GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Breezeway floor insulation

kevinkeegan | Posted in GBA Pro Help on

Climate zone 4. I have a small addition and I need to insulate a portion of the floor in this addition. I consider this construction a sort of breezeway since on one side of the addition  is supported by the house foundation and on the other side is a separate foundation wall just to carry the framing for this addition, so it is open at both ends allowing one to walk directly under it. So it is this portion of exposed floor that I need to insulate. The framing bays are about 8 inches in depth and I have access to the framing bays from the exterior side. I was considering gluing foam board to the floor sheathing and seal around the perimeter any gaps with can foam, then have the insulation Contractor spray open cell spray foam over the foam board to give enough thickness to meet code compliance which I believe is R19.  I really want to make sure this floor assembly is well air sealed so I’m wondering if I should eliminate the foam board and use a few inches of closed cell foam. Or should I fill the framing cavity with open cell only? Should the R value in this case be higher then R 19 due to the exposure, which would primarily be wind blowing across the  exposed underside.  I was thinking I should install  a foam board over the  face of the bottom of the joists to help with thermal bridging. Does the face of the insulation in the framing cavity have to be in contact with the  back of the finished material I use to close up the exterior side of the floor?
Thank you   PS there are no mechanicals in this floor assembly.

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |