Insulating a New Home in Surry, VA

Challenge

 A construction company reached out to us on their client’s behalf to insulate the home they were building. The homeowner was looking for options that made the home energy efficient.

Solution

In the exterior walls, we first applied a half-inch of closed-cell spray foam to air seal the wall cavities. Then we installed cellulose insulation to fill the cavities. This offers a higher R-value than using batt insulation and has the added benefit of air sealing.

In the Attic, we netted and dense-packed the rafters. If the homeowner is not finishing the space during construction, they can later finish the space over the dense-packed rafters. In smaller attic spaces such as the room over the garage or spaces that were not intended to be used for storage or finished, we installed an R-38 of blown-in cellulose. Along with the air sealing, this solution allows the homeowners to keep the air they pay to heat and cool inside the home longer and protects the home from radiant heat from the attic in the summer and heat loss in the winter.

In the crawl space, we installed a 20-mil CleanSpace Vapor Barrier. The liner is durable enough to withstand service persons working and crawling in the space and is resistant to rips and tears. The vapor barrier is attached and sealed to the crawl space walls, all seams are sealed, and all piers are wrapped and sealed. This isolates the crawl space from the earth’s moisture, which can result in high humidity leading to mold and mildew growth.

Next, we air sealed the crawl space by insulating the rim and band, sealing the sill plate, and any utility penetrations from outside through the foundation walls. This prevents air carrying moisture from flooding into the space and raising the relative humidity.

We then applied an R-10 of closed-cell spray foam to the crawl space walls extending the thermal barrier of the home to the floor of the crawl space. A 2-inch viewing strip is left at the top of the crawl space walls, allowing for termite inspections. The closed-cell spray foam offers an air barrier and vapor retarder at 1.5 inches further protecting the home from future moisture damage.

These solutions will help the homeowners protect their home from uneven temperatures, heat loss, and high energy bills. They will be able to enjoy their new space and stay comfortable in the home year-round without incurring high energy bills, cold floors, or poor indoor air quality.