"Should I perform crawl space encapsulation under my sunroom? My front room on my home was a separate sunroom addition but we closed it in and added HVAC and now it is open to the rest of the living space. The crawl space under that room doesn’t really connect to the main space. I’m thinking to insulate and put a moisture barrier down. As well as add vents; making this its own area that is separate from the main crawl space. Will this be okay and am I on the right thought track? Thank you." - Michele Czarnecki, Trevor, WI Michele that is a great question. Many homeowners will convert an open deck or sunroom to a conditioned space to add more living space. Most fail to recognize the crawl space will need attention as well, so great job recognizing this up front. I would recommend you perform a full encapsulation of the sunroom crawl space just like the living space. If you do not, the temperature of that room may be different than the rest of the home. Many times sunrooms are poorly insulated already, so you will want to insulate the sunroom crawl space in the same way. I would do foundation wall insulation to meet code in your area, as well as air seal major penetrations in the sub-floor with spray foam. You could also add sub-floor insulation as some extra protection from the elements since you live in Wisconsin. Making sure you properly insulate the crawl space during encapsulation will keep the sunroom more comfortable. Crawl space ventilation with encapsulation is key to removing soil gases and odors from the crawl space. Here are some options to connect your sunroom to the rest of the crawl space to make sure it is properly ventilated. Crawl space dehumidification with encapsulation is a similar approach as ventilation. Typically the ventilation will carry dry air to or from the sunroom's crawl space depending on the setup you choose. We recommend installing the dehumidifier in the main crawl space and ducting dry air into the sunroom. If you do this, ventilation options 1 and 2 above would be the best choice. If you cannot properly share air between the two crawl spaces then you will need a dehumidifier for each area. Drop us a line today for a quote! Install the crawl space vapor barrier the exact same way in the sunroom as you do in the main crawl space. This will ensure any moisture building up in the foundation walls and the soil are being held back and the dehumidifier can work more efficiently. Controlling humidity in the sunroom is as important as the living space. The crawl space plastic and proper dehumidification are needed to accomplish this. Do you need help with controlling humidity in your home and you live in Alabama, Georgia, Delaware, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, or South Carolina? If so, please contact us to schedule your assessment. Also, let us know in the comments below if you'd like to suggest a future blog post. Perhaps you'd like to tackle your own crawl space repair. Visit our DIY Store. Contact us if you need help fixing your crawl space, basement, or yard drainage by clicking here. Learn about Crawl Space Ninja Franchise opportunities.
Crawl Space Encapsulation Under Sunroom
Insulating the Encapsulated Sunroom
Ventilating the Encapsulated Sunroom
Dehumidifying the Encapsulated Sunroom
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Sunroom Vapor Barrier
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