Easy Process Of Sealing A Crawl Space Door
There are numerous ways when it comes to insulating or sealing crawlspace openings. A crawlspace is a gap betwixt the house and the ground. Crawlspaces permit access to electricity, plumbing, as well as heating systems. Crawlspaces can be a burden to a homeowner, due to the reason that they are generally not properly sealed or insulated, which in turn means you are ineffectively heating or cooling your home. Crawlspaces can also permit insects an easy access point. The easy step by step process mentioned-below will help you how to seal crawlspaces, irrespective of whether they are inside or outside and made of gravel or concrete.
Things You Will Need
- Spray Foam
- Measuring Tape
- Caulk
- Insulation
- Weather-stripping
- Flashlight
- Scissors
- Plastic Sheeting
Step 1: Locate Potential Leaks
First of all, you need to find out any leaks before using expanding spray foam in order to seal a gravel crawlspace. Track down or detect the access point to the crawlspace. Test closely both inside as well as outside for holes or other entrances. You may need to enter the crawlspace, therefore, it is important to take a flashlight with you. Entirely dependent on your crawlspace's location, you may also need to dig around the foundation in order to look for any outside leaks.
Step 2: Seal The Leaks
You need to take care & pay full attention towards pipes, tubing, as well as ductwork, due to the fact that all of these offer access for insects. The points in the crawlspace where wires are threaded are not clear, self-evident, or apparent. Even these little holes are a problem. Seal all of these areas with the help of caulk, before further securing the area using expandable foam. Use the same method on the outside of the home.
Step 3: Secure The Door
The majority of the crawlspaces have one or more doors that are generally flimsy. If you have a thick door, then you need to use weather-stripping around the edges on both sides. If the door is old or flimsy, then it is important to replace it using thicker wood or even metal. The doors are very easy to build out of plywood as well as some hinges.
Step 4: Add Plastic Sheeting And Insulation
If your crawlspace's floor or walls are composed of soil or gravel, then a vapor barrier is a must. The plastic will safeguard the home from moisture, burrowing animals, as well as insects. It also minimizes the chances of mold as well as mildew forming, as you are removing moisture and airflow. Drag your plastic sheet down to the crawlspace before unrolling it. You need to ensure that the entire floor of the crawlspace is covered & keep the plastic in place by using heavy rocks, bricks, or metal hooks. You can cut the plastic sheeting if you want, however, it is not necessary. With the plastic sheeting in place, you can calculate or compute the space and cut the insulation to size. Cut the insulation in pieces before assembling the pieces of insulation in the crawlspace in order to further insulate the space from the elements as well as insects.