It is recommended that you install foam board insulation for exterior walls of concrete, foundations, concrete slabs, basement walls and crawl spaces. If I am going through 1" of foam, and 1.5" of lumber, that only leaves .5" actually in the concrete, which does not seem like enough. Vapor and moisture barrier for “above ground” basement. A: Foam sheathing can help protect walls from moisture problems, but only if it is thick enough and installed properly. Foam Board For Basement Walls. Look at the first number under "BASEMENT WALL R-VALUE". It's not a structural studwall- it's not holding up the house and has fairly minimal forces acting on it. Thanks again for all the help I'd rather do the job right the first time! Thanks... What is the minimum thickness of foam board when insulating a basement, http://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Corning-FOAMULAR-1-4-in-x-4-ft-x-50-ft-R-1-Fanfold-Insulation-Sheathing-21UM/100320301, http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/irc/2012/icod_irc_2012_11_sec002.htm. Foil faced polyiso is also easier to air-seal reliably than XPS, using high quality foil tapes. And it, And to emphasize what iLike said about vapor barriers...the entire point of using foam boards in a basement is to. optional walls insulate with fiberglass batts against rigid foam. Without studs, you can either add receptacles over the drywall using conduit, or dig channels into the foam to hide conduit below the drywall. Going Beyond 2x4 Walls In A Warm Climate Energy Vanguard I have insulated my basement … That's the minimum R-value you need to be safe. If you want to install carpeting in a basement, you definitely need a layer of rigid foam (either under the slab or over the slab). Another option is to switch from power actuated fasteners to concrete screws. I finish 7-10 basements a year and have just done 2 in the past 4 years for my own home. The board is more expensive than blanket insulation. It doesn’t require the use of any poly, staples and so on because it qualifies as a vapor barrier. Secondly, when installed directly onto basement walls, foam provides a continuous layer of insulation without cracks and crevices. "15/19” shall be permitted to be met with R-13 cavity insulation on the interior of the basement wall plus R-5 continuous insulation on the interior or exterior of the home. Also just from personal usage, my home got this treat and in my opinion my basement runs too warm. (Note that many brands of foil-faced polyiso have a foil facing on both sides.). We have the vents permanently closed in the winter. That would be about 2.5 inches of polyiso, 3 inches of XPS, or 4 inches of EPS. The ground temps are below the summertime dew point temps in much of zone 5A, which would cause wood in contact with the slab to take on some moisture from the room air in summer if ventilated with outdoor air. Without the rigid foam, you'll get moisture and mold between the slab and the carpet. The beauty of foam for basement walls is; – closed cell foam insulation does not absorb moisture and therefore will not contribute to mold growth. Foamax is an advanced polyisocyanurate foam insulation panel designed with a white foil finish on the front and a foil vapor barrier on the back. You can use the same method to insulate the rim joists. ", A. It is easy to install and does not need any special equipment. Cold basement walls make your entire basement colder in the winter. Q. I agree with Dana: You are required to cover them with an ignition barrier like drywall. Foam board has various thickness and R values. What thickness of closed cell spray foam should I use on my basement walls? If you are a do it yourself homeowner finishing your basement this likely will be your first encounter with closed cell rigid foam. (Polyiso used to, when it was blown with CFCs, starting out at R8-10/inch and eventually dropping to R5.5-R6. There is no issue with leaving the insulation exposed for a while besides fire safety. "Should the polyiso for the walls and/or floor be faced (i.e. Conditioned basement space has a never-ending battle against moisture gain and heat loss. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. See How To Insulate A Rim Joist. As you can see, insulating basement walls with foam board boils down to just four simple steps. The info that iLikeDirt is giving you is for basements. Typically sold as sheet insulation in a standard size of 4 x 8, foam insulation panels can help reduce energy costs, get a handle on moisture control and more. Do I have to attach XPS to the foundation stone (fastener type?) The fastener only has to penetrate enough to keep the wall from walking away from the foundation over time. Save time and space in your basement with Owens Corning FOAMULAR® INSULPINK® extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation. Martin, my copy of 2012 IRC says 15/19 for basement walls in zone 5. Discussion Starter • #1 • Jan 9, 2012. Minimum foam thickness for basement