How To Insulate Your Crawlspace Easily

The ground floor of many homes is constructed over crawlspaces. Some may have a combination of a basement area and crawlspaces. The spaces provide easy access to plumbing fixtures beneath the home. But any moisture and humidity contained within the regions encourage mold growth. Air from outside also enters the spaces, which affects heating and cooling costs. This is the reason why it is always suggested to evaluate the various types of insulation and then hire the professionals as per your choice to insulate your crawlspace in the best possible manner to ultimately benefit the health of occupants and reduce utility costs. 

So, for example, if you are based in Houston and have finalized that spray foam insulation will best suit your requirements, you must look out for experienced spray foam insulation in Houston who bring in their complete expertise and do the job as per what you require. Similarly, you can look out for professionals in your area depending on where you reside and the type of insulation needed. Let’s further see how you should go about getting the work done.

Evaluate the Area

Crawlspace encapsulation initially requires checking for water seepage on the crawlspace dirt floor. Using a flashlight, determine possible water leakage into the area from the exterior of the home. If needed, redirect downspouts away from the foundation. Possibly build up the ground around the foundation. Any visible cracks necessitate foundation repair using caulk or a suitable sealant. Check for further leaks by peering into the crawlspace for signs of light without a flashlight. Seal the areas as needed. Determine if any pipes underneath the home have visible signs of leakage and make the necessary repairs.

Homeowners may need to consult professionals for mold removal solutions for homes and commercial properties before proceeding for health reasons.

Beginning to Insulate Your Crawlspace

The materials needed to insulate your crawlspace are readily available at various home improvement stores. The total cost of materials may vary from one location to the next. The final cost also depends on the size of the crawlspace requiring treatment.

Measure the square footage of the dirt floor along with the perimeter of the interior walls that line the crawlspace. Quality basement waterproofing begins with covering the dirt floor with a polyethylene fabric having a minimum thickness of six millimeters. Cut out around any posts. The fabric must extend 12 inches onto the interior walls. Use double-sided butyl tape to seal the fabric seams.

Field experts at 58 Foundations recommend that foam boards, spray foam or cellulose may be used to line the exterior walls. However, foam boards are often recommended over other types of insulation for their ease of installation and durability. Cutting the boards to size simply requires using a serrated knife.

Crawlspaces are typically four to six feet in height. Conveniently, foam insulation for a home boards measure four feet by eight feet, which means they may be quickly positioned end to end without cutting if the space does not extend beyond four feet in height. The boards should have a minimum thickness of two inches. In this way, the barrier provides a minimum insulation factor of R-10. The boards are mold and water-resistant.

Position the foam boards over the interior walls and the moisture barrier. Secure the boards snugly in place using a construction adhesive suitable for use on multiple surfaces. The adhesive is available as a cartridge that easily slips into a caulking gun for application. Seal the seams between the boards using PVC tape.

Insulating a crawlspace is generally a simple weekend project. However, if preferred, homeowners may contact professionals to have the work completed.