Keep Insulation From Falling Down In Crawl Space

Tips on How To Keep Insulation From Falling Down In The Crawl Space

Your crawl space is the area of your home that requires insulation to seal out moisture, heat, and ac leaks. When it fails to stay intact, it can lead to a soggy, nasty mess that allows mold to colonize on the wood under your house. Further down the road, mold and radon can infest your crawl space and lead to health problems. Prevent these problems upfront by keeping your insulation from falling into the crawl space. Read below for tips to prevent falling insulation. 

Choose the Correct Type

Avoid fiberglass insulation since it is fragile with the tensile strength of a spiderweb. This itchy substance that looks like a cloud resists moisture absorption but allows water to sit. Instead, consider these forms:

• • Encapsulation seals out all the moisture in a crawl space and prevents radon buildup. This form will stay intact for as long as 15 years. 
  • If you are on a budget, rigid foam boards are predictable and will remain in place as long as they are properly placed between the floorboards. The best rigid foam boards for a crawl space are polyisocyanurate.
  • Spray foam insulation prevents the growth of mold and bacteria. This material stays intact and is inexpensive. 

Ensure It Is Correctly Installed

Incorrect installation can cause your insulation to fall and become damaged. Make sure you have the proper plan to keep it in place. 

• • For encapsulation, make sure you hire a highly-rated contractor in your area. Do they specialize in encapsulation? Atlantic Foundation does and is listed on the Better Business Bureau.  
  • Spray foam is environmentally friendly. For spray foam, DIY application is not recommended. Keep hot objects away from the foam insulation when set for material longevity.
  • For rigid foam boards, make sure you purchase a high-quality foam board. The R-value is a term used to rate boards per inch. Every inch of thickness a board must have an R-value of 3.5 to 6. Having floorboards will help the foam to stay in place. 

Don’t be caught off guard. Fallen insulation leads to the growth of unsightly spores. Your family’s health is at stake. If you notice that your floor is damp or cold, consider checking your crawl space to see what is going on. If you have the fiberglass type, consider having it switched out for foam spray, foam boards, or encapsulation.

Encapsulation offers you a long-term foolproof solution to keeping your crawl space sealed. If you are interested in encapsulation or other crawl space solutions call Atlantic Foundation.

Sources:

What You Should Know About Spray Foam Insulation – Paragon Protection (paragon-protection.com)
Your Quick Guide to Insulating Crawl Space (Project Primer) – Bob Vila
Crawl Space Insulation Problems: Watch Out for These 6 Issues (retrofoamofmichigan.com)
What Is the R-Value of Foam Board Insulation? (With Chart) – Attainable Home
What is the Best Crawl Space Insulation? (Spray Foam vs Fiberglass) (retrofoamofmichigan.com)