Basement, Rim Joist & Crawl Space Insulation in Kalamazoo, MI

Basement, rim joist and crawl space insulation deals with the part of the house that most people never look at. Cold outside air leaks in at the rim joist, the band of framing sitting on top of the foundation, and spreads across the basement or crawl space. Bare concrete walls give heat away all winter. In a Kalamazoo house, that shows up as cold floors on the first level, a chilly finished basement and drafts at the baseboards.

The rim joist

The rim runs around the entire perimeter. It is usually bare wood or has a loose fiberglass batt stuffed against it, which does little to stop air. Closed-cell spray foam, two to three inches deep, sticks to the wood, seals every gap around sill plates, pipes and wires, and resists the moisture that condenses on cold surfaces. HomeGuide puts a typical rim joist foam job at about $2,000 to $2,500. If Consumers Energy is your utility, its current rebate chart lists $50 for insulating all accessible rim joist areas.

Basement walls before finishing

If you plan to finish a basement, insulate the concrete before the framing goes up. Warm, humid indoor air that reaches cold concrete condenses, and fiberglass batts pressed against a foundation wall are a common cause of musty basements. Closed-cell foam or foam board against the concrete keeps that air off the cold surface. The 2021 IECC lists R-15 continuous, R-19 in the cavity, or R-13 plus R-5 continuous for Zone 5 basement walls; your building department will confirm which code applies to your permit.

Crawl spaces

Some Kalamazoo-area homes and additions sit over crawl spaces, often vented, with fiberglass hanging loose from the floor joists. We usually recommend sealing the vents, laying a heavy vapor barrier over the ground, and insulating the crawl space walls with closed-cell foam, which turns the crawl into a cleaner, drier space and warms the floor above. HomeGuide lists closed-cell on crawl space walls at about $2 to $5 per square foot.

Water first

Insulation does not stop water. If the basement leaks after heavy rain, if the sump runs constantly or if efflorescence is spreading on the block, those problems need attention first. We point out what we see and keep foam away from walls that are actively wet.

Fire protection in basements

Foam in a basement generally has to be covered by a thermal barrier, such as drywall, when the space is finished, or by an approved coating in some unfinished spaces. We tell you what applies and include it in the estimate.

Call (269) 230-2389 or request an estimate, and we will look at your basement or crawl space. Get a free estimate