How to Insulate Under a Sunroom | Do You Need a Crawl Space Dehumidifier?

#AskANinja 029 - We got a great question from Wade in Virginia. How do you insulate under a sunroom that is open underneath and not on a crawl space? Do you need encapsulation and a dehumidifier if your crawl space doesn't seem wet? Michael covers these questions in today's video.
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[@joys3441]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This was so helpful. I have an 80sqft enclosed backporch old house where the floor is open to the outside. We are starting a renovation soon and insulating below this porch is part of it. Now, I think I know a lot more. Insulating an old house scares me. It has breathed for 100 years. Any other insights you might want to share. You're a blessing.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cashcliq1]

I needed this …. older New England home with freezing sunroom

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Glad this was helpful!

[@elainenilsson5472]

Thank you from Virginia. I am dealing with it right now.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

You are welcome, thanks for watching and let us know how it goes.

[@KathleenJean53]

My porch looks like your picture up I am up in Maine. I plan to do all you recommend but also grade the dirt so no puddles sit under porch, maybe lay down plastic on the ground? And maybe cover side openings to keep skunks and squirrels from walking through, block wind. What do you think?

[@Grayback1973]

If the guy installed plywood on the bottom and did fiberglass insulation between that and the sub-floor wouldn't that be adequate insulation for the floor?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

John - In certain areas, insulation is useful for controlling and isolating temperatures. By minimizing the exchange of heat between adjacent surfaces, such as walls, attics, and roofs, it helps improve the air. In addition to deflecting air updrafts, insulation between floors also prevents heat from escaping to the floor above. As a result, you won't experience sudden temperature changes. Since the earth's core is the primary source of heat, most home builders insulate the ground floor only. The natural source of heat is blocked on the higher floors, so home builders don't insulate them. You can, however, insulate all the floors if you wish. It will be very difficult if your house is already built. A thorough assessment of your house's structure is essential.

[@matthewkitzmiller]

Is there any problem with insulating with rockwool between the foam board and plywood layers?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

It wouldn't be needed.

[@chaimschuss596]

Very informative thanks

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kuliii]

I'm also from Virginia and we have the same situation. It was a deck that was enclosed to make a climate controlled play room for the kids. We have exposed floor joist and were wondering if we could use batt insulation, cover it with vinyl siding and soffit along the edges for ventilation, or would this set up future mold problems?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

It's possible that future mold can occur if ventilation is bringing in moist air.

[@TheTerrafrostbyte]

Hello thanks for the video. If you don't care about how it looks, would it be okay to just do 2 inches of closed cell spray foam across the entire area between/ over the joists and skip the foam board, plywood and paint?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

The spray foam fills spaces better than rigid boards, making it a better insulator against moisture. Humid climates can benefit from this. Insulation can be difficult to replace, but spray foam can last a long time.

[@jakedohm9173]

What R-Value should we shoot for? I'm in Chicago and have a similar situation.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

I would check with your local building codes department to see what is required in your area.

[@craigadean7]

Would foam board under the floor still apply in the Northeast and cold weather? Or should a different insulation be used?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Foamboard could be used just check your recommended R value for your region.

[@matiasgonzalez2764]

Thank you for this video guys! Would you know if encapsulation is needed for a raised deck with a geodesic dome on top of it in a high radon area? If so, would this process be similar to any crawl space radon mitigation?

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

Depends on what you would like to do. However yes it is possible.

[@Grayback1973]

Hi, I'm going to be closing up a sunroom that has no insulation at all. I was planning on insulating the 3 walls with r13 but leaving the attic and floor uninsulated. Do you think this will work out ok? I'm going to be using a portable AC-Heater unit that vents to the outside.

[@CrawlSpaceNinja]

John - In addition to walls and attics, insulation should be installed in ceilings with unheated spaces, basement walls, floors above vented crawl spaces, cathedral ceilings, floors above unheated garages or porches, knee walls, and in between interior walls, especially in bathrooms. In order to achieve the desired results, a "thermal envelope" must be created around the home in order to prevent penetrations.

[@ulises48]

I am at North Carolina and I have an opening under my porch and installed traditional insulation r19 underneath and cover with plastic Is that works ?

[@thinkingoutsidethebox2]

​@@ulises48I am wondering the same thing, or would the plastic cause condensation and ruin the fiberglass insulation?

[@oldcountryman2795]

The insulation is already in the floor. Leave it open or welcome your new opossum and or raccoon tenants.