Real Estate Homeowner's Tips: Historic Homes Are Sustainable Homes Part 4. In Part 1 of this series there was a video which showed behind the scenes of an energy audit. Part 2 dealt with roofs and attics. Part 3 dealt with walls and windows. Now we will talk about crawlspaces and floor joists.
Vents open or closed. Crawlspace vents allow air to flow under the house to reduce moisture. To improve the air flow landscaping and hedges should be trimmed back or removed. Vents should be open in the summer and closed in the winter. If you can not remember or easily access the vents to open / close them then the best plan is to leave them open.
Invite insulation to the party. The floor joist cavities filled with insulation to prevent heat loss through the floor. Look for batts of insulation that are drooping down from the floor. These should be pushed back into the joist cavity and resupported. For fiberglass insulation to perform at its best you should not compress or over stuff it into spaces. For wiring and plumbing that may cross the joist you should split the batts of insulation so you do not compress it.
What about the water? Any water or moisture entering the crawlspace can cause mold, fungus and mildew to grow. Leaks that you may have from your plumbing should be repaired as soon as possible. Vapor barriers should be in place covering at least 90% of the bare ground. If water is entering through the foundation wall you should try to reroute storm runoff by grading or moving downspouts.
Real Estate Homeowner's Tips: Historic Homes Are Sustainable Homes Part 4. Crawlspaces and floor joists are usually not too difficult to work in. This may be a good DIY project to tackle. Remember that some projects are best left to the professionals to plan and complete. I am an amateur handyman by necessity so please consult a professional if you have questions. There are good resources on Preservation North Carolina's website or a real estate agent can suggest someone to you.
(Donnie Worley is a licensed REALTOR® with RE/MAX Real Estate Service. He is a husband and father living in Sanford, NC and serves Lee, Harnett, Chatham and Moore counties. If you have any questions or comments send them to donnieworley@ymail.com or call/text 919-478-4967)
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