My Floors Over Top of My Crawlspace are Cold

My Floors Over Top of My Crawlspace are Cold

When it comes to insulation, what kinds of things do you wonder about? One of your most significant investments is your home, so it needs to be comfortable throughout the year. Your home can benefit from proper insulation. By insulating your home, you'll be able to reduce your heating and cooling costs while improving interior comfort.  

Insulation keeps internal temperatures comfortable when the outside temperature is unbearably hot or cold. We rely on furnaces and air conditioners to heat and cool the indoors. Still, insulation also plays a significant role-by impeding heat flow. Insulation keeps heat inside during the winter. Additionally, insulation reduces the cost of heating and cooling a building. These are the factors which many people consider while getting insulation.  

How can I insulate the floors over my crawlspace?

Cold floors can impact a household's quality of life. Even when residents wear socks, these floors can feel cold underfoot, and they cause a drafty, chilly climate on the first floor.

A crawl space is notorious for causing cold floors above as the cold climate below continues to chill them.

Traditionally, cold floors over crawl spaces have been treated by insulating the floor joists (the crawl space ceiling). As a result, the floor is protected from the chill of the space below. 

The type of insulation you need for your crawlspace depends on its location. In the case of a crawl space that overhangs your house, you have two options:

  • You can insulate the underside of the floor. 
  • You can build an enclosure of walls, install a vapour barrier onto the floor and ensure the insulation on the walls ties into the vapour on all edges. 

A vapour barrier prevents moisture from passing through. A sound vapour barrier and a well-sealed home can prevent condensation on your walls.

To make the right decision, it is crucial to know the following: 

  • The source of heat in your house
  • If there is any underfloor plumbing

This guide will help you get a clean, dry, healthy space underneath your home and a more comfortable living space that's easier to keep cool in summer and warm in winter. 

Fix leaks and Seepages First

Ensure downspouts are extended and gutters are cleaned and maintained. The soil around the foundation is regraded so that runoff water from the roof and gutters flows away from the foundation. A sump pump and drainage system might be required to solve some groundwater problems.  

Ensure Vents are Sealed

Make sure that crawl space vent covers are installed outside the vent openings of encapsulated crawl spaces. Foam sealant should seal the gap between the top of the crawl space wall and the sill between the rim joists. Make sure the crawl space door is sealed tightly with heavy-duty weatherstripping. Install a maintenance-free, airtight door if the existing one leaks or deteriorates. 

Water-Resistant Insulation for Crawl Space Walls

Insulate the walls of the crawl space, not the ceiling. Crawl space insulation should resist water and moisture damage, including foam board insulation. Crawl spaces should not be insulated with fibreglass or cellulose.

Under the vapour barrier, a crawl space repair professional can add foam insulation to reduce heat loss. 

Use a Vapour Barrier to Isolate the House from the Earth

A vapour barrier should be installed to isolate the crawl space from the earth. Crawl space encapsulation solutions should include a durable barrier that can withstand foot traffic, moving of storage items, etc. Choose a crawl space encapsulation solution if you plan to use the crawl space for storage.  

Hire Reitzel Insulation

It's not just about insulating your house; it's about how you insulate it.

It can become challenging to stay within your budget when building or renovating your home. However, an important thing to remember is to get the job done right the first time. The installation of insulation and vapour barriers can be challenging. Spending more money to fix problems down the road is not worth cutting corners now. Reitzel Insulation provides professional insulation and vapour barriers. Call us today, and we will help you to ensure your project is completed right the first time!

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