Crawl space insulation in Bismarck ND - warmer floors and a crawl space kept dry
Cold floors and a heating bill that climbs every winter? We insulate and seal the crawl space so the rooms above stay warmer.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
Why is the floor over my crawl space so cold?
Crawl space insulation in Bismarck adds an air-sealed, insulated layer either along the crawl space walls or in the floor above, so the heat you pay for stops leaking out under your feet and the rooms over it feel warmer.
If the floor is cold to bare feet all winter, it's usually because the space under it is unheated, and a floor over unheated space is one of the bigger places a house loses heat. The price mostly turns on how big the crawl space is and what material we use, plus whether wet or dirty insulation needs insulation removal first, and the schedule turns on what we find down there and whether the city wants a permit. I'll send you a written estimate that says what we'd do and why, so you see the figure for your own house before you decide anything.
When does crawl space insulation make sense for your house?
Cold floors in winter
Rooms over an unheated crawl space lose heat through the floor, and insulating there warms them back up.
A pipe froze down there
A frozen line usually means the crawl space runs too cold for the pipes running through it.
Damp wood under the floor
Damp joists usually mean humid air is coming in, and sealing and insulating the space cuts that down.
Insulation hanging from joists
Batts that have fallen out of the floor joists leave bare spots, and the floor above feels it.
How we handle crawl space insulation
I start by going down there and taking photos, then I explain whether insulating the crawl space walls or the floor above makes more sense for your house, and why. On the job we deal with problems first, like soaked or dirty insulation, then seal the holes where pipes and wires pass through and around the rim joist, the boards that ring the edge of the floor frame, and only then insulate. Either way we plan for how the space will stay dry, because insulation that stays damp doesn't do its job for long.
Crawl space work often ties into the rest of the house. If rooms are drafty all over, our air sealing services close the gaps that let warm air escape upstairs, and if the outside walls feel cold too, wall insulation may matter more than the floor. I'll tell you which one should come first.
Insulating the crawl space walls
This usually suits houses with pipes, ductwork or a furnace down there, because sealing and insulating the walls keeps the whole space closer to house temperature. It also means the space needs a way to dry out, which we build into the plan.
Insulating the floor above
This fits a crawl space with nothing in it that can freeze, where the floor becomes the line between warm and cold. We seal the holes around pipes and wires first, then fit the insulation snug between the joists with no gaps.
Closed-cell foam at the rim joist
Closed-cell foam, a dense foam that blocks moisture, seals and insulates the rim joist in one pass, right where a lot of outside air usually gets in. It costs more than board or batts, so we use it where it earns its keep.
What happens when you call us about your crawl space?
Call or send the form
Call (701) 299-5007 or send the form with the rough size of your crawl space, since size is what moves the price most. We get back to you to set up a time to come out.
I look it over with you
I come out, look over the crawl space with you and take photos so you can see what's down there. You get a written estimate that says what should be fixed first, what can wait and why, and nothing starts until you say yes.
We fix problems, then seal
Once any permit is in hand, our crew handles problems like wet insulation first, seals the gaps and then insulates, because new insulation over a leak or a draft doesn't hold up. If something needs a plumber or another trade, I'll tell you before we go further.
Walk through the finished work
Before we pack up, I walk you through what we did, in person or in photos if you'd rather not crawl. That way you know what's under your floor the next time someone works down there.
Foam or batts for crawl space insulation?
Foam on the walls, batts only in a dry floor.
Foam costs more, but it seals air and holds up to damp while it insulates, which suits crawl space walls and rim joists where outside air sneaks in. Fiberglass batts cost less and work in the floor above, as long as they fit tight between the joists and the space stays dry.
My usual advice is foam where the crawl space is part of the house and batts only where the floor is the line between warm and cold. If you're leaning toward batts to save money, ask me about keeping ground moisture out too, because damp is what wears fiberglass out.
Insulation work up close
Look through these examples of insulation work, from attics to crawl spaces, to get a feel for the materials and how a finished job looks.
Get a written estimate for your crawl space
Tell us roughly how big your crawl space is and what you're noticing upstairs, and we respond within 1 business day to set up a free in-person estimate. I come out myself, and there's no pressure to book.
Why Bismarck homeowners call Pinnacle Bismarck Spray Foam Insulation for crawl spaces
I do every estimate myself
The person who looks at your crawl space is the same one on the job alongside our installers. Nothing gets lost between what I told you and what gets done.
You see it before we touch it
I take photos and explain what I found, and I'll tell you if your insulation is fine as it is. I'd rather you understand your house than buy work you don't need.
Licensed for North Dakota jobs
The North Dakota Secretary of State says whoever does a job over $4,000 has to be licensed as a contractor, so ask anyone you hire. We're licensed and fully insured.
Started in Bismarck in 2023
I taught myself how houses lose heat, then learned the hands-on side one attic and crawl space at a time before starting this business here in 2023. Call (701) 299-5007 or send us the form and I'll come take a look.
Crawl space insulation questions
Should I insulate my crawl space walls or the floor above it?
Usually the walls are the better place to insulate. Federal energy guidance for crawl spaces calls air sealing and insulating the walls a best practice in every climate, because it joins the crawl space to the rest of the house. Some homes still do better with the floor above as the insulated layer, and I'll tell you which one yours is when I come out.
How much does crawl space insulation cost in Bismarck?
Across the US, insulating a crawl space usually costs about $3 to $6 per square foot, and that's a national range for the work, not our price. The size of your crawl space and the material you choose move it most. Have a rough size ready when you call, and the written estimate gives you the figure for your house.
How long does crawl space insulation last?
One cost guide says fiberglass in a crawl space needs replacing every 15 to 20 years on average without a vapor barrier, and it can last much longer with one. If fiberglass is the plan for your house, it's worth adding a crawl space vapor barrier in the same job.
How do I keep a crawl space dry after insulating it?
Give it a way to dry out, because federal building guidance says a crawl space must always have one. One of the most effective is a small amount of air from your home's heating and cooling system, and the same guidance calls for plastic sheeting on the walls and floor before the walls get insulated. Which drying method fits depends on your heating setup, and I'll show you on the estimate.
Will insulating my crawl space keep my pipes from freezing?
It can help keep the pipes and heating equipment down there from freezing, and it usually makes the floors above warmer too. An insulated crawl space also cuts the chance of water forming on cold floor framing from humid air coming in through the vents. If a line has already frozen, I'll look first for the gap letting cold air reach it.
Do I have to leave the house while you insulate the crawl space?
Usually not for batts or foam board, since the work stays under the floor. Spray foam is different, because it has a re-entry time, the wait before people and pets come back inside, and I'll tell you what the maker calls for before we schedule.
Want to know what's under your floor?
I come look at your crawl space, take photos and send a written estimate that says what we'd do and why.
Work that often goes with it
Crawl space insulation in Bismarck and permits
The City of Bismarck's Building Inspection Division takes permit questions, and the city's permit list names renovations, remodels, basement finishes and HVAC work but not crawl space insulation, so the list alone doesn't settle whether your job needs one. Before we start, we check with the city's building inspection office, and when a permit is needed, we handle the application and wait for it to be issued. The city is also updating its building codes, the energy code included, so we check what applies when your job comes up, and if you'd like to ask yourself, the division's number is (701) 355-1465.
Crawl spaces we open up around Bismarck and Mandan tend to show the same few things. Batts have dropped out of the joists, gaps sit open where pipes and wires come through, and the rim joist has little or nothing on it, so we fix those before any new insulation goes in.