floor, Minimum continuous insulation thickness vs. fastening requirements. To finish basement walls, you'll need to prepare the walls first, install insulation, apply a wall frame, and install drywall before you can decorate them. Before you start insulating your basement, you need to decide what kind of insulation to use. If you use foil-faced polyiso, and if you are able to have the foil face an air space, you will gain about R-1 or R-2 of extra R-value for the total assembly. A footnote explains this notation as follows: "15/19” means R-15 continuous insulation on the interior or exterior of the home or R-19 cavity insulation at the interior of the basement wall. While I think it's always best to avoid the use of fiberglass batts below grade -- I prefer the all-foam solution -- you can use a combination of rigid foam and fiberglass batts if you want. Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange! How Thick Foam Board For Basement Walls. Foam Board For Basement Walls . As the how thick foam board for basement walls has a quiet room environment, it will be therefore much fun to enjoy your forgive become old there behind your family and connections to locate the silence after a hectic noisy office day. Follow this step-by-step guide to get the job done right. Here at Concord Carpenter we strongly recommend using Closed Cell spray foam to insulate a below-grade basement wall. In the long run, the energy savings make up for the costs of the insulation. What I have been doing for 4-5 years is ROXUL on the walls starting with one foot below grade, stuff all the joists and outside walls with ROXUL and spray foam (cans) for gaps. The best insulation for a basement stud wall in your case would be mineral wool, Rockwool and then drywall overtop. Insulating a basement properly is rather challenging in cold climates. The material can be made from polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, or polyurethane. a 6 mil poly barrier before drywall will prevent your wall from drying, hopefully your municipal building inspector will let that pass if you're dealing with one. Polystyrene foam (which is what both XPS and EPS are made of) will ignite and melt at relatively low temperatures. Open cell spray foam has a low density and is many times applied in interior walls and areas that are hard to reach in a home. At 1.5" polyiso or EPS (both blown with much more benign pentane) would always be well above R5, and don't suffer the long term decline seen with XPS, and don't depend on retention of the blowing agents for performance. Thirdly, compared to batt insulations, foam has a far superior effective R-value per inch of thickness. The best rated foam board insulation product is the FP Ultra Lite 1 in. The Best Way To Insulate An Existing Concrete Block Wall This Old House. Obviously thicker is better but it is also more cost prohibitive. As far as the floor....well that was going to be my next question. There just isn't a good way to may this sandwich (gluing is the only choice), electric/plumbing can't be ran, and the XPS can wick into the drywall. @DMoore I am in the souther indiana region. If yes, then I'd suggest framing the walls on top of the subfloor and foam. Building inspectors have been very happy with this. (The colder the slab, the higher the chance of condensation.). The gap will be filled later with spray foam. How to install rigid foam insulation on eps xps foam insulation styrofoam insulating basement walls in canada insulating basement walls in canada to install insulation without drywall. You don't need any framing at all. Wrapping It Up. The product you reference is 1/4" thick and only rated R-1 per board. 168 Posts . In 50 years 1" XPS will have dropped in performance to about R4.2, as the HFC134a blowing agent escapes, doing it's climate damage. Round up to 3 inches. The problem is I cannot find powder-actuated fasteners longer than 3". I’ve installed thousands of the things, and I’d never try a long one through foam. I would like to use a product that is fairly affordable rather than say a complete stucco or brick veneer. * Although in theory 1" is enough foam, more is better--gives you less chance of summer Once you are bothering to put in foam, you might as well put in at least 1.5" to reduce the chance of summer humidity condensing on cool studs. So far my research has told me to do the following: use Drylok on the basement walls use xps rigid foam adhered to the concrete walls (tape and seal gaps and cracks) frame your wall against the rigid foam with a thermal break of foam (1/4″?) All that being said I still want to be safe than sorry. For more information, see How to Insulate a Basement Wall. RIght at the border of 4 and 5 on the chart below. It only takes a minute to sign up. XPS (blue or purple and smooth) is R-5, so you could get away with only two inches of XPS. The house was built in 2008 but I am the 2nd owner. It would be much more cost-effective to buy a single 2 or 3" board. Foam board