CrawlSpace.us

Crawl Space Encapsulation

A free easy to learn course- Learn the facts and avoid the noise

Instructions

By now you are probably asking yourself 'what is the REAL right way to fix a crawl space?' I am going to help you answer that question and I'm going to give you places to go on the internet that will help you not only understand it but be able to help others understand it as well. Instead of rewriting what is already out there I will attach links to the KEYWORD/PHRASE that will take you to a different website that has information about that KEYWORD/PHRASE. You will know there is a link attached to a word when the word is underlined. All words that are underlined will be links to a site about that subject. Each assignment will have a subject and links about that subject. Once you have visited that site and learned what is there return here for the next assignment. Please don't skip any of them or take them out of order because what you know about that subject might not be correct. Visit the links in order.  This site is for your benefit and the assignments are set up for you to learn quickly.
 Let's get started....

Assignment 1- Types of Crawl Spaces

First things first, I highly advise learning the difference between an open crawl space, a closed crawl space and a conditioned crawl space. This of course will help you understand better what all the advice actually means. After all you can't build a rocket if you don't know what a rocket is.

 

Assignment 2 - Mold & Radon- knowing what your up against

There is a lot of information on the net about Crawl Space Mold. Problem is, a lot of it has to do with selling you something rather than informing you. One thing you need to know, bleach should NOT be used to kill Mold. Mold needs an organic food source (came from something living) to grow, so it won't grow on concrete block unless you painted it with a latex paint. Latex is made from the rubber tree.

Radon is a very serious life threatening gas that can be in your home. I recommend testing for Radon before you make any decisions with improving your crawl space. Radon is not a problem that just goes away on its own.

 

Assignment 3- Water Problems- Determine if, and learn how to fix it

Crawl space water problems are not always easy to detect, unless of course you look in your crawl space and see water. The best time to check is in the rainy season while the ground is saturated. Don't just assume, water can come and go in a few days, weeks or months. Know what you are dealing with and where it is coming from so that you can fix the crawl space water problem right the first time. Most crawl spaces have water problems, 8 out of 10. Dry crawl space or swimming pool, your choice.

 

Assignment 4- Some Research

This might seem boring and tedious but it is necessary to know the right way from the wrong way. Having this part out of the way will help you understand and answer some of your own questions. I recommend starting with Building Science's report on conditioned crawl spaces. When you are done there, move on to a crawl space article that will help put together everything you have learned so far.

 

Assignment 5- Foundation Vents- Can you close them up?

The answer is yes! Take a look at this article about crawl space foundation vents, in it you will find the building code that describes your options on this most confusing subject. Eliminating the foundation vents does not mean the crawl space does not need ventilation. There are several ways to create circulation in your crawl space, the best being a conditioned crawl space.

Assignment 6- Crawl Space Insulation- How much, where and why

When it comes to crawl space insulation there is no one way that fits all homes. This, of course, makes it more difficult to get a simple answer on what and how to accomplish your goals. The best way to get a handle on this subject is to look at your crawl space as if it were a basement, the height is the only real difference.  Ask yourself, what do I want to accomplish? By far the biggest mistake made is to assume that insulation will make your crawl space warm, it of course does not. Your crawl space will get warm by only one of two ways, adding heat to the crawl space or losing heat from the home to the crawl space. Either way you are making the investment of heating the crawl space. So, let's look at how you can keep the heat inside your home where you want it. The major element to control heat loss is insulation, like in your living area the insulation is between the inside and the outside of your home. The crawl space, like a basement is inside your home and should be protected from the extreme elements of the outdoors. Once you are committed to protecting your crawl space from the outdoors instead of the home from the crawl space you are in a better position to accomplish your goals of energy savings. Your local energy codes and building codes will help guide you on what the regulations are concerning sufficient insulation. With that said, there are some other considerations that need to be made in order to guide you in the right direction.

• Rim joist area- R-19 or larger fiberglass
• Foundation- Block or Poured- Rigid foam for either or closed cell spray foam for block (spray foam only on concrete not wood area)
• Depth of crawl space- If less than 2' insulating will be difficult if not impossible
• Amount of foundation above grade- The area above grade is where most heat loss will occur
• Foundation Vents- Must be closed in order to heat this area

 

Assignment 7- Vapor Barriers- What will work? & Which will last?

It seems that most crawl space companies are anti-6 Mil plastic for a crawl space. This is mostly due to the completion with the ease of getting a 6 Mil plastic from a local hardware store. So, will a 6 Mil get the job done? Yes, it will. The thing to remember is no matter what plastic you use the amount of work is the same. A 6 Mil plastic from the hardware store will not hold up well to traffic from regular home maintenance and has a history of degrading within a few years. The other consideration is cheap plastic is cheap because it is made from recycled material. This can be a good thing in a lot of different products but not for a ground vapor barrier. By being made from recycled plastic it caused it to break down faster and become brittle. When this happens your crawl space will need attention again and most likely the process will need to be repeated. After the first time you fix your crawl space your thoughts most likely will be 'I don't want to ever do this again'. Most products that are "cheap" will need to be replaced again and again, from windows to roofing and faucets to flooring. Think about the last time you bought a cheap "fill in the blank", was it worth it? A superior crawl space vapor barrier like the DrySpace™ brand will last at least 25 years and put your crawl space headache to bed. There is some products on the market that present themselves as a crawl space vapor barrier but are only a thick "6 Mil" or a white tarp. Keep a lookout for the terms "woven", "material", "nonwoven" and "fabric".

 

Crawl Space Encapsulation