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Originally Posted On: https://www.raleighcrawlspacerepair-csn.com/crawl-space-insulation-raleigh-nc

We get a lot of questions about our crawl space insulation service in Raleigh, NC, and what to answer the five most common questions for you to understand this service better.

• WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CRAWL SPACE INSULATION?

  The primary purpose of insulating a crawl space is to lower your energy cost. The insulation helps prevent large temperature fluctuations between the air in the area under your home and the living space. The amount of energy saving is determined by the R-Value and type of insulation installed. Ensure that the insulation installed in a crawl space is resistant to water and high humidity.

• WHAT IS THE BEST INSULATION TO USE IN A CRAWL SPACE?

  When considering which type of insulation is best for your crawl space, there are a few factors to consider. The first thing you want to ensure is that the insulation is moisture-proof. Fiberglass insulation is cheap but will not hold up in a non-encapsulated crawl space. Spray foam will hold up, but if not mixed ideally onsite, you can have a dead fish smell throughout your home and be exposed to dangerous VOCs.

   

  Ridgid foam board, either EPS or XPS, is the best choice as it is cost-effective, waterproof, and releases no odor or VOCs.

• WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INSULATING A CRAWL SPACE?

  Well-insulated crawl spaces have numerous benefits, such as lowering the cost to cool and heat your home, preventing condensation from forming on metal and wood framing, and acting as a noise dampener.

• IS INSTALLING CRAWL SPACE INSULATION WORTH THE INVESTMENT?

  A well-insulated crawl space is worth the investment as it will reduce the money you spend to heat and cool your home all year. Crawl space insulation will also help prevent condensation on the floor joist, support beams, and the subfloor. It will not stop the damage alone but will help lessen the severity of moisture damage in your crawl space. Ensure to insulate the area under your home with moisture-resistant insulation like EPS or XPS rigid foam board.

• WHAT PROBLEMS CAN BE CAUSED BY NOT INSULATING A CRAWL SPACE?

  If you do not have your crawl space insulated, you will likely pay much higher energy bills each month. Your floors may also be much colder to walk on. If you live where the temperature is below freezing, you risk water damage from a frozen and burst pipe. Not insulating your crawl space can also cause condensation issues allowing for mold growth and wood rot

• HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO INSULATE A CRAWL SPACE?

  HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO INSULATE A CRAWL SPACE?

  Insulating a crawl space varies for a few reasons. But on average, it takes 1-2 days for a typical crawl space to be insulated. Below are a few things that affect the installation time frame.

  • The size of the crawl space
  • If old insulation must be removed
  • If mold remediation is required
  • The type of insulation
  • The location of the insulation

• OUR PROCESS: CRAWL SPACE INSULATION INSTALLATION IN RALEIGH, NC

  Below we will break down our process for installing insulation in a typical crawl space here in Raleigh, NC. If you still have questions, please reach out to us so we can answer them.

  • STEP 1 – MEASURE THE CRAWL SPACE

    The crawl space length, width, and height must be calculated to determine the labor required to remove any damaged insulation and how long it will take to install new insulation.

  • STEP 2 – DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF INSULATION NEEDED

    The measurements need to be calculated to determine the amount of insulation that needs to be installed to provide maximum energy efficiency.

  • STEP 3 – DETERMINE THE LOCATION OF THE INSULATION

    Removing old insulation between the floor joist doesn’t always mean that new insulation should be installed in the same spot. A type of rigid foam board, such as XPS or EPS, installed on the exterior walls is a better investment and will hold up to the humid conditions in a crawl space.

  • STEP 4 – DETERMINE THE TYPE OF INSULATION NEEDED

    Regarding the insulation in your crawl space holding up to water damage and high humidity levels, batt insulation installed under the subfloor is one of the worst choices. A much better choice is XPS or EPS rigid foam board fastened to the foundation walls. Depending if you have a closed or open crawl space will play a vital role in which type of insulation is recommended.

  • STEP 5 – REMOVAL OLD INSULATION

    Most crawl space fiberglass insulation located in a vented crawl space has lost its insulation efficiency, known as the R-value. To make matters worse, these damp crawl spaces allow mold to grow, and the insulation becomes contaminated with mold spores and should be removed and replaced before installing new insulation in the crawl space.

  • STEP 6 – INSTALL NEW INSULATION

    Whether your crawl space is insulated on the subfloor or the foundation walls, it is a relatively straightforward process. The insulation should be completed in 1-2 days. Depending on how much insulation is installed and how much space there is to move around.