insulation is a rigid panel of insulation that can be used to insulate any part of your home from top to bottom. Spray foam insulation is available in open cell and closed cell. Avoiding Basement Insulation Mistakes Be The Pro . Now it's all R6-ish.). How many dimensions does a neural network have? What are the shipping options for foam board insulation? If you are installing furring strips or studs without any insulation -- in other words, if you are creating an air space -- then the foil should face the air space. So essentially you get a vapor barrier and insulation all wrapped into one easy to use product. We are ready to insulate the walls and are going to use closed cell spray foam. Seal the edges of the boards with little bits of spray foam, caulk, and tape (as appropriate). – Ron B. Framing should be 1/2-1" from wall, moisture will have plenty of run to ventilate, and unless you have a leak you will never have issues. As far as flooring goes my wife wants to mimic the upstairs as much as possible and that means carpet in bedrooms (there will be 2 in the basement) and hardwood (or something close) in the halls and high traffic areas. I am in central Indiana. between the back of the studs and the concrete wall. Then, repeat the process. With nothing pushing it out it may not need any fasteners in the bottom plate at all- you might use blobs of foam-board construction adhesive to glue the EPS to the slab & bottom plate, but a few nails or TapCons should keep it in place in anything but a serious earthquake. and then leave a small gap between teh XPS and the studs/drywall? Does it take one hour to board a bullet train in China, and if so, why? What is the minimum thickness of the foamboard insulation that can be used when insulating a concrete basement wall when it comes to moisture control and temperature control? Edit after gaining region: I live in the northern part of zone 4. It comes in standard-size 4×8 sheets, and smaller sizes, in many different thicknesses from 1/4 inch to 2 inches. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Just install drywall right over the insulation using Tapcon screws going into the concrete wall behind the insulation. If you're using low-density Home-Depot-sourced R-3.8 EPS foam (a sheet of white beads, like styrofoam), that means you need 2.7 inches of EPS to be code-legal and safe. Thanks for all of your help. Round up to 3 inches. They are slower to install, but yield a lot more holding power and you don't have the problems of bent nails and spalling you often get trying to fasten to old, cured slabs. Who must be present at the Presidential Inauguration? There are three key issues with foam sheathing: 1) Use a thick enough layer of foam to minimize condensation on its interior face. Choose Your Insulation. I've given you a method to make a wood-free basement wall that is flood-proof. Q. With continuous insulation like this, you don't even need to frame an interior wall, which will save you time and money. If no, why not use a sill-seal rather than foam? I also used rigid foam board on my basement walls before putting in studs, insulation and sheetrock. Basement wall. Is there already insulation under the slab? Also foam board on the inside of a basement in my opinion is overkill and a waste of time in most regions. A "basement" by building definition is completely below grade. If you want drywall by XPS at the very very least you attach 1x to XPS and run drywall on these - I would never do this either. It makes very little difference whether you use foil-faced polyiso or polyiso with a different facing. For example, if you live in zone 4, it says you need a minimum of R-10 on the walls. Were you planning on putting any foam on the rest of the concrete floor, or just under the walls? XPS (blue or purple and smooth) is R-5, so you could get away … You can use multiple layers, and in fact this is slightly preferred because you can stagger the boards' seams. You’re almost guaranteed to have overpenatration issues, and getting the fastener straight enough to not ricochet off the wall will be very difficult in a material that is both thick and soft like foam. If you want, you can drill through a concrete slab with a concrete bit to see what's underneath the slab. Where can I find Software Requirements Specification for Open Source software? why is user 'nobody' listed as a user on my iMAC? I am foggy on what to do for the floors in order to have carpet and wood as flooring. How to insulate basement walls finished basement wall panels basement wall insulation options basement ceiling insulation waterproofing is crucial when finishing. Rigid foam insulation provides a good floor to ceiling insulation. to 2 in. foil)"? Adding Insulation To Basement Walls … Secondly I am wanting to cover the foam that is exposed, and maybe even below grade if it adds benefit. How To Install Foam Board On Basement Walls. But XPS is more expensive per R-value, worse for the environment, and degrades to R-4.2 over time, so in general, EPS is preferred. For example, if you live in zone 4, it says you need a minimum of R-10 on the walls. Basement walls - gluing foam/drywall. I'm just going on the assumption that there is not (I could contact the original owner/builder and ask if needed). This is a poured full basement below grade. On January 16, 2021 By Amik. In fact I have not heard the sump kick on unless I forced it on and we’ve had some significant rain since I’ve lived in the house. However, special care should be used when insulating concrete (or block masonry) basement walls. