Basement101: Insulation

From damp, dark and musty to bright, warm and beautiful, your basement can be transformed into a room worth living in. In fact, you might never wan tot leave! Basements can easily be transformed into a work of art with a little DIY know how and hard work, but first it starts with insulation. Check out how to do it right with the team from Construct101.com and this informative article on basement insulation.

Areas of Insulation

Insulation basics can begin in three different zones of the basement. Interior, exterior and in-the-wall insulation are the basic types of insulation that are used when insulating a basement.

Interior insulation is the most common form of basement insulation. Rigid foam insulation is placed against the exterior block wall and covered with a wall covering like drywall. Spray foam works just as well as rigid foam, except sprayed foam can be more costly. Batt insulation can be used on interior walls, but the drawbacks are added materials (2x4 walls) and an increased need for moisture control.

Exterior basement insulation is the second most common form of basement insulation. It is applied to the exterior of the basement walls using waterproof rigid foam. This form of insulation is often installed together with a French drainage system and can be done after a home is already built, making this the best choice for remodeling basements with access to the exterior basement walls.

The final form of basement insulation is cell filling or loose fill. Typically done when a home is being built, the block walls empty cells are filled with a vermiculite/Styrofoam mix. It can also be installed as Styrofoam block walls, which are then poured solid with concrete as the home is being built.

Moisture Control

The biggest issue with adding insulation to your basement is moisture. Two types of moisture problems can occur when insulation is added to your basement. Bulk moisture, which comes through holes and cracks in the masonry walls and capillary moisture which wicks its way through masonry, wood and concrete in any direction.

Moisture control varies with the way the home is built, the local climate and the type of insulation you use, but the basics are simple.

Exterior drainage is often the biggest culprit of moisture and can be controlled by changing the exterior slope, installing a French drainage system, installing exterior moisture barrier insulation or simply by adding gutters to the home.

Exterior moisture problems can be a little overwhelming for most homeowners, so calling in the professionals to have a look certainly won't hurt. Check out Energysavers.gov for more information on exterior basement moisture control and what you can do to prevent it.