Insulating Floors?

[big rockpile]

Is there any problems I could run into insulating Floors in my Cabin?

big rockpile

[oneokie]

If you do not place a vapor barrier against the underside of the sub floor/flooring, the floor could rot out.

[uncle Will in In.]

You could get stuck in the crawl space. Play it safe. Tie a rope around your neck so Tina can pull you out with the truck.

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by uncle Will in In.

You could get stuck in the crawl space. Play it safe. Tie a rope around your neck so Tina can pull you out with the truck.

Well I was going to have her do it so tied the rope around her neck?

big rockpile

[Micheal]

I know when I helped in insulating my father's cabin we didn't have any problems doing it, but later had to go back and install 1/2"x1/2" screen only to keep the mice out of the insulation...... Seems like it made the ideal place for them to nest.

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by Micheal

I know when I helped in insulating my father's cabin we didn't have any problems doing it, but later had to go back and install 1/2"x1/2" screen only to keep the mice out of the insulation...... Seems like it made the ideal place for them to nest.

Yea I was wondering about the Mice.But Decon and Traps should take care of this.

big rockpile

[agmantoo]

Rock,
Does the cabin have a masonry under penning? The recent approach and thinking is to seal/insulate the perimeter and to have a vapor barrier lying on the ground. This method is suppose to give better results year around. It protects the plumbing and avoids the moisture problem and insulates the floor.

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

Rock,
Does the cabin have a masonry under penning? The recent approach and thinking is to seal/insulate the perimeter and to have a vapor barrier lying on the ground. This method is suppose to give better results year around. It protects the plumbing and avoids the moisture problem and insulates the floor.

Well what we have now is all open and most the Plumbing will be on the inside.A vapor barrier lying on the ground might be the way to go once we get it closed in.

big rockpile

[Hooligan]

If use fiberglass batts the rodents will get in. The batts will sag over time.

If you can swing it sprayed foam is the way to go. My floor is insulated with fiberglass batts, over a plastic covered dirt crawspace. It really needs to be redone.

[Sawmill Jim]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

Rock,
Does the cabin have a masonry under penning? The recent approach and thinking is to seal/insulate the perimeter and to have a vapor barrier lying on the ground. This method is suppose to give better results year around. It protects the plumbing and avoids the moisture problem and insulates the floor.

Yep this is it best way to go

[Common Tator]

Originally Posted by uncle Will in In.

You could get stuck in the crawl space. Play it safe. Tie a rope around your neck so Tina can pull you out with the truck.

[Hooligan]

Originally Posted by Sawmill Jim

Yep this is it best way to go

Only if you are going to heat the crawlspace and only if perimeter skirting is very tight.

[Macybaby]

Batts between the joists do need to be supported. And stapling the paper up does not count.

We've pulled up floors that someone had put fiberglass batting in - don't know how many years ago but now it was just a wet yukky mess laying in the dirt (we don't have a crawl space, only inches between the dirt and joists.

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by Macybaby

Batts between the joists do need to be supported. And stapling the paper up does not count.

We've pulled up floors that someone had put fiberglass batting in - don't know how many years ago but now it was just a wet yukky mess laying in the dirt (we don't have a crawl space, only inches between the dirt and joists.

Thought about this was going to use Woven Wire to hold it up.

big rockpile

[crobar]

Please don't use fiberglass batts, chicken wire, support wires or not. I did it once, mice nests everywhere, dead mice, mouse droppings, it was sickening. I read also that someone had sprayed foam on bottom of floor & joists, covering the joists. In just a few years joists rotted out. I did perimeter insulation, it was great.

[mdharris68]

Originally Posted by crobar

Please don't use fiberglass batts, chicken wire, support wires or not. I did it once, mice nests everywhere, dead mice, mouse droppings, it was sickening. I read also that someone had sprayed foam on bottom of floor & joists, covering the joists. In just a few years joists rotted out. I did perimeter insulation, it was great.

Can you elaborate? Here is what I have in under one room in the house; 2ft crawl with brick foundation approx 20 inches thick. How would I insulate the brick? Could I use that 1/2 inch foil backed foam or batts hung from the floor above. Should paper face brick or vice-versa?

The reason I am asking is the first time I did it I stapled up bats with the paper facing down and draped it down over the foundation on each end as it came from the end of the bay . I wound up with moisture, and a cold floor above so I just tore it all down and left it lay.

[crobar]

Use foam board, blue or pink stuff it's waterproof. Anchor it to the foundation wall in some way, glue, concrete screws, or some firring system. I ran mine about 3" under dirt level up to joists. To do a complete job, insulate between joist against outside plate.

[KIT.S]

In Alaska we had insulation everywhere. When we got to Oregon we were shocked to be told NOT to insulate under the house: the big carpenter ants love insulation and it kept them from being seen, so when the house we bought was inspected, no notice was taken of them. Had expenses to get rid of them and get rid of the insulation so they wouldn't have a place to hide. We don't have that kind of bug in Alaska....

The inspector also missed termite evidence, as it was under a plastic barrier stapled to the underside of the subfloor rather than directly on the ground. Another inspector, later, said that inspectors don't move insulation or take down plastic barriers to look behind it.

I think I'd vote for a perimeter foam insulation, rather than insulation on the underside of the floor if you have potential bugs.
Kit

[Wendy]

Use foam board, blue or pink stuff it's waterproof. Anchor it to the foundation wall in some way, glue, concrete screws, or some firring system. I ran mine about 3" under dirt level up to joists. To do a complete job, insulate between joist against outside plate.

This is what we did on our addition.

[Hooligan]

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Thought about this was going to use Woven Wire to hold it up.

big rockpile

That's how mine was put in.

Still sags.