Crawl Space Insulation

[GRN96WS6]

I need to reinsulate my crawl space this spring while it's cool and I have been having trouble deciding if I should use foam bats or get spray foam insulation. I know one cost a decent amount more but I'm looking for long lasting solution so I don't have to spend the money again. I'm more of a do it right first sort of person. I do have water present in my crawl space but it drains to one spot and I have a sump pump in place which pumps it outside.

Do any of you know of anyone who does spray insulation? I need someone who really knows what their doing as well I don't want some half assed job. Also any reason I should go foam over batting?

[limblips (Premo)]

[QUOTE=GRN96WS6;3675865]I need to reinsulate my crawl space this spring while it's cool and I have been having trouble deciding if I should use foam bats or get spray foam insulation. I know one cost a decent amount more but I'm looking for long lasting solution so I don't have to spend the money again. I'm more of a do it right first sort of person. I do have water present in my crawl space but it drains to one spot and I have a sump pump in place which pumps it outside.

If you have dampness, DO NOT insulate the walls! Encapsulation of the crawl space is a bad idea too, it hides things and has to be perforated for future investigations of mold, termites etc. If you must, use unfaced batts with support wires between the joists. Personally, since heat flows up, and heat flows to cold, if I were to look for cost savings on HVAC, I would spend my money on attic insulation, caulking, good energy efficient windows, and a thermal loss survey. More bang for the buck than insulating a crawl space that may cause you more problems in the future.

[GRN96WS6]

Well unfaced batted insulation grows/harbors mold over time as well and it droops after time as mine is now. I can see what you are saying but everyone says to not let your crawl space just be bare earth you should have plastic over the "floor" if you will to keep moisture down. If that is in place then I don't see how encapsulating would be bad or cause issues in the future since you would technically be sealing that moisture off in a sense. I'm no expert though which is why I'd check with people first before just willy nilly doing something. I probably do need more insulation in my attic as well but I think you can rent the blower machines and blow in the insulation yourselves.

I'm also wanting my first floor to be warm in the winter so I can sit on it if I want or that I can have a warmer floor in general which is why I'm lookin for a better insulation for my crawl space. I need new siding and windows but all in due time...Only have so much money.

I think I need my house wrapped as well as I only have the fiber board on the outisde of my house.

In any case thanks for the reply.

[bcp (Premo)]

dont insulate.
put a moister barrier down on the ground, maybe cover it with pea gravel or something to hold it firm.
dont put insulation up against the floor area of the house. If the house can "breath" from the floor up, you will end up with a mold problem over time.

[GRN96WS6]

I don't see how not insulating will make my first floor less cold if I only put plastic over the ground. Every crawlspace I've seen is insulated.

[solidsison]

If you encapsulate it with spray foam you will only need to do it once. Check out Sprayfoam.com and you can learn about enveloping your house. The stack effect starts in your crawlspace so I would address that almost instantly. It will give you the most noticable difference, especially since we are almost into the hot season. Foam is more expensive but among too many drawbacks to list, the most important is the fact that fiberglass causes mesothelioma like asbestos. Naysayers can try to call my bluff but I'm sure asbestos was fine and dandy at one point too. The internet has an ocean of info about it, and while your're researching take a look at the billion dollar industry that asbestos abatement has created that may soon be our fate with fiberglass. I sent you a PM by the way.

[KellyG]

Have you thought about encapsulating your crawlspace? go to Advanced Building Solutions of Southern Maryland and look at their site. Its a true and final fix to your crawlspace problems