Insulating Concrete Ceilings Under Porches

On this episode of Dr. Energy Saver’s “On The Job” series, Larry Janesky – owner and founder of Dr. Energy Saver – and his team of energy experts tackle comfort issues in this home by addressing un-insulated rooms located in the basement underneath this concrete porch. 

 Cold Rooms Underneath a Concrete Slab Porch?

The porch outside features a thick concrete slab, paved with stones. Underneath that slab, lie three different, unfinished rooms: two utility rooms and a wine cellar. All of these rooms are linked to the main, finished basement area, used as additional living space, but because they lack insulation, they suffer from cold winters, hot summers and large energy losses. Heat from the finished area constantly escapes through the cold, un-insulated ceiling in these rooms.

The condensation on the walls, ceiling and water tanks is telling us that the bottom of the slab is so cold that the humidity from the warmer air inside is condensing on the roof deck. 

 Closed Cell Spray Foam to the Rescue!

Using a thermal imaging scanner, Larry demonstrates just how cold these rooms can become without insulation. To fix it, Larry and the energy experts decided to stop the heat loss and moisture problems by insulating the ceiling and walls with closed-cell spray foam. Spray foam is a versatile material, providing both insulating and air seal sealing properties and is an excellent solution to use when working around wiring and plumbing.

Spray foam installation is a messy job and releases fumes during application, so installation crews must wear protective gear, and everyone in the home must temporarily vacate the premises. This solution is well worth the temperate displacement because the benefits of the spray foam provides an excellent r-value per inch as well as a seamless finish with no joints or gaps for any heat to leak through. 

The Finished Product of Spray Foam Insulation

After the insulation job is finished in both rooms, Larry once again uses the thermal imaging scanner to illustrate the temperature differences between the newly insulated ceilings and the remaining one in the electrical room. The comparison shows that the unfinished room ceiling was just as cold as the slab outside at 44 degrees Fahrenheit while the newly insulated ceilings were nearly an average of 20 degrees warmer!

If you have this type of problem in your home causing your home a discomforting home and unpleasant energy bill, contact your local Dr. Energy Saver contractor today. As energy experts, we make home’s like yours, energy efficient every day with our customized and affordable energy solutions.