Spray Foam vs Encapsulation

Very often, we come in contact with customers who choose to use spray foam insulation on their crawl space sub-floor as a solution versus an encapsulation system. Most lean towards that option due to a difference in cost. But are they really saving??

First, let me ask...along with installing foam insulation, what are you going to do to solve the moisture issue in your crawl space?

Spray foam insulation on the sub-floor does not address the main issue in a crawl space- moisture from the dirt beneath the home. The wood members in the crawl space will still be exposed to ground moisture. There are only two primary ingredients needed for rot and mold to thrive: one is organic material, like the wood beneath a home, and the second is water. Replacing the wood in a house is practically impossible, and very costly. So, the only avenue to preventing structural damage and those musty smells is to eliminate the moisture by installing a CleanSpace Encapsulation System.

A local spray foam contractor recently told me that they had a previous job in which the foam insulation that was applied to the subfloor actually locked in the moisture in the crawl space and created a bigger moisture and mold problem in the crawl space. Not the outcome they expected!

_______________________________________

Second... foam insulation applied on the subfloor renders the wood members unaccessible or "no longer visible" for an inspection.

Some pest control companies will void your termite warranty if the sub-floor wood is no longer accessible or visible for an inspection. Check with your pest control company before choosing this option. (With the CleanSpace system, our liner is installed a minimum of 3" down from the top of the wall so that termites cannot get into the framing without being seen.)

I recently spoke with a customer that stated her friend had her house inspected for a pending sale. She was requested to cut out and remove some of the foam insulation so the home inspector could visually inspect the sub-floor wood members in the crawl space WOW! I bet that customer didn't plan on spending all that money to foam insulate their crawl space and to later cut it out. Ouch!

A more effective approach to spray foam insulation is to insulate the foundation walls, rather than the sub-floor, provided a proper encapsulation system has been installed.

As stated on the U.S. Department of Energy's website, to effectively insulate your crawl space for energy efficiency and to create a comfortable home, you need to properly control moisture in your crawl space.

Our goal at Clean USA is to fix your damp dirt crawl space...FOR GOOD!

NEW CLEANSPACE LIGHT...A GREEN CHOICE!

CleanSpace Light is a 10 mil cord reinforced crawl space liner with UltraFresh anti-microbial protection. It's made with recycled materials, so we are reducing our carbon foot print.

Ask us how you can SAVE...and go GREEN... with new CleanSpace Light!

Basement Waterproofing

We're off to Basement System's headquarters in Connecticut

for training in basement waterproofing!

Basement Systems Inc. has been awarded 24 Patents and 19 Innovation Prizes on waterproofing products they use every day. With over 142,000 happy, dry basement customers- they are the experts in basement waterproofing.

There are no basements in Georgia...you say?

Believe it or not, we have run across several customers with partial or full basements. So now, we'll be prepared not only to solve crawl space moisture issues with the CleanSpace system, but also help offer the best solution to fix your damp and leaky basement.

We aim to keep your crawl space and basement

DRY FOR GOOD!

Green Product Expo

USGBC SAVANNAH BRANCH INVITES YOU TO THE

FIRST ANNUAL 2009 GREEN PRODUCT EXPO

Want to have a first-hand experience with the latest and greatest green products in the market? The USBGC Savannah Branch is hostint a Green Product Expo that will feature the latest green building products and services from local suppliers and building professionals.

WHEN:

TUESDAY, APRIL 28th4:00p.m. - 7:00p.m.

WHERE:

Charles Morris Center 10 East Broad St Savannah, GA 31401

Tickets are $10, but free with a student ID. Cash only at the door.

SPONSORED BY:
Title Sponsor - Savannah Morning News
Networking Garden Sponsor- J.T. Turner Construction Co., Inc.

Join Us in Fighting the Global Food Crisis

Every 7 seconds a child dies from hunger-related causes. The cost of many food items, like rice, wheat and beans have doubled in the last year due to fluctuating fuel costs, rising food demands, natural disasters and the turbulent economy.

Compassion International exists as an advocate for children in poverty and works in some of the areas hardest hit by this crisis. They provide solutions through local churches with nutritional provision and long-term strategies, such as agricultural education, training and tools, so that those consumed by this crisis have the opportunity to grow and prepare their own food.

An average gift of $13 feeds a child for one month!

At Clean USA, we support the work of Compassion International. We ask you to join us to fight this global food crisis and help end hunger!

For each CleanSpace Encapsulation System that we install, we will feed one child for a year!