PNWpro
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I completely agree! But many folks don't like basements. Window wells are pretty much a no go in many parts of Alaska. Spring in my neighborhood means feet of slush on top of still frozen earth with nowhere for the melt to drain, often for weeks. This limits the usability of the space. A very popular design here is the split entry with 4' of masonry on a slab.
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I agree that applying heat to a crawlspace, be it a small boiler zone or an electric baseboard, can improve durability and performance, especially when combined with controlling humidity. There's some lively debate about crawlspace ventilation in this area, as over ventilation can contribute to frozen pipes and high heating bills, and ventilation during the wet/humid months can contribute to mold. I prefer treating the crawlspace like a "mini basement" with a tight ground vapor barrier, good insulation and a small heat source as well as a ventilation fan on a dehumidistat. Really can't go wrong with this method. That failed remediation situation sounds like a nightmare!
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Agreed. I typically recommend 4" of EPS/XPS or 3" of spray urethane. I've seen FG with detailed 6mil in each bay, but what a pain in the butt to seal all those joist bays.
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Jim, we insulate our foundations to compensate for the lack of depth. Basically trying to keep a "bubble" of earth below the home from freezing. We'll install rigid foam insulation at footer depth (typically 4'-8' deep for residential construction). The rigid foam is installed horizontally extending 2'-4' wider than the foundation, and 4" thick or more. ICF's are common. As far as protecting water lines from freezing the rule of thumb in my area is 10' deep for fresh water supply lines.
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Hi all, new member here. I'm in a cold climate (-2 outside as I type this, -30 earlier this month). Over the years (inspecting for 12 years in AK) I've come across frost behind fiberglass insulation in crawlspace rim joist bays many many times. It's a very common thing. My recommendations typically include better detailing of the ground vapor barrier (GVB) to reduce humidity as well as upgrading rim insulation to spray urethane or well detailed rigid foam. Always checking for low perm covering on exterior to make sure we're not trapping moisture. I'm curious if any other cold climate folks out there can share their experiences with frosty rim joists. Looking forward to being a part of this community. Looks like some great discussions going on here. Cheers.
