Basements & Crawl Spaces

Basements

Due to being below grade, basements naturally are cold and damp. In addition to this natural feature, uninsulated box sills in basements can make the space feel even colder.

Box sills are located where the ceiling joists (those that support the first floor of the house) meet the exterior walls of the home. This tends to be one of the thinnest areas of the house. In addition, any heat that is in the basement rises to the ceiling and is the lost through this area that does not have insulation and likely has air leaks.

We recommend using spray foam insulation to insulate and air seal this area. Fiberglass batts can also be installed, but will not provide the air sealing benefits of foam.

Crawl Spaces

Crawl spaces can create headaches for homeowners. A crawl space is susceptible to moisture and deterioration problems. Because the soil has high humidity, a crawl space naturally becomes damp, as the crawl space is in direct contact with the soil. Damp environments are unhealthy, harboring mold and creating an ideal living space for pests.

This damp space is not isolated to the area below your home. Since the natural airflow of a home is from bottom to top (ground to sky), the moist air (and everything in it) flows up and into the living areas of the home as your home naturally breathes.

A typical crawl space is insulated using spray foam or fiberglass batts. Plastic sheeting may be placed on the crawl space floor and sealed to the walls.