Crawl Space Encapsulation & Insulation in Cullman, AL

Crawl space encapsulation and insulation fixes two problems common in Cullman County homes: cold floors in winter and damp, musty crawl spaces in summer. A vented crawl space breathes outside air. In July that air is hot and humid and condenses on cool ducts and floor framing. In January it is cold and chills the floor. Either way the house pays.

Two ways to handle it

If the crawl space stays vented, the insulation belongs in the floor above. Alabama's code summary lists R-19 for floors in zone 3, and the Department of Energy suggests R-19 for an uninsulated floor. Batts often sag and fall in a damp crawl space; closed-cell foam on the underside of the subfloor holds up better.

If the crawl space is encapsulated, a heavy liner covers the ground and runs up the walls, the vents are sealed, and the walls are insulated instead. The code summary lists R-13, or R-5 continuous, for crawl space walls in zone 3. Closed-cell foam or rigid board does that. The space then needs some humidity control, usually a dehumidifier or a small conditioned-air supply.

Water first

Cullman's red clay and hilly lots can send water toward a foundation. If water stands in the crawl space after rain, gutters, grading or a drain need to come first. A liner over standing water just hides the problem.

Rim joists

The rim joist sits on top of the foundation wall around the whole house and is often bare or stuffed with a little fiberglass. Closed-cell foam sprayed 2 to 3 inches thick seals and insulates it in one pass. It is part of every encapsulation and a worthwhile job even when the crawl space stays vented.

Termites and inspection

Foam on foundation walls can hide termite tubes. We leave an inspection strip at the top of the wall and suggest you tell your pest control company about the work. Get a free estimate