Photo: Jill Burrow

Should floor above crawlspace be insulated?

The U.S. Dept. of Energy currently suggests insulation with an R-value of at least R-9 in floors. So the answer to the question should a crawl space be insulated is yes, they most certainly should be.

cleanairdoctors.com - Should A Crawl Space Be Insulated - Clean Air Doctors

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Crawl Spaces are constructed as mini basements. However, they are becoming rare for new home construction in the USA and Canada. Crawl space is often damp, moldy, and inhabited with pests. It must be kept dry, safe from humidity, and tightly sealed to be pest-free. This will ensure durability and indoor air quality. Crawl spaces should have their floors uninsulated, ground fog and air sealed, walls insulated and air-conditioned with indoor air. You may find no insulation at all if your home is built before 1990. The U.S. Dept. of Energy currently suggests insulation with an R-value of at least R-9 in floors. So the answer to the question should a crawl space be insulated is yes, they most certainly should be. However, several things should be kept in mind. This article will provide you an insight into how to deal with moisture and heat loss. And what floor insulation is suitable for which climate conditions.

Floor Insulation for Moderate Climates

If your local winter temperature is seldom below freezing, you need not worry. The best solution is 6 inches thick, R-19 fiberglass batts installed between floor joists. It's easier on the pocket and long-lasting as well. It not only protects the floor but also prevents moisture and mold. Here’s what you need to do. Firstly, install fiberglass batts in such a way that they face the underside of the floor. Use wood lath after every 18 inches to provide the best support. Avoid stay rods, so they don’t lessen its insulation value.

Hire a Professional

Further, consult an insulation contractor to calculate the amount of ventilation your crawl space needs. Cut in new vents if needed. Seal the holes for electrical wiring and plumbing with spray foam. Make sure you insulate plumbing pipes and ducts to block heat loss and freezing. For thermal and moisture protection, use closed-cell spray foam. It’s a bit costly, but it is the only alternative to fill out space between truss-type joists. Avoid open-cell spray. Clean Air Doctors provide crawl space insulation in Chicago, IL. They have technicians trained to handle any Insulation project regardless of the temperature and Crawl space type. The professional contractors at Clean Air Doctors can help you determine which type of insulation is suitable for your home, and what R-factor will help you get the best results.

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Is it worth insulating between floor joists?

Generally speaking, you only need to insulate the ground floor. If you're on an upper floor, you don't usually need to insulate your floor space. However, you should consider insulating any floors that are above unheated spaces such as garages, as you could be losing a lot of heat through those.

energysavingtrust.org.uk - Floor insulation information and advice - Energy Saving Trust

Many homes – especially newer ones – will have a ground floor made of solid concrete. This can be insulated when it needs to be replaced, or can have rigid insulation laid on top. Older homes are most likely to have suspended timber floors. If you have air bricks or ventilation bricks on the outside wall(s) of your house that are below floor level, you probably have a suspended timber floor. Do NOT block up air bricks in your walls. They are needed to help ventilate the space under your floor and stop your floorboards rotting. If you have a basement or cellar beneath your house that you can get into safely, take a look down there to see what type of floor you have. If the floor is a suspended wooden floor, you will probably be able to see wooden joists and the undersides of the floorboards. If you don’t have access to the space underneath your house, you will need to lift a corner of the carpet and underlay to have a look. Timber floors can be insulated by lifting the floorboards and laying mineral wool insulation supported by netting between the joists. Insulating under the floorboards on the ground floor could save you about £110 (£90 in NI) a year in an average property, or up to £180 (£145 in NI) if you live in a detached house. Alternatively, a recent innovation involves a robot applying spray foam insulation to the underside of the floorboards, which would avoid the need to take them up altogether.