Your Ally In Construction

Crawl space insulation is something that you will always want to remain on top of. If your crawl space is not properly insulated, you won't be able to control your energy costs. You also won't be able to protect your crawl space from moisture and pests. However, old methods of insulating a crawl space are often not enough. 

Why Outdated Crawlspace Insulation Methods Are a Bad Idea

You will need to hire crawl space insulation services to make sure that you use the right method of insulating your crawlspace. For example, you will not want to simply staple fiberglass batts because this method is outdated. The fiberglass will become soggy and will eventually fall. 

Instead, the inside walls of the crawlspace need to be covered in foam. You will need to have a plastic vapor barrier placed on the floor. Both these components of your crawl space insulation should then be joined with airtight tape. Rim joists should also be sealed so that you can close off a major area where air can infiltrate and where your home can experience conductive heat loss.

Energy Efficiency

You will not want to cut your crawlspace off from the upper area of your home, but will instead want to cut the crawlspace off from the outside. To do this, you will need to use insulation that has the right R-value. This determines the extent to where your insulation will be able to prevent heat from entering and escaping your home. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation will be at keeping your crawl space energy-efficient and comfortable.

Insulation and Encapsulation

For the best results, you can both insulate and encapsulate the crawlspace. You are best off having your insulation installed while you are having your crawlspace encapsulated. Then you won't have to worry about the insulation absorbing moisture and losing its R-value. You also won't have to worry about it falling out of place.

Insulation Replacement

If you already have insulation in your crawlspace, you may need to have it replaced if it is outdated. You will especially need to have it replaced if the insulation is damp or dangling. If your home was built all the way back in the eighties, the insulation might not be following the modern standards for insulation and you may have little or no insulation left. Therefore, it's a good idea to talk to a crawl space insulation service right away.

For more information about crawl space insulation, contact an insulation expert in your area.