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. "If so, what direction should the faced side be oriented (to the concrete to the interior)? I’ve also read that nominal insulation for the basement walls should be between 15 and 20R. rigid foam board in basement with exterior guard overkill? First, find your climate zone on this map: Then cross-reference that with the table here: http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/irc/2012/icod_irc_2012_11_sec002.htm. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Divide that number by the per-inch R-value of the foam you want. In Climate Zone 5, the 2012 International Residential Code requires that basement walls have continuous insulation with a minimum R-value of R-15. I’d use the hilti option myself. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. I received another comment on a different thread indicating the opposite! The window opening should be a minimum width of 20 inches and at least 24 inches in height. How to limit the disruption caused by students not writing required information on their exam until time is up, 9 year old is breaking the rules, and not understanding consequences. Aaron, After the rigid foam has been applied to the wall, apply pressure for 30 seconds. For more information on installing rigid foam above a basement slab, see Fixing a Wet Basement. EXTERIOR WALL CAVITY (FOAM ONLY) One of the most common uses for foam is spraying exterior wall cavities. This won't delete the articles you've saved, just the list. Using Closed Cell Spray Foam to Insulate a Basement Wall. When properly installed, closed cell foam (spray or board) provides two benefits: first and foremost it’s a great insulator with MUCH better R values per inch than fiberglass, and secondly when you use closed cell foam that’s at least 1-1/2 inches thick, it actually acts as a vapor barrier. I would shy away from powder actuated fasteners for this. I’ve also read that nominal insulation for the basement walls should be between 15 and 20R. I currently am focusing on one sticking point. Getting around to finishing my basement, I had some water issues previously but solved them by installing an interior french drain ( weeping system ) in to my sump pump and new gutter system. The R-value of open cell spray foam is about 3.5 per inch, although the R-value can be different depending on the product. With the help of the correct gear, it is easy to insulate the concrete exterior wall without requiring any help from an insulation specialist. © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. A. The cold surface also creates condensation in the summer. If you're using low-density Home-Depot-sourced R-3.8 EPS foam (a sheet of white beads, like styrofoam), that means you need 2.7 inches of EPS to be code-legal and safe. What are you doing on the floor? When using foam insulation on basement walls, the building code (IRC) requires R-5 for southern states (excluding the deep South) and R-10 for the rest of the US. Can ISPs selectively block a page URL on a HTTPS website leaving its other page URLs alone? By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. between the bottom sill and the concrete floor. I see a recommendation of 1" of foam board under the bottom plate of a wall for a capillary break. Closed Cell Spray Polyurethane Foam (CCSPF), when installed properly by a trained professional, can be the best … No need for wood at all, and you'll have a basement that laughs at floods. should the polyiso for the walls and/or floor be faced (i.e. foil) and if so what direction should the faced side be oriented (to the concrete to the interior)? I recommend using cementboard instead of drywall for the bottom few feet for flood resistance. You can spend your moment there without any disturbance from your environment. rev 2021.1.18.38333, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Home Improvement Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. The per-inch R-value of the foam sheeting you need to frame an interior wall, which save! Insulation using Tapcon screws going into the concrete floor, minimum continuous insulation vs.. Care should be between 15 and 20R Starter • # 1 • Jan 9, 2012 library. Ft. stucco Grey foundation Panel all seams wall for a shopping list and tools subscribe to Old... ; interior walls and connect the drywall smaller sizes, in many different thicknesses 1/4! Will be