Crawl space insulation Sandy damage

[rickyrj1]

The crawl space was flooded from Hurricane Sandy and all the insulation had to be removed (was done the next day) We need to replace it now and was wondering what type should we go with. Some have said the spray foam would be best in case it gets flooded again. Any & all help would be appreciated

 

[slickgt1]

Roxul, rock wool insulation. Very water resistant, mold proof, mouse proof, other stuff proof. Go to their site and watch the videos.

oh, and it cuts with a giant bread knife. I got the knife for $13 on amazon. Plus when cut properly, you don't need to secure it with anything.

 

[Highbeam]

Pretty sure roxul is a rock wool and not steel wool. Steel wool get's awfully rusty.

 

[slickgt1]

Pretty sure roxul is a rock wool and not steel wool. Steel wool get's awfully rusty.

Correct, not even sure why I wrote that. And I use it all the time. Even in my garage renovations. Damnit, thanks for the correction.

 

[DustynF]

Roxul, rock wool insulation. Very water resistant, mold proof, mouse proof, other stuff proof. Go to their site and watch the videos.

oh, and it cuts with a giant bread knife. I got the knife for $13 on amazon. Plus when cut properly, you don't need to secure it with anything.

Thats a good suggestion. It's funny how they make it from lava rock. If you go with foam I would used closed cell of course. Fiberglass will lose it's insulation properties after it gets wet.

 

[willymakeit]

If it gets wet again with foam, any future void will hold moisture/mold.
I like foam but wouldnt want to remove it if flooded again and that might be a long time.

 

[mikeytint]

I used closed cell foam on my crawlspace after removing last years Irene soaked insulation. After Sandy there were no issues with crawlspace or beams and we had 3 1/2 ft more water

 

[cyamaha2007]

I vote spray foam if you can swing it.

 

[stinkity stoink]

This is what I am going through now also. I was wondering if I did spray foam and this happened again ,could it heave the floor.

 

[slickgt1]

Dudes, think about this. If you get closed cell, and the water gets above the joists, the water that will get trapped by the closed cell will rot the **** out of your joists. Water needs a way out.

 

[The J]

Did you flood during Irene? Or did it take Sandy's storm surge to flood your area?

I just insulated my crawlspace over a weekend with R19 fiberglass insulation. Cost was the $400 in materials. I don't know what that would have cost to have done. It was a pain for sure. But given the rare chance of flooding to the extent of Sandy's damage, replacing fiberglass may be the most economical path to take.

 

[cowboyjosh]

if the craw flooded once, it can flood again. Im all about closed cell spray foam, but not in this case. Insulate with batts or something you can easily rip out and toss if flooding should happen any time again down the road.

 

[rickyrj1]

Thanks to all for their help