Anybody had any experience retro-conditioning a crawl space. Meaning adding climate control to a fifty year old house over a half basement, half crawl space. I’ve been to buildingscience.com and read Joe Ls articles. This is something I want to do to our recently purchased home.
The far end of the duct work barely heats the MBR, and the floors are all cold and drafty. I dont know yet what my capacity is on the exsisting furnace, and what kind of footage I’m adding, but I do have the opportunity to use a wood stove in the basement area to help heat the crawl.
Seems like a good idea. Means moving a water heater (gas) about a foot to access the thimble for the stove. Something I can do.
Any advice??
Replies
Greetings jr,
This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.
Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.
Cheers
"being human is a complicated proposition"-DavidxDoud
---Never show a fool a half finished job---Grampsy
I feel like a bunny in a hillbilly meadow at noon..........jjwalters
I'm looking at getting a crawl done with 2" of spray foam on the walls and rim joists. First, they run 10mil poly over the crawl, and 6-12" up the walls and piers, then spray the walls, and tape the piers.
HVAC needs to supply 50cfm/1000sq'of crawl of conditioned air. Apparently, no return is needed.
Seems to run $1.50 sq' with either the 2" ridgid foam, or spray foam...I'm thinking the spray will make for a tighter job, though.
When insulating the crawlspace walls, what are you doing about termite inspection? Leaving an uninsulated band?
I have a call in about the termite inspection slot. With ridgid, there's a 2" band left out at the top of the foundation walls. I'll let you know when I find out. "But to be honest some folks here have been pushing the envelope quite a bit with their unnecessary use if swear words. They just put a character in to replace a letter. But everyone knows what they're saying." Sancho
Apparently the sprayer is able to leave a 2 1/2-3" gap at the top of the wall. "But to be honest some folks here have been pushing the envelope quite a bit with their unnecessary use if swear words. They just put a character in to replace a letter. But everyone knows what they're saying." Sancho
I'm a little unsure about the advisability of having a wood stove and a gas water heater in close proximity....
True, that seems a little counter-intuitive. The crawl space is just so cold and drafty, it really makes the floor above very cold. And we're in a moderate climate! (NC) I.ve blocked the vents for the season, but as I explore options about tightening up the foundation I came across the idea of conditioning the crawl space.
I like the idea of spray foam insulation, but I can supply the labor to install rigid.
Where in NC? I'm in Chapel Hill. I can get R-5 ridgid from Chandler for $35 for a 4x8 sheet...no matter how I add it up, I don't save more than a couple hundred dollars by doing it myself...to me, it's worth way more than 200 bucks to have some one else condition a crawl<G>besides, when it was all done, it would inevitably cost me more than twice as much...LOL "But to be honest some folks here have been pushing the envelope quite a bit with their unnecessary use if swear words. They just put a character in to replace a letter. But everyone knows what they're saying." Sancho
I'm 30 mi N of Greensboro. Do you have any water issues; ie leaks, condensation, groundwater seepage?? Can I isolate a sump pump 'outside' of the barrier (underneath) and still service it?
I have foundation leaks in very wet weather. My exterior grade is higher than the crawl floor. I dont know if water proofing exists outside or not. Doesnt seem to. I wind up with a fairly steady flow, which a previous owner has channelled to collect and pump out.
Are you hiring out the spray job? What kind of pricing can I figure? etc, etc
I see your $/ft now. Got it
Edited 1/29/2007 3:26 pm ET by jr14
Check out this site:http://www.sealection500.com/dem/s500/index.phpThey've got a contractor locator. Probably could tell you about the water issues. "But to be honest some folks here have been pushing the envelope quite a bit with their unnecessary use if swear words. They just put a character in to replace a letter. But everyone knows what they're saying." Sancho
Thanks for your input, I see I've got some homework to do.
Hey, us North Carolina hacks gotta help each other out<G>. I'd be interested to know how you work this out, so keep the curious posted! "But to be honest some folks here have been pushing the envelope quite a bit with their unnecessary use if swear words. They just put a character in to replace a letter. But everyone knows what they're saying." Sancho
that's pretty interesting. Is there an installation contractor around here? Got any numbers on the price?
Hey Matt,Allied Spray Foams in Holly Springs. Cost is approximately $1.50/sq' of 1st floor space. "But to be honest some folks here have been pushing the envelope quite a bit with their unnecessary use if swear words. They just put a character in to replace a letter. But everyone knows what they're saying." Sancho
That is definately local.... I live about 5 miles from Holly Springs. Is that 1.50 a sq ft for 3.5" thick or what?
Matt, if you're asking about the crawl space, it's approximately 2" thick.Hey, big game today...Go Heels<G> "But to be honest some folks here have been pushing the envelope quite a bit with their unnecessary use if swear words. They just put a character in to replace a letter. But everyone knows what they're saying." Sancho
>>but I do have the opportunity to use a wood stove in the basement area to help heat the crawl.
>>Seems like a good idea. Means moving a water heater (gas) about a foot to access the thimble for the stove. Something I can do.
You shouldn't vent wood burning and gas (or oil) appliances into the same flue
I believe one reason is that the intermixed chemicals can cause serious deterioration of flue liners, including clay
With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise Him in the midst of the throng. For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save them from those who would condemn them to death.
- Psalms 109:30-31