Most basement floors are not insulated in any way. One other option you may want to consider…an insulation board for the floor. Just make sure you don’t compress the existing insulation with the newly framed wall. If your current unfinished basement already has roll insulation installed, you could frame your new wall in front of it. These can be three to six times the cost of fiberglass batts so I typically don’t consider them on my projects. A more expensive option is to go with a sprayed expansive foam (open or closed cell). This method is a little more expensive but does provide a layer of moisture protection. Another option would be to use a foam board up against the foundation wall and then frame your wall in front of this. The ease of installation as well as the low cost make it the material of choice for most people. Insulation Options: Fiberglass batts are currently the most common insulation used in finished basements. This will prevent drafts through your outlets and switches. I would also recommend using an expandable foam behind the electrical boxes. One other quality initiative when insulating with fiberglass insulation, make sure your contractor cuts neatly around all electrical boxes. This space will help to dry out the space if moisture makes its way in.
I also like to maintain an air gap between the framed wall with insulation and the foundation wall. As we all know, trapped moisture can lead to mold. You don’t want to enclose the insulation between two vapor barriers as this will prevent moisture from getting out. Also make sure there are no overlaps, especially if you are using kraft faced batt insulation. This is because the key element to insulation is the air pockets between the fibers. Compressing the material can take away the R-value. Quality Check: Your fiberglass batt insulation should be installed so it fits neatly within the stud space with no gaps. This is a must if you intend to use your new finished basement as a rental unit. You can also eliminate the sound transmission from the upstairs if you insulate between the joist bays above your new finished space. This was particularly important in our space since it was going to be used for a theater room. After insulating, the echo was gone and the outside world was forgotten. While shooting the quality check video for insulation, we couldn’t believe the difference in the sound characteristics of our finished basement project. Sound control is another great benefit you will see from the insulation in your basement. You will save an additional $250-$350 per year in energy savings with an R-10 basement wall insulation. Compare the meager R-values for the foundation wall mentioned above to your typical R-15 for your upstairs walls and you see the disconnect. So you have an exposed wall that has almost no insulation value to it. Don’t forget, a good portion of you basement wall is above grade…anywhere from 10″ to 2′. If you look at the R-values of concrete or concrete block (.64 and 1.11 respectively), you will see how much energy loss is through your basement walls. It’s crazy that most homes you go into today don’t have any insulation in their unfinished basement. Another huge benefit of insulating your new space is the energy savings you will see from it. Basements are notorious for being cool and damp. By adding insulation to your space, you will help disguise the fact that you are actually underground. So in this post, we will discuss the different benefits of insulating your basement as well as the proper techniques for installation.īenefits of Insulation: We just mentioned the biggest benefit of basement insulation your space will be much more cozy and comfortable. This is crazy since up to 30% of your home’s energy loss is through the basement walls. Believe it or not, most new homes didn’t get basement insulation until recently. By insulating your new finished basement you will create a cozy space that will actually improve the energy efficiency of your home.
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