What is the best method for insulating a crawlspace ceiling?
I have a vacation home in upstate NY, that has fiberglass batts in between the crawlspace ceiling joists. I want to remove the fiberglass and replace it with something less rodent friendly. The crawlspace floor and walls are encapsulated and the space is dry. Any suggestions?
Also should I spray foam the rim joist area?
Asked by David Jackson
Posted Tue, 01/29/2013 - 08:45
Edited Tue, 01/29/2013 - 09:49
Posted Tue, 01/29/2013 - 08:45
Edited Tue, 01/29/2013 - 09:49
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David,
If the crawl space walls are insulated, and there are no open vents, then there is no need for any insulation in the crawl space ceiling. For more information, see Building an Unvented Crawl Space.
If you prefer to have a vented crawl space, or a crawl space with uninuslated walls, you can insulate the crawl space ceiling. As you guessed, fiberglass batts won't work. Remove the fiberglass batts and put them in a dumpster.
Then install at least one continuous layer of 2-inch polyisocyanurate under the bottom of the floor joists. (Two layers of two inch foam, installed with staggered seams, is even better.) Foil-faced polyiso is the easiest type of rigid foam to tape.
Tape the polyiso seams carefully with a high-quality tape, and seal the perimeter of the ceiling with canned spray foam or European tape.
(The rim joist areas should have been insulated and air sealed before the ceiling was installed.)
Posted Tue, 01/29/2013 - 09:39
Martin,
The crawlspace has four Anderson® windows, which I can seal with tape or caulk.
The walls have 2" SilverGlo™, (which is an expanded polystyrene foam insulation that's been infused with graphite to improve its insular ability by 24%.) Screwed and glued to the poured foundation wall. All seams are taped and covered with vapor barrier up to the rim joist.
The rim joist areas are insulated with fiberglass and it is in need of replacing.
We have radiant heating in the ceiling of the crawlspace(floor of the living area).
Posted Tue, 01/29/2013 - 10:20
David,
You'll need to air seal and insulate your rim joists with spray foam or rigid foam insulation.
Because of the hydronic heating pipes in your crawl space ceiling, you should install insulation at the ceiling level as I recommended.
Here's a blog that contains a warning -- why you want to do a good job at the rim joists: Lessons Learned the Hard Way.
Posted Tue, 01/29/2013 - 10:27