Chapter 6:                      Floors and Foundations

The importance of defining the thermal boundary at the build­ing’s lower reaches depends on how much of the building’s heat loss is moving through the foundation or floor. The building’s thermal boundary may not be obvious because of the lack of insulation at both the floor and the foundation. The building owner and energy auditor must choose where to insulate and air seal if these ECMs are cost-effective.

Either the first floor or the foundation wall is the thermal boundary. After choosing, air seal and insulate the chosen ther­mal boundary.

6.1   Thermal-Boundary Decisions: Floor or Foundation

The results of air-barrier tests can help in selecting the thermal boundary’s location. See Air Leakage Diagnostics

Moisture problems, the location of heating and cooling equip­ment, and the necessity of crawl-space venting are other import­ant considerations.

The tables presented next summarize the decision factors for choosing between the floor and the foundation wall as the air barrier. You may also encounter situations that aren’t addressed here.

When a home has a basement and crawl space connected, both TableTable 6-1:    and TableTable 6-2:    are relevant to the decision-making process of selecting the air barrier and site for insulation, if insulation is cost-effective. A basement may even be divided from its adjoining crawl space to enclose the basement within the thermal boundary and to place the crawl space outside the thermal boundary.

6.2   Air Sealing Foundations and Floors

The floor and foundation are complex structures that can be dif­ficult to air seal. This section describes the most problematic air leakage location in the floor and foundation, and how to seal them.

6.2.1   Garages Underneath Living Areas

Whenever a garage is in a subspace below living areas, the effec­tiveness of air sealing is essential for three objectives.

1.      Block air pollutants,

2.      Create a fire barrier,

3.      Save energy by separating the unconditioned garage from the building’s conditioned zones.

Air-sealing a garage area is straightforward although this task can consume a lot of materials.

•       For wood-frame structures, use fire-taped drywall throughout the surface area of the garage after sealing leaks in the floor above and the in the top plate of the walls.

•       For concrete and masonry structures, carefully seal cracks and penetrations with compatible materials such as mortar and caulk designed for masonry joints.

6.2.2   Plumbing Penetrations

Seal gaps with expanding foam or caulk. If the gap is too large, stuff it with fiberglass insulation, and spray foam over the top to seal the surface of the plug. To reduce potential radon migra­tion, it is critically important to seal all penetrations between the basement or crawlspace and the living area.

✓     Fit large openings with a rigid patch bedded in a sealant like latex caulk or foam tape, which isn’t an adhesive.

✓     Screw the patch in place, so that a plumber can remove the screws if necessary for access.

✓     Seal holes and gaps around pipes with expanding foam or caulk.

6.2.3   Stairways to Unconditioned Areas

A variety of stairways and hatchways provide access from the building to an unconditioned basement.

The following components of these stairways may need air seal­ing and insulation depending on whether they are at the thermal boundary.

•       The risers and treads of the stairways

•       The surrounding triangular walls

•       Vertical or horizontal doors or hatches

•       The framing and sheeting surrounding the doors or hatches

•       Sloping ceilings above the stairways

Consider the following air-sealing measures.

✓     Study the geometry of the stairway and decide where to establish the air barrier and install the insulation.

✓     Weatherstrip around doors and hatches if the door or hatch is at the thermal boundary.

✓     Seal the walls, stair-stringer space, and ceiling if they are at the thermal boundary.

✓     Seal gaps around door frame or hatch frame perimeters with one-part foam, two-part foam, or caulking.

6.2.4   Incomplete Finished Basements

Discontinuous wall segments can allow heated basement air to circumvent the finished and insulated wall, carrying heat with it. Complete the finished walls or at least install air barriers between finished living area and unconditioned area between the insulated wall and the foundation wall. Here are two sugges­tions.

✓     Bridge the gap with wood sheeting, bedded in sealant, and caulk the crack around four sides of this long narrow patch.

✓     Stuff the gap with pieces of fiberglass batt and spray two-part foam over the gap, at least an inch thick.

6.2.5   Cantilevered Floors

Floors that hang over their lower story are called cantilevered floors. The underside of the overhanging floor can leak consid­erably. Many balconies and bay windows have cantilevered floors that leak air into a building’s floor cavity. Follow these insulating procedures.

