Basement & Crawl Space Insulation in Erie, PA

Basement and crawl space insulation targets the bottom of the house, where cold air gets in. The rim joist, the band of framing resting on the foundation, runs around the whole house and is usually bare on the inside. The joint between the sill and the foundation is rarely sealed. In winter, cold air enters along that whole perimeter, chills the floor above and helps pull warm air out through the attic.

Rim joists

Closed-cell spray foam on the rim seals every gap around joists, wires and pipes and insulates in one step. At normal thickness it keeps damp basement air from reaching cold wood. HomeGuide lists a rim joist foam job at $2,000 to $2,500. For many Erie homes it is the single best value in insulation.

Block and poured walls

The Insulation Institute's summary of Pennsylvania's code lists R-19 or R-15 continuous for basement walls in Zone 5. If you plan to finish the basement, insulating the walls before framing is much easier. Closed-cell foam or rigid board against the concrete keeps indoor moisture off the cold wall. Foam is not waterproofing; walls that leak need drainage work first.

Crawl spaces

Many Erie-area homes have crawl spaces under additions, porches converted to rooms, or the whole house. Vented crawl spaces under a snowbelt house get very cold, freeze pipes and make floors uncomfortable. One approach is to seal the vents, put a vapor barrier on the ground and insulate the walls with closed-cell foam, bringing the crawl space inside the warm envelope. Pennsylvania's code summary lists R-19 or R-15 continuous for crawl space walls. The other approach is to insulate the floor above, with R-30 listed for floors. We explain which fits your house.

What we check first

Standing water, damp soil, efflorescence on block, mold on joists and pest activity. If water is the real problem, we tell you, because foam over a wet wall is a waste of money.