R19 / vaper barrier / non-vented crawls pace dripping wet insulation

1dumbquestion · 08-30-2012, 10:11 PM

I have a 1950's ranch that I hung R19 under the floor a few months ago, I laid a vapor barrier at the same time. I just went under to cover a strip of ground I knew I'd left last time when I ran out of vapor barrier and found that there is standing water in many places and the insulation is wet with periodic dripping thought the space. The foundation does not have any vents. What did I do wrong? What do I do now? Thanks, 1

jklingel · 08-31-2012, 02:50 AM

Your ground vapor barrier should be goo'd to the walls and it should be taped or goo'd so as to not allow vapor through any seams. I would never use fiberglass (it sounds like that is what you did) but would either spray foam the ENTIRE floor/floor joist system with closed cell foam, or install rigid foam on the bottoms of the floor joists. (Tape and goo the foam joints). Read on buildingscience.com too. BTW: With any batt insulation in your situation the joists tend to be warmish except at the outer, exposed edge. That can cause condensation there, and rotting. That may be part of the problem.

joecaption · 08-31-2012, 09:19 AM

Do you have working gutters, no grades running toward the foundation, no mulch piled up againt the foundation, no flower beds forming ponds around the foundation.?
Do you have a french drain?
Sump pump?

Windows on Wash · 08-31-2012, 11:06 AM

+1 to both comments from JK and Joe.

Is there bulk moisture getting in and are the crawlspace stem walls covered with a vapor barrier and air sealed. If not, you will continue to get condensation.

If the grading and bulk moisture is not an issue, I recommend going with a sealed and insulated crawl.

1dumbquestion · 08-31-2012, 11:21 AM

Thanks for the advice. I have a new roof/guttter/drywells and it's been dry around here since I installed the insullation/barrier a couple months ago so I don't think water is sneaking in the area. To make matters worse I'm selling the home and have an inspection scheduled for Tuesday. I just made a call to a crawlspace/insulation company to see how to proceed as I really don't have the time to try to do it myself. Thanks, 1

08-30-2012, 10:11 PM	#1
1dumbquestion Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 60	R19 / vaper barrier / non-vented crawls pace dripping wet insulation I have a 1950's ranch that I hung R19 under the floor a few months ago, I laid a vapor barrier at the same time. I just went under to cover a strip of ground I knew I'd left last time when I ran out of vapor barrier and found that there is standing water in many places and the insulation is wet with periodic dripping thought the space. The foundation does not have any vents. What did I do wrong? What do I do now? Thanks, 1

08-31-2012, 02:50 AM	#2
jklingel Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Fairbanks, AK Posts: 1,747	R19 / vaper barrier / non-vented crawls pace dripping wet insulation Your ground vapor barrier should be goo'd to the walls and it should be taped or goo'd so as to not allow vapor through any seams. I would never use fiberglass (it sounds like that is what you did) but would either spray foam the ENTIRE floor/floor joist system with closed cell foam, or install rigid foam on the bottoms of the floor joists. (Tape and goo the foam joints). Read on buildingscience.com too. BTW: With any batt insulation in your situation the joists tend to be warmish except at the outer, exposed edge. That can cause condensation there, and rotting. That may be part of the problem.

08-31-2012, 09:19 AM	#3
joecaption Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Hartfield VA Posts: 18,821	R19 / vaper barrier / non-vented crawls pace dripping wet insulation Do you have working gutters, no grades running toward the foundation, no mulch piled up againt the foundation, no flower beds forming ponds around the foundation.? Do you have a french drain? Sump pump?

08-31-2012, 11:06 AM	#4
Windows on Wash Exterior Construction Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: VA, MD, DC Posts: 3,846	R19 / vaper barrier / non-vented crawls pace dripping wet insulation +1 to both comments from JK and Joe. Is there bulk moisture getting in and are the crawlspace stem walls covered with a vapor barrier and air sealed. If not, you will continue to get condensation. If the grading and bulk moisture is not an issue, I recommend going with a sealed and insulated crawl. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-31-2012, 11:21 AM	#5
1dumbquestion Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 60	R19 / vaper barrier / non-vented crawls pace dripping wet insulation Thanks for the advice. I have a new roof/guttter/drywells and it's been dry around here since I installed the insullation/barrier a couple months ago so I don't think water is sneaking in the area. To make matters worse I'm selling the home and have an inspection scheduled for Tuesday. I just made a call to a crawlspace/insulation company to see how to proceed as I really don't have the time to try to do it myself. Thanks, 1

R19 / vaper barrier / non-vented crawls pace dripping wet insulation