✓     Remove a piece of soffit under the overhanging floor to determine the condition of insulation and air barrier.

✓     Stuff the overhanging floor with fiberglass batts or blown fibrous insulation.

✓     Bed the sheeting underneath the overhanging floor in sealant where possible. Caulk joints and seams where the sheeting isn’t bedded in sealant.

✓     Seal any ducts you find in the cantilevered floor sections.

See also Installing Floor Insulation

6.3   Preparing for Foundation or Floor Insulation

Floor and foundation insulation can increase the likelihood of moisture problems. Installers should take all necessary steps to prevent moisture problems from ground moisture before install­ing insulation.

6.3.1   Rim-Joist Insulation and Air-Sealing

The rim-joist spaces at the perimeter of the floor are a major weak point in the air barrier and insulation. Insulating and air sealing both the rim joist and longitudinal box joist are appro­priate either as individual procedures or as part of floor or foun­dation insulation.

Air seal stud cavities in balloon-framed homes as a part of insu­lating the rim joist. Air seal other penetrations through the rim before insulating. Two-part spray foam is the most versatile air sealing and insulation system for the rim joist because spray foam air seals and insulates in one step.

Polystyrene or polyurethane rigid board insulation are also good for insulating and air sealing the rim joist area. When the rim joist runs parallel to the foundation wall, the cavity may be air sealed and insulated with methods similar to those as shown here.

If you leave the spray foam exposed, it should have a flame spread of 25 or less and be no more than 3.25 inches thick according to the IRC. In habitable spaces, cover all foam with a thermal barrier such as drywall or use an insulation product that doesn’t require a thermal barrier like mineral wool boards and foil-faced polyisocyanurate.

Don’t use fiberglass batts to insulate between rim joists because air can move around the fiberglass, causing condensation and encouraging mold on the cold rim joist. If you use foam to insu­late between the rim joists, use liquid foam sealant to seal around the edges of the rigid foam.

6.3.2   Installing Floor Insulation

Before installing floor insulation, make the following prepara­tions.

✓     Seal air leaks in the floor from the living space or the crawl space or basement, as opportunity allows.

✓     Seal and insulate ducts remaining in the crawl space or unconditioned basement.

✓     Identify electrical junction boxes, plumbing valves and drains before insulating and provide access to them.

✓     Insulate water lines in cold climates if they protrude below the insulation. Consider using heat tape(s) to keep pipes from freezing.

Blowing Floor Insulation

The best way to insulate a floor cavity is to completely fill each joist cavity with fiberglass insulation. Blowing fiberglass insula­tion is the easiest way to achieve complete coverage because the blown fiberglass is able to surround obstructions and penetra­tions better than fiberglass batts. Do not use blown cellulose because of its weight, moisture absorption, and tendency to set­tle. Follow these procedures.

✓     Cover the entire under-floor surface with a vapor perme­able supporting material such as: dust-free fabric insula­tion restraint or equivalent vapor-permeable and drain-able material.

✓     Use wood strips to support the flexible or semi-flexible support material unless that material with its fasteners can support the floor insulation without sagging.

✓     Install blown fiberglass insulation through V-shaped holes in the air barrier.

✓     Use a fill tube for installing the blown insulation. Insula­tion must travel no more than 12 inches from the end of the fill tube.

✓     Seal all penetrations in the air barrier with a tape, approved for sealing seams in the air-barrier material.

6.3.3   Installing Fiberglass Batt Floor Insulation

Observe these material and preparation specifications for insu­lating under floors.

✓     Choose unfaced batts for insulating floors.

✓     Seal all significant air leaks through the floor before insu­lating the floor, using strong airtight materials.

✓     Batt thickness must fill the complete depth of each cavity.

✓     Batts must be neatly installed, fitting tightly together at joints, fitting closely around obstructions, and filling all the space within the floor cavity.

✓     Crawl-space access doors, adjacent to a conditioned space, must be insulated to at least R-19 for horizontal openings and to at least R-15 for vertical openings.

✓     Crawl-space access doors, adjacent to a conditioned space, must be effectively weatherstripped.

