If your home has a crawl space foundation and you have cold floors in your home during the winter months, it can be a sign of improper crawl space insulation. Another sign is musty odors coming up from below your home, which can mean mold and mildew growth. It’s important to make sure that your crawl space is properly insulated, as it is a gateway for much of the air in your home. In the winter, a poorly insulated crawl space can lead to higher energy bills from overheating due to drafty cold air coming up from below. In the spring and summer months, a lack of adequate insulation can let in pollen and other allergens as well. If you experience any of these problems, it may be time to consider getting new insulation in your crawl space.
Insulating your crawl space can be done in several different ways. The traditional approach is to install fiberglass insulation in between the floor joists. There are positives and negatives to this approach. However, most crawl space experts no longer recommend using fiberglass insulation for a few reasons.
Instead, we like to stop the thermal exchange at its source by insulating the crawl space walls. Crawl Space Brothers does this by applying closed-cell spray foam to the perimeter crawl space walls. This insulation has twice the insulating value as the traditional fiberglass. It also hardens and becomes a moisture barrier for the wall and even provides added structural integrity to the brick or block!
Fiberglass insulation is usually installed between the exposed joists in the crawl space, and while it can work for a few years, it is not a long-term insulation solution. Fiberglass batting can easily come loose and begin falling from the joists. And where it does remain in place can become an issue as well in the long term as fiberglass insulation absorbs and holds moisture, and where the batting is pressed against the wood, it can share that moisture with the wood and weaken it to termites and wood-eating bugs who like soft wood. All that wet insulation is a breeding ground for mold and mildew as well, and insulation makes an enticing nest for pests and animals.
Mice love old insulation, and the fluffy fiberglass makes a great nesting place for snakes, squirrels, and spiders. Once pests and critters are in your crawl space, they’re only one step away from your living space, so keeping them out of your crawl space is extremely important. Mold and mildew growth can create serious issues if left unchecked, there can be mold spores in the air you breathe, causing health problems for you or your family, and mold can eat away at the structural wood under your home.
Spray foam insulation is considered one of the best forms of insulation for crawl spaces today. Instead of insulating the space between the floor and crawl space, we insulate the walls of your crawl space with spray foam. Your crawl space is an extension of your home, and using this method protects both the crawl space and the space above it.
Spray foam is water-resistant and mold-resistant. It expands when applied to fill any spaces or gaps that normal fiberglass insulation can’t cover. It fills any nooks and crannies along the crawl space wall preventing drafts and making it highly efficient. It also helps to seal off your crawl space and is an excellent step towards encapsulating your crawl space.
Spray foam insulation can prevent pollen from entering the air in your crawl space and makes your HVAC more efficient as there is less outside air getting in through cracks and openings. A well-insulated and conditioned crawl space can save homeowners anywhere from 15 – 20% in energy savings over a harsh winter. And spray foam lasts up to 80+ years! So it is a one-time solution for your crawl space.
Closed-cell spray foam is clean, efficient, and we believe the best way to insulate your crawl space!
While we consider spray foam insulation to be the best for your crawl space, the installation process for it isn’t something that lends itself to DIY. If you’re interested in having spray foam insulation installed in your home’s crawl space, call Crawl Space Brothers. Our team of trained technicians are experts when it comes to installing spray foam insulation safely and properly.
Call us today to get a free inspection and learn more about the many benefits of spray foam insulation!
If you have a damp, musty crawl space, reach out to our office today! We offer free inspections at all our locations including Charlotte NC, Nashville TN, Washington DC, Arlington VA, and Laurel MD. Our crawl space repair experts will help you to discover what is wrong with your crawl space. Whether you need mold removal, crawl space repair services, a dehumidifier, or crawl space encapsulation, our team of friendly, experienced technicians can solution your crawl space issue quickly and affordably.
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