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Crawl space insulation can often go unseen. Yet it plays an integral part in protecting your home and cutting energy costs.
Once old insulation becomes damp or decayed, it no longer offers sufficient protection. Installing new insulation will act as a barrier between the crawl space and heated living areas preventing ground moisture from infiltrating into both.
Moisture control is one of the primary reasons homeowners and builders encase crawl spaces. Moisture from a crawl space can spread throughout a home, damaging insulation and leading to wood framing rot, as well as contributing to mold growth, mildew formation, unpleasant odors and pest infestation.
Insulation helps block moisture transfer and minimize odors while blocking ground moisture that can corrode fiberglass or foam board insulation.
Professionals typically recommend insulating crawl spaces with rigid foam on walls and a plastic vapor barrier on floors, along with closing vents in vented crawl spaces and reducing humidity by grading soil away from foundation walls. Some experts also advise installing a crawl space drain tile system with sump pump to drain away water before it seeps into crawl spaces; closing crawl space access doors and sealing cracks as additional measures.
Insulating your crawl space helps prevent heat from escaping into the living area, thus saving energy costs and providing greater comfort year-round.
Depending on the condition of your crawl space and insulation needs, fiberglass batt insulation could be an economical and thermal resistant choice to consider upgrading with. While fiberglass batt insulation offers good thermal resistance and is easily installable in rolls or precut sheets, its moisture absorbing capabilities could promote mold growth while harboring pests and fungus growth - so better solutions should be explored before opting for fiberglass.
Spray foam insulation may be more costly, but its spray application between joist bays in your crawl space creates an effective air and vapor barrier. Rated Class One fire resistant and insect proof, closed-cell spray foam offers increased moisture control to avoid damaging structures beneath. Furthermore, this material boasts higher R-value than traditional forms of insulation and won't sag over time.
Insulating your crawl space is a wise investment for homeowners. Doing so will keep your home more comfortable, reduce energy bills and enhance indoor air quality - making your property more appealing to potential buyers as it will provide better quality of life for its inhabitants.
Uninsulated crawl spaces allow hot or cold air to seep into your home via open foundation walls, while mold spores and moisture may enter via open drain pipes causing wood rot, pest infestation and future plumbing issues.
Encapsulating your crawl space is an effortless, cost-effective home improvement project that can increase its value. By keeping an updated record of utility bills before and after insulation installation, potential buyers can see firsthand the value of investing in crawl space insulation.
Insulating your crawl space prevents cold air from coming into your home, helping reduce heating bills in winter and cooling costs in summer, reduce noise infiltration, and make life more comfortable all year round.
Uninsulated crawl spaces let moisture into your home, leading to wood rot and mold growth as well as pest infestation. Insulating this space prevents moisture and odors from entering, and enhances air quality in living areas.
Foam board insulation offers easy installation in ventilated crawl spaces and is an economical solution that provides thermal resistance while remaining moisture resistant, but over time can absorb moisture and become ineffective. Conversely, fiberglass insulation requires regular replacement because its moisture absorbing qualities become less effective over time. Foam board is made up of rigid foam panels shaped specifically to fit wall cavities which can then be glued in place; additionally it has a higher R-Value making it energy efficient and cost effective insulation solutions.
