Homeowners are battling one of the biggest hurricane seasons in history. Even those residents not located directly in the hurricane belt have felt the effects of these storms. As a result, they are - more than ever - concerned about the condition of their homes. Damage from the elements has proved particularly troubling when water enters the home through crawl space vents in the foundation, leading to the formation of mold and mildew. With weather preparedness at the forefront right now, homeowners are realizing the importance of keeping this area of their home dry and insulated.
Dale Wagstaff, President and CEO of Construction Service Solutions, Inc., one of North Carolina's leading non-vented crawl space specialists, has been witness to this trend. "We have more homeowners calling us with concerns about their crawl spaces than ever before," commented Wagstaff. "I think they recognize that the real source of moisture in their home comes directly from this area."
A home's foundation is an essential part of the total home environment and can ensure proper air quality throughout, so it is not surprising that the way the basement or crawl space is finished - and insulated - is key to the performance and comfort of the entire house. And in both cold and warm climates, building scientists agree: a closed crawl space is an excellent solution to common moisture problems.
Dale Wagstaff at Construction Service Solutions, Inc., looks to DOW Building & Construction (B&C) for an engineered material specifically designed to meet this growing demand for sealed crawl spaces. DOW B&C offers a full line of building envelope solutions based on its flagship STYROFOAMTM-branded insulated foam sheathing, which resist moisture penetration as well as increase energy efficiency.
Wagstaff has come to rely on THERMAX™ insulation from Dow in particular because of its moisture-resistant qualities. "This is really important because we install a sealed crawl space in phases," he said. "As a result, THERMAX™ is exposed to the elements for some time prior to the house being 'dried in.'"
THERMAX™ is a non-structural, rigid board insulation consisting of a glass-fiber-reinforced polyisocyanturate foam core laminated between aluminum foil facers. The glass-fiber reinforcement, along with chemical modifications, contributes to improved fire performance and enhanced dimensional stability. A continuous poly vapor barrier also protects the bottom and sides of the crawl space from water, air and vapor penetration.
Insulating the home with rigid foam insulation is an efficient, effective way to help ensure that the non-vented crawl space will remain dry. "Installing THERMAX™ on the vent-free wall interior can help to maintain a home's structural integrity, indoor air quality and energy efficiency for many years," commented Wagstaff.
Boards of THERMAX™ insulation are lightweight and easy to handle. In addition to sealed crawlspaces, they are ideal for new frame wall construction behind masonry, siding, walls and ceilings and in interior basement applications.
Wagstaff sees a growing need in new and retrofit residential construction. "Our goal is to have builders offer our crawl space system, which includes THERMAX™, not as an option, but rather as the standard," he concluded.
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For Editorial Information:
Jan McKinnon
The Dow Chemical Company
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