Crawl Space Cleaning And Insulation

Insulating your crawl space, which is a part of air sealing and insulation for your entire home, contributes to the maintenance of your home's overall energy efficiency. In areas where insulation is lacking, warm air and cool air can very easily escape through the floor. Insulation not only helps to maintain air quality but also helps to cut down on energy costs. 

How do you insulate a crawl space that does not have heating?

When something is out of sight, people tend to forget about it, which is certainly the case in this scenario. You are probably like the majority of people in that you have forgotten about the crawlspace that is located beneath your feet. If you don't keep up with your crawlspace maintenance, it could end up costing you money in the long run. In spite of the thermostat being turned all the way up, it is not uncommon for people to experience the problem of stepping on a cold floor in the morning during the winter months. It should come as no surprise that this demonstrates the need for crawlspace insulation in your home. The process of maintaining the temperature inside the house and the quality of the air inside the house involves the use of insulation material.

When working in a crawl space, should plastic be placed on the ground?

The vapor barrier or plastic cover is an absolute necessity, particularly in the case of a crawl space with a dirt floor. In the absence of a vapor barrier, soil moisture will rise to the surface and eventually cause serious issues in the crawl space, including the growth of mold and possibly rot in the supporting structure. It is important that the plastic cover the entire floor.

What are some effective methods for insulating a crawl space that has a dirt floor?

Crawl spaces with dirt floors allow for the entry of both humid air and liquid water. You have to prevent this moisture from escaping. The encapsulation of the crawl space is the method that is most effective in achieving this goal. It requires covering the floor and walls of the crawl space with a vapor barrier made of polyethylene plastic with a thickness of 20 mils.

In a crawl space, what is the ideal thickness for the insulation?

Insulate the floor by using fiberglass insulation batts or rolls, which are the most cost-effective and straightforward option for do-it-yourselfers looking to insulate between floor joists in a crawl space. Insulation of R-11 (312 inches) should be used under floors in warm climates, while insulation of R-25 (6 inches to 8 inches) should be used in cold climates.

How exactly does one go about insulating a crawl space on their own?

Attaching rigid foam insulation boards to the interior face of the foundation walls can be done with either mechanical fasteners or construction adhesive that is water resistant. You also have the option of laying an insulating mat on top of the floor of your crawl space, which would serve the same purpose. In the end, you need to make sure that every seam is taped off with waterproof tape.