Installation Specifications for Batts in Floor Cavities

Batt insulation, installed in floors, must be supported by twine, wire, wood lath or other suitable material that keeps the insula­tion touching the floor. Friction-fit fiberglass batts supported by self-supporting wire insulation supports aren’t good practice. Fasteners for floor insulation must resist gravity, the weight of insulation, and moisture condensation.

✓     Install batts in continuous contact with the subfloor.

✓     Cut the batts accurately and squarely. An electric carving knife is an excellent tool for this purpose.

Use one of the following four restrainer materials to keep the fiberglass batts in the floor cavity.

1.      Install standard wood lath (¹/₄ inch by 1 inch) or nomi­nal one-inch lumber. Install the lath or lumber perpen­dicular to joists 12 inches apart for joists on 24-inch centers and 18 inches apart for joists on 16-inch cen­ters.

2.      Install non-stretching polypropylene or polyester twine.

3.      Install copper or stainless steel wire with a minimum diameter of 0.04 inches or size 18 AWG.

4.      Install a rigid vapor-permeable air barrier, such as ply­wood.

Observe these requirements about installation and fasteners for the restrainers.

•       Fasten lath or a rigid barrier with screws, nails, or power-driven staples. The fastener should penetrate the joist ³/₄ inch or more.

•       Install twine or wire in a zig-zag pattern.

•       Install power-driven staples over the twine or wire 12 inches apart for joists on 24-inch centers and 18 inches apart for joists on 16-inch centers. The staples must pene­trate the wood joists by at least ⁵/₈ inch. Don’t hand staple the restrainer.

•       Post an insulation certificate, with insulation type and number of bags installed, installed thickness, coverage area, and insulation R-value, and signed by the installer, at elec­tric service panel.

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6.3.4   Crawl-Space Wall Insulation

Crawl-space foundation insulation is only worthwhile if you can seal the existing foundation vents. See Naturally Ventilated Crawl Spaces

Materials for Crawl-Space Insulation

Retrofit foundation insulation is usually installed on the inside of the foundation walls. Contractors undertake this retrofit for both energy savings and moisture control. Observe these insula­tion specifications for insulating foundation walls.

•       Any foam foundation-wall insulation should be labeled ASTM E84 or UL 723 with a flame spread of less than 25 and smoke developed value of less than 450.

•       Foam insulation must be protected by intumescent paint or another ignition barrier if not labeled ASTM E84 or UL 723.

•       Local building officials may approve other foam materials based on product labels such as NFPA 286, FM 4880, UL 1040, or UL 1715.

•       Unfaced mineral fiber insulation, greater than 5 pounds per cubic foot in density. Although expensive, mineral wool board is probably the best choice because it is vapor perme­able and non combustible.

•       Metal fasteners should carry a label of ASTM B 695 Class 55.

•       Post an insulation certificate, with insulation type and number of bags installed, installed thickness, coverage area, and insulation R-value, and signed by the installer, at elec­tric service panel.

The following insulation products may meet some of the below specifications.

•       Foil-faced polyisocyanurate

•       Expanded polystyrene foam board.

•       Two-part high-density spray polyurethane foam with fire-retardant specifications as listed above. See Fire Protection for Foam Insulation

•       Unfaced rock wool board or fiberglass board.

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Safety and Durability

Consider the following issues when insulating foundation walls.

✓     Secure outdoor access hatches to foundation walls. If the foundation walls are insulated, also insulate any crawl-space access hatch with foam to the same R-value of the foundation wall.

✓     Remove obstacles and debris from crawl space before ret­rofit.

✓     If an open-combustion appliance is located in a crawl space, verify that outdoor combustion air is available to the appliance.

✓     When insulating crawl-space walls, consult the local build­ing inspector about acceptable ventilation options if in doubt. See Crawl Space Ventilation

In regions affected by termites, carpenter ants, and similar insects consider these suggestions.

✓     Leave a termite-inspection zone between the foundation and the rim-joist insulation.

✓     Apply moisture control measures and insulation with the application insecticide or baiting.

✓     Consult with experts to ensure that the insulation, air seal­ing materials, and moisture barrier don’t provide a conduit for insects to infest the wood floor.

6.4   SWS Alignment