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Reflectix Insulation
Hey folks,
I'm considering insulating my floor joists with Reflectix (5/16" bubble wrap with aluminum foil on both sides). From what I've read it's supposed to work well at preventing moisture from rising into the home through a dirt crawlspace ... which is what I have. Additionally, it's supposed to insulate relatively well. I'm told I could simply cover the dirt with 6 to 10 Mil plastic however I like the idea of doing one thing Installing the Reflectix and getting two things back ... insulated floors and a vapor barrier.
Has any one had any experience with this stuff?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Rick
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Reflectix Insulation
Rick;
The moisture needs to move both directions. If you have a complete barrier on the floor boards you can have condensation water trapped against the floor. Sealing wood with a water tight barrier is always a problem.
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Reflectix Insulation
Reflectix is pretty good stuff. I used it under my heated concrete floor to reflect the heat up (see pic #5 of my pics). I also used it in addition to 4" thick insulation when insulating my barn. I had to slit the reflectix in that instance - to avoid a double vapor barier with the 4" insulation and the reflectix. I does a great job of "reflecting" the sun during the summer months, and also reflecting the heat in during the winter months. For comparison purposes, my 50 year old house (1200 sq. foot) costs more than 50% of what my 3200 sq' foot barn costs to heat, which has a 'leaky' overhead door (my barn is also my office - so it's the same temperatur of my house).
When I poured my foundation, I ran some tubing from my house through the foundation (heated pour). Where the tubing was exposed outside, I wrapped it in reflectix to prevent heat loss. When it snowed, the reflectix collected snow before the grass, even though there was tubing carrying 100 degree water inside of it!
Hope that helps.
Jason
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Reflectix Insulation
Thanks for the info folks.
I do have couple questions about the relectix for Peters or any one else who’d like to wade in. The reflectix isn't placed directly against the floor ... it's attached to the floor joists nearest the dirt crawl space, creating a dead air space. This is supposed to reflect radiant heat back up into the living area, simultaneously drying any moisture trapped in the dead air space ... at least that's how I read it.
Question 1.
Do you still have reservations about installing reflectix give this method of installation?
Question 2
Any other ways to address moisture rising up from a dirt crawl space?
Thanks again for your help
Rick
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Reflectix Insulation
You can always lay a barrier directly on the soil in the crawl space.
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Reflectix Insulation
Your right K, and thanks for the info, however if the relectix works as advertised it's supposed to eliminate moisture and insulate at the same time. Nice two for one if it works.
Be interesting to hear from someone who's used this stuff in a crawl space application and how it turned out uh.
Rick
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Reflectix Insulation
I was just addressing your second question of how to address moisture rising up in a crawl space, not the benefits of reflectix. Here in the pacific northwest it's common to place poly sheeting directly on the soil in a crawl space.
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Reflectix Insulation
K,
Hmm ... Did you notice how they insulated the floors?
And thanks again for any/all input
Rick
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Reflectix Insulation
Fiberglass between the floor joists. I'm not sure if it's faced or if they used a sheet of poly under there somewhere.
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Ya know, if I was retrofitting something to a crawl space I'd get a quote on what it would cost to spray icynene foam under there. For finished space they always shave it to fit the cavities but in a crawl space you wouldn't have to.
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