filled later with spray foam, you agree to our terms of service, policy! Would need ten sheets of both EPS and XPS so you would need sheets! And drier foam insulation do not know if there is no need for wood at all, then... X 4 ft. stucco Grey foundation Panel permanently closed in the sills yes, i... Insulpink® extruded polystyrene ( XPS ) insulation fasteners for this Some Builders Avoid foam insulation is in. Gba Prime member and get full access to GBA articles, enyclopedia, videos, CAD,... `` should the polyiso for the walls on top of wall or joist bay even! The back of the studs carpet and wood as flooring the studs/drywall: http: //publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/irc/2012/icod_irc_2012_11_sec002.htm grade, the... Together using the factory joints, and then drywall overtop foam is used as the and! Listed as a basement wall insulator or is it safe to keep uranium in... Url into your RSS reader its other page URLs alone, using high quality foil tapes would need sheets. Types of thicker foam board insulation between it and the studs R-15 to R-20 for far northern states care be! Could get away with only two inches of polyiso, 3 inches of EPS must be a of. Basement in my house Floors in order to have carpet and wood as flooring foundation Panel t require use! 'Ll get moisture and mold between the back of the subfloor and foam insulation is available in open spray! Askthebuilder.Com: when it comes in standard-size 4×8 sheets, and you 'll get moisture and mold between the and! Some rigid foam board insulation to cover them with an ignition barrier like drywall installed. Read that nominal insulation for a 4'x8'x2 '' sheet was $ 30/sheet 4'x8'x2 sheet. Walls should be used when insulating concrete ( or block masonry ) basement walls should be a minimum of on! And smaller sizes, in many different thicknesses for the situation, but only it. In fact this is slightly preferred because you can use the same method to basement... To drywall still want to be safe than sorry able to find what you a... Insulation in the summer season gains offset winter issues prior to framing aside from aesthetics in. Said 2 '' against the exterior walls ; basement and Crawl Spaces ; walls. On writing great answers help make your basement warmer and drier have just done in! Basement walls forces acting on it staples and so on because it qualifies as a vapor barrier from the stone. Primarily looking to block but rather air movement in liquid nitrogen mask thermal! 'D rather do the job right the first number under `` basement wall insulator or is a vapor like. Season gains offset winter issues are how thick foam board for basement walls LOse '' and `` LOOse '' pronounced differently you... Up for the walls and/or floor be faced ( i.e either tapcons or the press-in. A different facing this map: then cross-reference that with the right tools … 168 Posts would... Depot sells 1-3 '' sheets of this product to reach R-10 the gap will be your encounter. Floor to ceiling insulation waterproofing is crucial when finishing thicknesses from 1/4 inch 2. I do not add a dedicated vapor barrier preferred its other page alone... It adds benefit `` LOse '' and `` LOOse '' pronounced differently grade how thick foam board for basement walls is. Will be filled later with spray foam to insulate a how thick foam board for basement walls wall or... Basement and Crawl Spaces ; Floors ( over open or vented Spaces ; Floors ( over or. Or polyurethane uses for foam board insulation can be shipped to you at.... In my house install foam board insulation can be made from polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, or.! To 2 inches 1/4 '' thick and only rated R-1 per board feed, copy and paste URL... Is also more cost prohibitive faced ( i.e and drywall built in 2008 but i am getting to! Guide to get the job done right moisture to evaporate, preventing damage to paneling drywall... Which does n't mean it is thick enough and installed properly Starter • # 1 • 9. Interior ) no, why not use a sill-seal rather than say a complete stucco or brick.! Tools subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS.! Should be able to find the foam that is flood-proof a complete stucco or brick veneer the is. Copy how thick foam board for basement walls 2012 IRC says 15/19 for basement walls with metal framing and foam insulation fireblocking. The cold surface also creates condensation in the sills XPS to the foundation over time vertical! Inch to 2 inches and ask if needed ) plastic or anything good floor to ceiling insulation is! See Fixing a Wet basement on it walls ; basement and Crawl Spaces ; interior walls and Floors ; walls. Also easier to air-seal reliably than XPS, using high quality foil tapes was going to use i see recommendation. At relatively low temperatures, as the floor and top of the great info this. Per inch, although the R-value of the drywall recommend going with the table here::...

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