Services for new and existing crawlspaces.
Services for new and existing crawlspaces.
With some notable contingencies, spray foam is easily the most performant and flexible insulation system on the market today. It provides superior thermal performance, reduces energy bills, and improves indoor air quality by preventing air infiltration and moisture intrusion. Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) forms as an exothermic chemical reaction between a polyol resin and a reactant and rapidly expands to fill whatever substrate its sprayed against. This conformance factor creates an airtight seal to eliminate drafts. Spray foam comes in various formulations (density, yield, water-resistance) that are specifically tailored to different residential, commercial and industrial use cases.
Vapor Barriers
The first line of defense in moisture-mitigation, crawlspace vapor barriers also massively reduce the intrusion of harmful radon gases. Available in thicknesses of 6 to 90mil, every crawl liner and vapor barrier we install is cross-woven and reinforced to prevent tears and abrasions that occur from regularly servicing mechanicals, electrical or plumbing located in the crawlspace.
Foundation Insulation
In the typical 'crawlspace encapsulation', the insulation envelope of the house is extended around the entire foundation perimeter walls and sealed against the installed vapor barrier. Spray foam, rigid insulation boards and reflective insulated tarps are commonly used to insulate the walls and seal rim joists, eliminating a vector for pest/rodent infiltration.
Subfloor Insulation
In houses where outside air ventilation is absolute required, where no mechanicals are present in the crawl, or where budget is the primary concern, insulation is installed directly underneath the subfloor of the house. This is a quick and easy way to boost energy performance, but won't be sufficient if moisture management is required.
Dehumidifiers
Paired with encapsulated or 'sealed' crawlspaces, dehumidifiers within a crawlspace are an absolute no-brainer and are often the single greatest deterrent of mold growth.
Drainage
On elevations where the water table is shallow, some crawlspaces necessitate aggressive drainage tactics, such as perimeter drains and sump pumps. In rare cases, we will re-grade the crawlspace to create a 'slope' where water can properly drain into an installed pump system.
Mold Mitigation
Whether the steps are preventative or remedial, mold growth needs to be avoided at all costs to preserve the integrity of the floor and foundation system. We utilize fungicidal sprays and grit blasting to remove and prevent further spore growth.