"cece e." wrote on 11 Jul
2006:

I was going to insulated my crawl space
with fiberglass insulation but a man from the big orange box
told me that for a crawl space I could use (i forgot the exact
name) styrofoam and glue it to the walls and it would have an
R10 rating (or something like that). What did he mean and is
styrofoam just as effective as insulation (in Colorado) for
keeping the heat in?

We're talking two different strategies for insulating a crawl space
here, I believe. You intended to put fiberglas batts between the
floor joists, and he wants you to insulate the walls of the
crawlspace.

The difference is how the crawlspace functions. In your system, it
stays close to the temperature (and humidity) of the outside air.
You open the small vent windows in the summer and block them off in
the winter. In his system, the crawlspace is insulated space --
warmer in the winter and colder in the summer. The crawlspace
isn't ventilated at all in any season.

So it seems to me you and he are talking apples and oranges. Both
methods are routinely used these days. You might want to talk to
your local utility and get their recommendation for what works well
in your area -- and, if you seal the crawlspace, how to deal with
heating equipment in the crawlspace (needs an intake air duct for
combustion air).


--
Doug Boulter

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