Reducing Drafts, Cold Floors, and Making a Bathroom Warmer in Westfield, MA
Challenge
These home owners in Westfield, MA called us to see if we could help them with a problem they were having in the home. The problem was that they had cold floors and their bathroom was freezing cold! When our building science specialist started to do his inspection, he found a large crawlspace in the basement. Crawlspaces can be a very hostile environment by being very cold in the winter and very hot and humid in the summer. This space was also right above the bathroom that these home owners were concerned about.
Solution
To fix this problem, we have to encapsulate the crawlspace! First we clean out the area and get rid of all the debris. Then we start by laying our drain mat out. This will let any humidity collect and properly evaporate. Then we put down our terra-block insulation board. This is for some much needed R-value. Finally we lay out our cleanspace 20 mil thick vapor barrier. This will be the last defense against anything the would effect this space once we have completed it. Then we spray the rim joist to make this space completely air tight. Now that we have finished, this area will no longer be a concern to these home owners ever again!
