Services
Basements and crawl spaces
The basement is where a house breathes in. In winter, air comes in low and leaves at the top.
With the fan running, the smoke pencil along the sill shows the draw. The rim joist, where the wall sits on the foundation, is a long seam that often leaks. We seal and insulate it first, then look at the walls and the floor above.
What's included
Rim joist air sealing and insulation
Sill plate and foundation-wall seams
Crawl space ground cover and wall insulation, where the report calls for it
The floor above, sealed and insulated
Duct and pipe penetrations
A moisture reading before we close anything
Cost
What changes the price
The length of the rim joist
A big or irregular foundation has more seam.
Stone, block or poured walls
Old stone foundations need different details.
Moisture
If the basement is damp, that is fixed first and priced separately.
Headroom and access
A low crawl space is slower.
What is stored there
Clear space helps. We can move things, and say so in the estimate.
How it goes
This work, in order
- 01Day one
Step 1: The reading
We test, run the smoke pencil along the sill and take moisture readings.
- 02The report
Step 2: Moisture first
If the report shows water coming in, we say so and talk about drainage before insulation.
- 03On site
Step 3: Seal and insulate
Rim joist first, then the rest of the list, with photos of each seam.
- 04Last day
Step 4: The retest
The same test, the same way.
Not included
What this work leaves out
Waterproofing and drainage
If the basement takes on water, that is its own job, and we tell you who we'd call.
Radon
We can note the question and point you to testing. We don't treat it here.
Finished-basement remodeling
That is a separate scope.
Before the work
Permits and rules
Rim joist work usually needs no permit. A new egress window, a change to a chimney or any new gas or electrical work does, and your town's building official decides. We ask before we price it.
In houses built before 1978, old paint on basement stairs and trim may contain lead. We follow EPA's lead paint rule where it applies.
Questions about this work
Is it safe to seal a basement with a furnace in it?
Yes, when it is done with care. We check the furnace and water heater before and after and make sure they get air.
My basement is damp. Can you insulate it?
Not until the water is dealt with. We'll say so, and it won't be hidden in the estimate.
What about the crawl space under an addition?
Often a good place to start. The report says whether to seal at the floor or at the walls.
Do you finish basements?
No. We make them tight and dry, and a remodeler can finish them.
Start at the sill
A blower door test will show how much air the basement is moving.