How Much Does It Cost To Insulate A Crawl Space?

Crawlspace Insulation Cost Factors

Several factors can affect your overall crawl space insulation installation cost. These factors are as follows:

• The size of the area. The total square footage, or the height of the crawl space, will affect the amount of material needed.
• Accessibility. If the crawlspace is difficult to access, this will affect the cost of labor associated with insulating your crawlspace, as the job will take longer.
• Faced vs. unfaced. Faced batting averages $0.10 to $0.25 per square foot more than unfaced batting.
• Location. Geographical locations with harsher temperatures require thicker insulation, causing your crawl space insulation cost to be more expensive.
• Space venting. A vented crawl space may require sealing to meet your city’s current building codes.
• Insulation removal. If your contractor has to remove and dispose of old insulation, you can expect to pay $0.75 to $2.00 per square foot for the service.
• Advance preparation. Using spray foam insulation requires the surface to be cleaned first, which will increase the labor time.

Insulation type

There are four main types of insulation, as follows:

• Closed cell spray foam. This type is considered to be the best for insulating crawl spaces. The average total cost of closed-cell spray foam installation is between $850 and $6,700, without the cost of labor.
• Rigid foam board. Rigid foam boards may be made from polyisocyanurate (ISO), expanded polystyrene (EPS), or extruded polystyrene (XPS). The average cost to insulate the walls of a crawlspace is between $500 and $1,600. The average cost to insulate the subfloor of a crawlspace is between $1200 and $3700. Each of these costs is without the additional cost of labor.
• Blown-in. This type of insulation is not typically recommended for crawl spaces, but it can be useful in spaces that are too tight for any other type of insulation. On average, the cost to insulate a crawl space using blown-in insulation is between $1000 and $2800, without the cost of labor.
• Roll and batt. This type of insulation can be made of fiberglass, natural fibers, plastic, or rockwool and is best for the subfloors of dry, air-conditioned areas. The average cost of insulating the subfloor of a crawlspace with roll and batt is between $900 and $1400, without the cost of labor.

Cost of Installation

The average labor cost associated with installing insulation in a crawl space is $0.50 to $1.30 per square foot, with actual prices varying according to the type of insulation. For example, batting is the fastest to install, whereas spray foam requires some time for preparation but typically installs faster than foam board.

Cost Per Square Foot

The cost of insulation per square foot is naturally different for each type of insulation. Roll and batt insulation, for example, has an average cost between $0.90 and $1.40 per square foot, while closed cell spray foam averages between $2.00 and $5.00 per square foot.

Spray foam insulation for crawl space cost

Since spray foam insulation is the best option for insulating a crawl space, it’s also the more expensive type. With a material cost of $2.00 to $5.00 per square foot and a labor cost of $0.50 to $1.30, you can expect a total cost range of $2.50 to $6.30.

DIY or hire a pro

Although it is certainly possible to install crawl space insulation on your own, it is best to hire a professional due to the multi-faceted nature of this kind of project.

In order to effectively insulate crawl space, the following tasks need to be done:

• Removing all sources of water.
•  Removing old insulation, if any.
• Sealing all vents or gaps to prevent heat loss.
• Using the correct insulation for your climate and project.
•  Insulating the walls rather than the ceiling.
• Sealing rim joists and installing a vapor barrier
• Removing excess moisture after the installation is complete.