On Apr 17, 8:15*am, Jim Elbrecht wrote:
aemeijers wrote:
On 4/16/2011 11:13 PM, wrote:
Hello all,

Looking for opinions on crawl space insulation. This is for an old
rent house on block and pad foundation. I am considering either R13 or
1 1/2" rigid foam (vapor barrier on one side and radiant barrier on
the other).

Fiber seems to have better cumulative R-value. However, I don't know
if bugs and crawlies nesting in it will be an issue. *I can get the 1
1/2 for about 10 dollars a piece. Fiber will let me do this
incrementally as time allows.

Trying to get a feel on what is the better option.

thanks
richard

Get it spray-foamed. You can probably take an energy credit (if I
understand the IRS page correctly), and you can depreciate it on your
taxes (schedule E) as a substantial improvement.

Second the spray foam. * *Your gain will be more noticeable in comfort
than $$ saved--- but if you're renting, keeping those tenants for a
second winter is a plus.

Fiberglass will last a couple years before critters make it useless.
Rigid foam *could* be done with a whole lot of crawling in the dirt
and sealing edges with great stuff. *[ideally the rigid stuff would be
placed between the joists with 1/2 dead air space between it and the
floor-- edges 'caulked' with expanding foam-- a foil sheet in there
would probably be a good idea, too.]

The spray foam will be most expensive-- but you can be doing something
more productive for the days you would have spent crawling in the
dirt. *

Jim

Thanks folks,

Foam seems to be the favorite for this application. Yes, my intent is
to keep a tenant as long as possible. Paying utility bills is another
burden/factor.

Will leaving a dead space not cause a problem with moisture
accumulation/condensation?

Again, thanks. Will go with foam.

richard