Insulating Block Wall Basement
Build a standard wall frame using studs around your basement and place them against the concrete wall.
Insulating block wall basement. Basements provide for a very challenging insulation problem. Now as you glue the panels to the exposed concrete blocks leave a inch gap at the floor and ceiling and cut holes in the panels to fit around outlets and wall switches. Install the drywall over the panels finish it then replace the trim. Insulating a basement properly is rather challenging in cold climates.
In this article i d like to discuss how to insulate basement walls in cold climates. Today there is no need to lose out on valuable interior space as you can use external wall insulation to insulate your concrete block house. Space your studs either 16 or 24 apart. For an energy efficient option use sprayed foam insulation.
After the adhesive cures add extension boxes to the outlets and switches and spray foam into every gap top bottom and around each box. However special care should be used when insulating concrete or block masonry basement walls. This can be done with pretty much any rigid insulation. Add insulation to your basement walls to improve energy efficiency.
How to insulate basement walls. In your climate zone zone 5 code requires you to insulate concrete block and other mass walls to at least r 13 if all of the insulation is on the exterior. Because they are naturally located below ground level basements are mostly cool and damp. Whichever kind of insulation you choose make sure the r value which is a measurement of how well insulation works is at least.
Before insulating coat the exterior of the walls with fluid applied water control and air control layers. Insulating basement walls in cold climates is a great way to keep your home warmer and drier. Insulation is vital for concrete basement walls the basement hold the house s furnace water heaters laundry machines and essential utilities. Basement walls made out of concrete stone concrete bloc and other masonry foundation materials have very minimal insulating properties and cause.
Basements are a challenge because of high moisture levels and cooler temperatures. Or you can install drywall over the studs and then add loose fill insulation. To insulate basement walls you can use blanket insulation which you just nail or staple into the wood frame in your basement. Place the batts between the studs ensuring that they re level with the face of the studs and not pressed in too deep.
Then attach 2x4s on the flat directly to the masonry insulate between and. This will allow you to cut your batts to fit comfortably between them. Make sure to cover the band joists. I ve written several articles on insulating basement walls and evolved some of my methods over time.