How To Insulate The Floor Of Your Crawl Space
No insulation on the ceiling of the crawl space.
How to insulate the floor of your crawl space. This type of insulation allows for conditioned air to be introduced into the crawl space. If the crawl space is ventilated which is ideal because it aids in the elimination of moisture then fiberglass insulation can be easily installed under the subfloor between the floor joists. Install an air and vapor barrier over the floor and tape it to the insulation. Fiberglass insulation batts or rolls are the most economical and easiest diy choice for insulating between the floor joist in a crawl space.
Department of energy recommends r 11 3 insulation under floors in warm climates and an r 25 6 to 8 in cold climates. In a cold climate the most efficient technique is to insulate the walls of your crawl space and close it off from the elements by sealing all air leaks. My house has an x board support in the floor joists for support. Pairing silverglo with our terrablock padded floor insulation will keep out all outdoor air so your crawl space can stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
That way plumbing pipes and hvac ducts are protected from freezing temps helping to conserve energy. Instead a better method is the multi pronged approach of insulating the inside walls of the crawl space with rigid foam laying down a plastic vapor barrier over the dirt floor then joining the two items with tape. John a cervo january 5 2018 at 8 08 am. Only use mold resistant waterproof insulation such as ridge board spray foam and cellulose instead of fiberglass.
Cover the walls with insulation from the sill plate to the plastic covered dirt floor. Use caulk or foam sealant to seal the joint between the top of the crawl space wall and the sill. The sill plate is the first piece of framing lumber and it runs on top of the crawl space wall. It is my understanding the insulation goes on the walls of the crawl space as well as the floor of crawl space.
It is important to secure insulation and cover it with a vapor barrier in order to prevent moisture and the mold that often follows close behind. The best method is to insulate crawlspace walls with rigid insulation. However the insulation needs to be treated with a fire retardant. The idea is to condition the crawl space much in the same way that you might condition other parts of your home.