When considering insulation for your basement, you may be thinking it’s not necessary. In reality, however, it is one of the main places you should insulate. Your home should be the one place you’re the most comfortable. You can step inside and breathe a sigh of relief because it’s the perfect temperature for you and your family. It all has to do with how well your home is insulated and it starts with the basement. Here’s what you need to know:
What you should know about concrete, heat, and moisture control?
An improperly insulated basement will cause any heat that might be in the basement to seep out of the walls. It can also allow moisture to get into the house through the concrete or stone. Controlling the moisture is actually the first step in protecting your basement. With the foundation, they have to consider how the drainage system is on the property, the air barrier system, water vapor barrier, etc.
What’s the right insulation depending on your basement?
There are several styles of basements depending on the building material, the area, and more. Because of this, the type of insulation could be different. Here are some common forms of insulation based on the type of basement.
- Unfinished basements use a combination of spray foam and foam board for the insulation. In some cases, taped foam boards can air seal and insulate the walls, as well.
- Finished basements use backfilling the walls to insulate the exterior. However, some features may get in the way such as driveways, patios, etc. In this case, the foam board is run along the outside wall to help with insulation.
- Double brick walls are usually filled with rubble or concrete blocks. In this case, closed-cell SPF is the best solution for insulation and air sealing in the basement.
