Insulating Pier And Beam Floor

If you want to insulate a floor assembly by leaving the joist bays empty and installing rigid foam on the underside of the joists here are a few things to keep in mind.

Insulating pier and beam floor.

Homes built on pier and beam foundations can be relocated if necessary. Sharing my technique how i insulate my cabin floors and keep them rodent free. Alternatively you could fill the cavity completely using r 38 faced batt insulation. According to the 2012 irc the minimum r value for floor assemblies is r 13 in zones 1 and 2 r 19 in zones 3 and 4 r 30 in zones 5 and 6 and r 38 in zones 7 and 9.

These stiff boards are placed close together on top of the floor joists. The air space above the 9 1 2 inch insulation in the 12 inch joist cavity will help provide a warm floor inside the cabin. Cons of pier and beam foundations. Some homeowners prefer the feel of the wood platform over a concrete floor.

A pier and beam home built on top of sturdy supports typically has an open crawl space between the floor of the house and the earth. There s also an extra bit of insulation from the air under the home saving you on energy costs. Adding insulation mitigates the problem but there are some considerations to keep in mind. An uninsulated floor allows heat to escape making the house less energy efficient.

It will provide additional insulating value for not too much more than what would be invested in the r30 insulation.