If you have or will have an unventilated crawl space, then your best approach is to seal and insulate the foundation walls rather than the subfloor. The advantages of insulating the crawl space are as follows: * You can avoid the problems associated with ventilating a crawl space. * Less insulation is required (around 400 [...]
Posts Tagged ‘insulation’
Crawl Space Insulation
If you properly insulate your crawl space—in addition to air sealing and controlling moisture, you will save on energy costs and increase your home’s comfort. Before insulating or deciding whether to add insulation to your crawl space, first see our information about adding insulation to an existing house or selecting insulation for new home construction [...]
Homes built using an insulating concrete form (ICF) system have the insulation built into the walls
Insulating Concrete Forms Homes built using an insulating concrete form (ICF) system literally have the insulation built into the walls as part of the structure. This system creates walls that have a high thermal resistance, with R-values typically above R-17. Even though ICF homes are constructed using concrete, they look just like traditional stick-built homes. [...]
Types of Foam Board
The most common types of materials used in making foam board include polystyrene, polyisocyanurate or polyiso, and polyurethane. Molded Expanded Polystyrene Foam Board Molded expanded polystyrene (MEPS) is a closed-cell material that can be molded into many everyday items, such as coffee cups and shipping materials, or into large sheets of foam board insulation. MEPS [...]
Proper installation of foam board insulation
The maximum performance of foam board insulation depends heavily on proper installation. Therefore, it’s best to have a certified insulation installer do it. If you’d like to have it installed professionally, you should do the following: * Obtain written cost estimates from several contractors for the R-value you need. Don’t be surprised to find quoted [...]
Foam Board Insulation
Foam boards—rigid panels of insulation—can be used to insulate almost any part of your home, from the roof down to the foundation. They provide good thermal resistance and often add structural strength to your home. Foam board insulation sheathing reduces heat conduction through structural elements, like wood and steel studs. Source: EERE, U.S. Department of [...]
Install Concrete block insulation
Concrete block insulation is typically installed for new home construction or in homes undergoing major renovation. Since installation involves masonry skills, it’s best to have a certified cement mason do it. When using masonry blocks for a foundation wall, filling the block cores with high-pressure foam works better than most poured-in insulations, like polystyrene beads [...]
Foundation Installation Cost and Performance
Although you can achieve considerable savings in space conditioning costs by insulating the foundation, the installation costs can become relatively high, especially for retrofit projects. The type of materials used, the application method, and the extent of work all affect the overall cost. Simple payback is typically in the range of 6 months for a [...]
Foundation Insulation
A properly insulated foundation can result in lower heating costs and more comfortable below-grade rooms, if you have any. It can also help prevent moisture problems, insect infestation, and radon infiltration in your home. In the United States, the most common types of foundations include the following: * Basements * Crawl spaces * Slab-on-grade floors. [...]
Insulating Floors over Unheated Garages
Insulating any floors above your unheated garage will help reduce the energy costs for the above conditioned space. Before insulating or deciding whether to add insulation to these floors, first see our information about adding insulation to an existing house or selecting insulation for new home construction if you haven’t already. Insulation Techniques When insulating [...]