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Crawl Space Encapsulation
Create A Clean Healthy Crawl Space
Crawl Space Treatment / Encapsulation
A crawl space is an area under the first story of the home that is unfinished and has a height lower than that of a basement.
An average crawl space clearance ranges from a few inches to several feet and almost always has an unfinished floor, soil, gravel, etc.
Problems with crawlspaces are moisture, condensation, mold, spider webs, critter intrusion, air infiltration, heat loss living space through the floors from above the crawlspace and more.
If your home does not have a concrete foundation, consider the moisture levels of the gravel / dirt floor and their effect on moisture in the crawlspace.
An effective treatment of a moist / damp crawlspace is a vapor barrier. This will prevent moisture from the natural ground level and condensation on the ductwork, wood framing, and mold growth as a result of moisture.
Air penetration into the house at ground level is visible from dust captured by fiberglass batt insulation, water / moisture stains on nails and cobwebs around air pathways.
These signs represent the room for improvement in your homes thermal, moisture and pressure barrier of the conditioned living space with a crawl space encapsulation treatment of the parameter.
There are multiple factors to choosing the best materials for your crawlspace to reduce air infiltration, moisture, pests, rodents, insects, and more from the living space. Focus on the the air quality of occupants of the home as well as comfort and efficiency.
Crawl Space Treatments
1. Closed Cell Spray Foam Walls and Rim Joist
Closed Cell Spray Foam provides a full moisture, thermal, and pressure barrier for the unconditioned and semi-conditioned space. This is a solution for retrofitting existing crawl spaces or proactively addressing proper weatherproofing for new construction or remodel. Closed Cell Spray Foam is an excellent choice for eliminating drafts, moisture / thermal intrusion causing cold floors above. Many crawlspaces are by layout directly over a kitchen for access to plumbing and heating ducts. This results in excessive thermal differences between the crawlspace seams of framing and the conditioned floor above. Crawl space encapsulation reduces air infiltration to the conditioned / heated / cooled spaces above.
2. Sealing / Insulating Ductwork in Crawl Spaces
Spray foam closed cell applied directly to the duct work supply lines reduces leaks and thermal heat loss as the heat passes from the furnace to the intended rooms above.
Ductwork Insulation materials and methods for insulation include cellulose packed netting, fiberglass wrapped, radiant barrier bubble wrap with seams taped and more
if the floor is not concrete install a polyethylene vapor barrier and insulate the walls to prevent duct condensation on the exterior surface
wall insulation can be rigid foam board or closed cell spray foam
3. When To Insulate The Crawl Space Ceiling
Create a semi conditioned space for the crawl space by creating a moisture, pressure, and thermal boundary with close cell spray foam.
Create a thermal boundary for the ceiling by insulating with premium dense packed cellulose insulation.
Ceiling insulation can be netting with cellulose insulation to improve sound dampening and thermal retention of the living space above
if the crawl space floor is gravel or dirt, install a vapor barrier to reduce humidity, moisture, musty smells, mold growth, and make the crawlspace a clean useable space.
Basement insulation has to take into include a vapor barrier when insulation is in contact with porous foundation walls. Spray Foam or a completely sealed rigid foam board adhered to the foundation, stone, masonry block walls prevent moisture intrusion in conjunction with a vapor barrier material rolled over the floor.
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We are no strangers to crawl spaces and when we go in, we don’t come out until the area is encapsulated. This prevents moisture from becoming an issue, among other things.
What this ensures is a healthy area free of mildew, mold and unwanted house guest. All of this is designed to improve the comfort and health of your home. It’s just an added bonus it adds more value to your home.