Energy bills in a Montana winter can climb faster than fresh framing, and the largest heat-loss culprit is often the cold floor beneath your feet. Knowing how to install floor insulation correctly is the fastest route to a warmer, more efficient home. At CountBricks, we pair AI voice-driven estimating and blueprint takeoffs with decades of craft expertise to make every residential insulation job predictable, affordable and code-compliant.
• Stops up to 15 % of total household heat loss
• Reduces drafts that creep through crawl spaces
• Minimises condensation and moisture build-up under floorboards
• Delivers higher HERS ratings, boosting resale value
• Lowers HVAC workload, extending system life
Before you pick up a utility knife, gather everything needed so downtime doesn’t derail momentum.
• R-19 or higher fiberglass batts (or mineral wool for increased fire resistance)
• Continuous rigid foam boards for rim joists
• Construction adhesive approved for foam products
• Vapor-permeable membrane or faced batts, depending on climate strategy
• 6 mil polyethylene for ground moisture barrier in crawl spaces
• Staple gun, ½-inch staples and insulation supports
• Safety gear: gloves, goggles, respirator, coveralls
Upload your floorplan to CountBricks.com/services and our AI takeoff engine calculates exact square footage, joist spacing and material counts in minutes—no manual math, no waste.
1. Inspect and Prep the Crawl Space Remove debris, seal obvious air leaks around plumbing or wiring, and verify the ground is dry. If moisture is present, lay 6 mil poly over soil with 12-inch overlaps to create a vapor barrier.
2. Measure Joist Bays CountBricks estimates arrive with bay widths and required batt lengths, but verify on site. Batt friction fits are most effective when the insulation is ½ inch wider than the cavity.
3. Insulate Rim Joists First Apply construction adhesive to the rim joist, press rigid foam board firmly, then seal edges with compatible spray foam. This step blocks the perimeter convection loop—the leading source of crawl-space heat loss.
4. Install Batt Insulation Starting at one corner, gently press batts into each joist bay until they sit flush with the subfloor. Do not compress material; loft equals performance.
5. Secure with Supports Every 18-24 inches, add wire insulation supports or staple fabric mesh to hold batts tight against the subfloor. Ensure there are no gaps or sagging pockets.
6. Address HVAC and Plumbing Penetrations Where ducts, pipes or electrical lines intersect joists, split batts and fit around penetrations, then seal small voids with low-expansion foam.
7. Verify Vapor Management In cold climates like Montana, faced batts should have the kraft face against the conditioned side (up toward the subfloor). Unfaced batts require a separate vapor-permeable membrane stapled across joists.
8. Final Quality Check Use a flashlight to look for light or dark gaps. Any visible cavity equals lost R-value. Fill as needed, then photograph your work for homeowners or municipal inspectors.
• Over-compression of batts, which reduces R-value
• Blocking crawl-space vents completely—maintain code ventilation
• Forgetting to insulate HVAC boots or metal registers
• Neglecting safety gear—fiberglass irritates skin and lungs
Traditional estimating relies on tape measures and spreadsheets. CountBricks replaces both with:
• Real-time voice capture: walk the site, speak dimensions, receive instant cost breakdowns
• Dynamic material pricing: integrated catalogs adjust every 24 hours so budgets stay accurate even in volatile markets
• Automated quote docs: branded PDFs ready for homeowner approval in seconds
• Integrated scheduling: once the quote is signed, CountBricks syncs with your calendar to dispatch crews, order insulation and track deliveries
Montana’s residential energy code calls for floor assemblies over unconditioned spaces to achieve R-30 or meet U-factor 0.035. CountBricks presets these values in our templates, so your proposal always aligns with jurisdictional requirements.
Below is a snapshot from a recent CountBricks crawl-space retrofit on a 1,400 ft² bungalow in Helena:
• Materials: $1,450 (R-21 batts, 2-inch foam board, vapor barrier, fasteners)
• Labor: $2,100 (2-person crew, 2 days including disposal)
• Permitting & inspection: $150
• Total turnkey price: $3,700. Homeowner now saves an estimated $420 per year in heating costs.
If you’re ready to master how to install floor insulation—or simply want it done for you—visit CountBricks.com/consultation. Our AI will capture your project scope in a quick voice call and deliver a polished quote before you hang up.
When the Greenes purchased a 1970s ranch outside Helena, their hardwood floors registered a chilly 53 °F mid-winter. They contacted CountBricks through our AI voice line and completed a five-minute walkthrough using a smartphone. Our system generated a full takeoff—142 linear feet of rim joist, 1,385 ft² of joist bays and exact fastener counts—while they talked.
1. Quote Delivered: 7 minutes after call ended 2. Materials Ordered: Same day via CountBricks supplier network 3. Crew On-Site: 48 hours later 4. Installation Complete: 1.5 days 5. Inspection & Sign-Off: Passed with zero corrections
• Floor surface temperature rose to 67 °F, eliminating the need for supplementary space heaters
• Annual gas consumption dropped by 12 % in the first billing cycle
• HERS score improved from 86 to 79, adding resale appeal
• Precise AI takeoffs reduced material overage to less than 3 %
• Scheduling automation prevented cold-weather delays common with traditional subcontracting
• Real-time cost tracking alerted the homeowner to a mid-week fiberglass price dip, saving $64
• Enable “On-Site Mode” in the CountBricks mobile interface to capture joist spacing verbally while your hands stay on tools
• Create a template labeled “Floor Insulation R-30” to auto-populate labor hours and inspection notes for repeat bids
• Use the built-in photo log to document vapor barrier seams; inspectors love the transparency and you avoid costly re-visits
From a single-room remodel to whole-home retrofits, CountBricks eliminates the friction between planning and production. Visit CountBricks.com/services, upload your blueprint or start a live voice call, and watch an accurate, code-ready floor insulation estimate appear as fast as you can say R-30.
