CLOSED CELL
FIBERGLASS BATTS
- 29910 - Bluffton Location: (843)732-8234
Home > Crawl Space Insulation
Closed cell insulation is a high-density waterproof foam. When installed, the foam is sprayed and adheres directly to the subfloor with no gaps or cracks. The lack of easy access points for bugs and rodents makes it so any animal which wants in must chew their way through. Closed-cell foam is a hard material, so while a motivated rat could chew through just about any material, it certainly isn’t as easy as making a home in fiberglass insulation. Anyone who spends any amount of time in a crawl space will tell you it isn’t uncommon to find mice burrowed between the subfloor and batt insulation.
Unlike traditional insulation methods, which are held in place by friction, hangers, or wiring, closed cell adheres directly to the subfloor and has a life expectancy of 80+ years. You won’t need to worry about looking in your crawl space just to find half of your insulation laying on the ground. Spray foam will not fall to the ground!
Closed cell insulation is an obvious winner when it comes to efficiency and overall effectiveness as an insulator. With an R-value of 6.5-7, it provides excellent resistance to conductive heat flow. When taken out of lab environments with the addition of moisture the performance value is actually much greater than the r-value demonstrates. With the ability to stop water vapor/moisture, airflow, and excellent conductive insulation properties it is an incredible product.
In Southern states, fiberglass is often damp on the top as dew point is acheived with relatileyly low temperature delta due to high humidity levels in the crawl space and cool, dry air in the home. (Temperature delta – the value that indicates the difference between two measured temperatures.) Fiberglass also absorbs water, where as closed cell is waterproof. This is extremely helpful if you have hardwood floors in your home preventing them from swelling. Closed-cell spray foam insulation is also an air barrier, preventing drafts and keeping in regulated temperatures. This key benefit prevents mold growth because temperature control cuts down on humidity, which spawns mold. Closed cell foam is also an inorganic material which can not be digested by mold.
Closed cell foam when installed on roof decks has been scientifically proven to increase uplift resistance by over 200%. When installed in walls it can increase a home’s resistance to racking by over 300%! Now we know this is a crawl space and not your roof deck but there is absolutely no drawback to making the subfloor of your home much much stronger!
6.5 – 7
2.5 – 3.5
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We service Hilton Head SC, Bluffton SC, Savannah GA, and the surrounding areas. One of our most frequently requested services is spray foam for crawl spaces! Our company offers free consultations and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Open-cell insulation should NOT be used in a crawl space. Closed-cell insulation is the only spray foam that should be used in crawl spaces or other high moisture areas because of its characteristics.
In most cases we recommend 2″ of closed-cell insulation in crawl spaces. Closed-cell is very efficient and you quickly reach a point of diminishing returns. There may be instances where we install more than 2″ but that is generally the amount we target for crawl spaces.
Fiberglass insulation should be removed and replaced with closed-cell insulation. The huge benefit of closed-cell insulation is its ability to stick to surfaces such as your subfloor and expand filling all gaps and holes creating an air-tight barrier.
Spray foam insulation for crawl spaces is generally at least twice as expensive as fiberglass batts but there are benefits that come with spray foam that you do not get with batt insulation! For example, it creates an air-tight seal improving your energy bill and comfort along with keeping out the air from your crawl space which may include radon gas and other smells. Spray foam can reduce the number of bugs because it completely seals all the gaps and holes in your subfloor. Spray foam also doesn’t fall down like fiberglass insulation so you won’t have to worry about missing insulation under your home.
The two materials considered the best for crawl space insulation are fiberglass and closed-cell. So in all cases is closed cell better than fiberglass? To understand why the answer is yes, let’s talk about the conditions of a crawl space and why insulation choice is important for your home. Due to the nature of a vented crawl space, it is prone to high moisture and humidity levels. This can lead to perfect conditions for bugs, rodents, and even fungi such as mold. Radon gas is another consideration and is the breakdown of naturally-occurring radioactive elements (such as uranium and thorium) in soils and rocks.
If you aren’t sealing the space with an air barrier your crawl space will be venting into your living space through the gaps in your subfloor, plumbing fixture holes, and other areas. Closed cell foam is an air-tight vapor barrier that completely seals off the crawl space. It also sticks to the subfloor so you don’t have to worry about spray foam falling on the ground like fiberglass. For these reasons, we can answer with a resounding yes that spray foam is the best choice for a crawl space!
You can also give us a call at (843)732-8234
You can also give us a call!