers with bricks, concrete blocks, or lattice panels. A concrete footing must first be poured between each of the piers surrounding the house before brick or block walls can be built there. Making 2×4 pressure-treated wood frames to fit between the piers is another method for enclosing the foundation. These frames can then be covered with lattice on the outside and with landscape fabric on the inside to lessen but not completely stop air infiltration beneath the house.
Let’s Get Started
Do you suspect your home or business needs crawlspace insulation? Do you require assistance in insulating your crawl space or basement? If so, American Crawl Space can assist you. Please contact us as soon as possible to schedule your assessment