Trying to get to the root of comfort issues in your home can be a frustrating task.

The number one reason your home is likely uncomfortable is going to be inadequate insulation, but there are some areas that are often overlooked – like your cantilevered floor overhang. This floor extends beyond the foundation of your home leaving the space below empty.

Think of the cantilever as an overpass on the highway, the air blowing below it is going to make it that much colder.

RetroFoam of Michigan has helped thousands of homeowners with comfort issues just like this, so we know what types of insulation problems you could be facing. In our continued efforts to educate homeowners, we have listed the most common cantilever insulation problems.

Cantilever Insulation Problems

Aside from there being no insulation in the cantilevered floor at all, there are other insulation problems you could be facing.

1. Drafts coming up through the floor. This can obviously happen if the cantilevered floor isn’t insulated, but some insulations, like cellulose and fiberglass, still allow for air movement. This is even truer if the insulation is old, sagging, or has shifted leaving gaps.
   
   
2. Cellulose constantly gets blown around. Since we just discussed how cellulose still allows air movement, it only makes sense that it would cause the material to shift and leave gaps in coverage. This will also lead to your home being uncomfortable in this area.
   
   
3. Fiberglass in the cantilevered floor will retain moisture. When cold meets hot, condensation forms. This is true in any area of your home, even the cantilevered floor. When the condensation forms, insulation like fiberglass will retain that moisture. This, in turn, will lead to the growth of mold and mildew in the insulation, as well as the possibility of wood rot as the fiberglass holds the moisture to the wooden floor joists.
   
   
4. Extreme Temperatures. Is your breakfast nook either too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter? You won’t be able to maintain a comfortable, constant temperature in this area of your home if it isn’t insulated or if it isn’t insulated well.
   
   
5. High monthly energy bills. If you’re experiencing extreme temperatures, it’s likely you’re kicking up your furnace or air conditioner to try and compensate. When you do this, your monthly energy bills are sure to go up as well.

Cantilever Insulation

The best way to fix these cantilever insulation problems is to create an air seal, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Foam insulation creates an air seal that will help stop air leakage into and out of your home through the cantilevered floor. If you’d like to learn more about foam insulation for your home, check out the Learning Center on our website.