Crawlspace Insulation vs Crawl Space Encapsulation
Being in a notoriously humid climate so close to the ocean, Mobile experiences heat and humidity for the better part of the year. Air conditioning is a necessity to live comfortably indoors, and you want to do everything you can to keep the cool, air-conditioned air inside your home. If your crawlspace isn’t properly encapsulated, warm, wet air could be seeping in from beneath your house. At MDH Foundation Repair, we’re familiar with crawlspace issues, and we have the experience and skill to properly encapsulate your crawlspace to preserve the indoor air quality in your home. Call our team in Mobile for crawlspace insulation, encapsulation, issues and repairs.
Properly encapsulating your crawlspace area can help maintain the comfort of your living space as well as lower your energy bills. When hot, humid air is kept outside where it belongs, your air conditioning system will expend less energy keeping your home cool and comfortable.
Don’t Insulate, Encapsulate!
Thinking about insulating your crawl space? In the parts of the country that experience the cold weather of the winter months, insulating the crawl space is an acceptable method for creating the needed thermal barrier to help keep the home warm. However, being in a notoriously humid climate so close to the ocean, Mobile experiences heat and humidity for the better part of the year. Air conditioning is a necessity to live comfortably indoors, and you want to do everything you can to keep the cool, air-conditioned air inside your home.
This being said, unfortunately with cool air inside the home and hot, humid air beneath the home, your home’s floor joist and wood subfloors experience the “ice tea” affect, meaning water will condensate within the crawl space. Over time, this moisture in the wood will lead to rot and decay. If left unchecked, this will lead to structural integrity issue with home. Your home will literally rot out from beneath you without you being aware of it until it is usually too late! To get a team to encapsulate your crawlspace in Mobile, don’t hesitate to call us.
With this in mind, MDH Foundation Repair does not support or install crawl space insulation, either in batt or spray form. In fact, we actually prefer to work with homeowners to remove crawl space insulation for the following reasons:
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Insulation holds moisture, increasing the likelihood of floor joist and sub-floor rot
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Insulation can mask serious structural issues
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In some cases, termite companies will not bond homes that have spray foam insulation due to the fact that spray foam provides ease of tunneling for termites
The best solution for our humid climate along the Gulf Coast? MDH Foundation Repair specializes in a permanent solution, one that provides proper water mitigation and structural longevity of the home. Instead of insulation, the MDH Crawl Space Encapsulation Solution not only prevents water and moisture from entering the crawl space, but properly extrudes moisture from the home. For more information on insulating your crawl space in Mobile or encapsulation give us a call.
In addition, our system provides the right level of moisture prevention into the home. Our 20 mil barrier is more than enough in this regard. Thicker barriers are not needed. You do not need the thermal barrier in our area that is rated for a higher R factor. Our winters do not get cold enough where that would be needed.
Concrete & Crawlspace Repair
MDH is your go-to solution for many home and concrete problems and concrete repair in the Pensacola area. With both preventative and repair options, we can help you keep your home safe and comfortable.