Insulating basement walls with foam board

What is the best insulation board for basement walls? How to insulate a basement wall? Which rigid insulation should I Choose? Step – Install Extrude Polystyrene Insulation Boards The first step in insulating a basement wall is to install the polystyrene insulation (for more information we recommend reading: R Values Of Foam Board Insulation ). We like to use a all purpose adhesive that’s approved for Styrofoam products.

For new construction, use rigid boards to insulate slabs and the outside of foundation walls. For a basement remodeling project, consider insulating basement walls with foam board. Use a premade kit for this type of project. Attach the tongue-and-groove insulation boards to the concrete wall with adhesive. Rigid foam board insulation excels in below-grade applications such as basements.

Rarely will you install fiberglass insulation below-grade, since fiberglass soaks up moisture. One exception might be if you are insulating a heated finished basement space against another interior basement space that is unheated. It doesn’t require the use of any poly, staples and so on because it qualifies as a vapor barrier.

It also offers continuous insulation, greater R-value and won’t lead to mold growth. To attach the insulation, you can use screws with large washers, a special adhesive made for adhering foam board insulation or, for smaller pieces, you can seal them in with caulk or spray foam. Half-inch gypsum board usually provides sufficient ignition barrier (check your local building code). When this ignition barrier is supported on a stud wall , the cavities of this wall may be filled with supplemental insulation. The only type of insulation that makes sense for stone-and-mortar walls is closed-cell spray polyurethane foam.

I placed the walls directly in front of the foam insulation and then insulated the wall cavities with fiberglass insulation. You’ll need to nail the pressure treated plate of the wall to the concrete with a Trigger Tool Kit, Caliber. Free 2-day Shipping On Millions of Items.

After the cement is set, apply a foam board adhesive to the rear of a polystyrene insulation panel, then press the panel to the wall. Make sure your adhesive is free of solvents, which can eat away at the foam insulation. Adhere and apply the remaining panels. The most commonly used insulation materials in the basement include spray foam , fiberglass, and foam board. In older homes, the basement many times is left uninsulated.

This allows air from the outside to get into the rim joist, basement ceiling, and exposed walls. Using a rigid foam board creates a good vapor barrier along with an insulation layer that won’t promote. Closed-cell spray foam is the best way to insulate concrete basement walls.

Basement Wall Insulation Using Rigid Foam Board. This is because it can achieve a higher R-value, along with excellent moisture resistance, with less thickness required. It can fill in all the gaps and spaces thoroughly, giving you the best protection against moisture and air infiltration. Spray foam is also an option, but usually a lot more expensive than foam boards. When using foam insulation on basement walls , the building code (IRC) requires R-for southern states (excluding the deep South) and R-for the rest of the US.

Many energy experts recommend R-to R-for far northern states. Owens Corning 864views. R-cavity insulation on the interior of the basement wall plus R-continuous insulation.

I left a gap between the foam and framing and when I insulated the walls with rbatt insulation I noticed moisture forming behind the insualtion where the insulation was contacting the foam. Insulating the basement this way creates a thermal break between the air inside your basement and the air outside. It gets rid of any air movement behind the walls.

After the rigid foam is on the floor and walls , it can be studded over.