String a line even with the inside edge of the plywood and use it to determine exact lookout lengths. As Dana explained, the foil facing on rigid foam has the effect of raising the R-value of an adjacent air space if there is an adjacent air space. There is no additional charge to you! Next, mix up a batch of hydraulic cement to fill the tie rod holes. It also offers continuous insulation, greater R-value and wont lead to mold growth. Be sure to follow any specific instructions from the adhesive manufacturer. Once the glue is dry and all the foam board insulation is installed, you can seal around the foam boards with caulking. Basement insulation differs from the insulation system used throughout the rest of the house on the above-grade floors. Do not subtract studs. PL 300 foam adhesive would hold it pretty well without the tapcons. Next, run a utility knife along the foam board (using the straight edge as a guide) to score the face of the rigid foam board. Interior moisture can enter the wall from air leaks or diffusion through the wall finish. Vapor protection needs to go first against the concrete THEN the wood, so the wood can dry to the interior. Properly installed, basement insulation will save energy, improve comfort, and reduce the likelihood that your walls will be damp. Basement-wall insulation can be placed on the exterior side of the wall, on the interior side of the wall, or on both sides of the wall. Liberally Apply Adhesive. However, you'll likely use a thicker layer of open-cell foam since open-cell's R-value is lower. Use your numbers to determine how much foam board insulation you need. After the rigid foam has been applied to the wall, apply pressure for 30 seconds. That said, I already answered your question about the fiberglass batts in Comment #4. In order to attach and secure rigid foam board insulation to your basement foundation walls, you have two options. While rigid insulation application is mostly the same regardless of what type you use expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS) or the latest advancement in rigid insulation, graphite polystyrene (GPS) there are some notable differences. I have poured concrete walls with exterior side tared and 1-1/2" xps installed below grade. The nails should be spaced along each stud, 24 inches apart. It's on piers, so open exposed joists underneath the building. If the air distribution is in the attic space, then consider insulating the rafters to move the distribution into the conditioned space. Smooth or replace deteriorated surfaces and old parging with an appropriate type of new parging. Adhere and apply the remaining panels. I don't want to waste money or cause a problem so I want to figure this out first. Step 1 - Prepare the Wall Before you begin, wash the wall with water and a mild soap. Pngtree provides you with 24 free hd Foam Insulation background images, photos, banners and wallpaper. Worse, the highly porous material becomes a breeding ground for mold and other allergens. R-TECH - Measure, Mark & Cut InsulFoam EPS. But yes, we would put rigid foam boards against the wall THEN the stud wall, you don't want to have organic material exposed to moisture, particularly having a source of moisture on one side and an impermeable or semi-impermeable layer to follow. If the foam board insulation has a built-in pocket to accept a 2-inch by 3-inch furring strip, use this. For framing half walls, make all of the studs the same length and cut them so the wall is slightly taller than the masonry. Thatmusty, Rigid foam insulation boards are different. Four inches of polyiso has an R-value of about R-16 -- less than minimum code requirements. We like to use a all purpose adhesive that's approved for Styrofoam products. Apply a continuous bead of foam adhesive to the back of the first insulation board. We had to do several things differently to make that . At least two weeks before insulating the basement, tape a 24-inch by 24-inch section of clear plastic against the foundation wall. To cut rigid foam board insulation follow these steps: Build Out Around Windows Windows set in a block or concrete wall will need wood around them in order to attach the drywall or jamb extensions. Check the insulation manufacturer's instructions for the necessary thickness of plastic. But, make no mistake about it: Finishing a basement is a big job. In some ways, construction is easier than the furring strips method because fewer fasteners need to be driven into concrete. Later, drywall is installed on the furring strips. A trick that sometimes works if the plumbing and wiring is attached to the wall with concrete screws: Take the screws out and put a longer screw in the hole. They have screens and a metal push flap to close. Before beginning to install rigid foam insulation on your basement concrete walls, ensure that there are no water or foundation issues in your basement. Finally, simply apply the rigid foam to the wall, starting at the slab and then pushing it back toward the ceiling joists as in the image below. We recommend our users to update the browser. The method we show for finishing will take care of that problem. Get all the construction documentation you'll need, in a single click: Specify This Solution ZIP | 5 MB Products in this Solution FOAMULAR & FOAMULAR NGX 400/600/1000 Data Sheet PDF | 441.02 KB For basements, a moisture-resistant green board is best. Draw a line of adhesive around the perimeter of the sheet, then make a large X across the center with the adhesive as well. Nail on a 24 nailing strip using the chalk line to position the bottom of the strip. The batts are faced with paper. A continuous exterior layer of rigid foam always performs better than the same foam cut into narrow rectangles and inserted between the joists. The concrete is the wet part you need to worry about, not any humidity in the air, which is why vapor barriers are installed in above grade walls, and it works there because the walls can dry to the outside, which they cannot do below grade. Why should you use Rigid Foam Insulation for Basement Exterior Walls? This air infiltrates the home in the form of drafts through walls sockets, windows and doorways. One simple way to insulate the interior of a basement wall is with a continuous layer of rigid foam that is thick enough to meet the minimum R-value for your climate zone. When installing Exterra over studs, the fasteners should penetrate at least -inches into the studs or blocking. Rigid foam insulation board comes in many different thicknesses and R-values (which is the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow). "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. Regardless of whether you use XPS, GPS and so on, the application is mostly the same. Use a powder actuated nail gun to nail the bottom plate to the concrete floor. Rigid foam insulation is made from extruded polystyrene, which is generally safe for handling without gloves. Plus, with thicknesses up to 6-3/4 inches, this wall system will take up a lot of valuable basement space. Let's revisit this question. You have two options with rigid foam: rigid foam only or rigid foam with a stud wall system. Install rigid foam insulationboards oriented vertically from the top of basement floor to the sill plate. If you frame a 24 wall, dont forget to install fireblocking at the top of the wall. Before we begin installing Rigid Foam Board insulation, lets take a few moments to define what rigid foam board insulation actually IS and why it is a great insulation option for your basement walls. If necessary, apply basement waterproofing sealer to the wall. Step four: Install a layer of OSB or plywood to protect the rigid foam from creatures. Since you likely don't have such a membrane on the exterior, the blocks will always have a certain amount of moisture content. Use a hammer to drive the nails through the foam board insulation into the studs. There is no signs of water, just humidity. In unfinished attic spaces, insulate between and over the floor joists to seal off living spaces below. The batts are optional. Is that too much? How to Determine The Correct Foam Board Insulation Thickness For Your Project. On those upper floors, wood stud walls enclose soft fiberglass insulation batts. Let's look at two different options for how to attach the insulation: with glue and with nails. He proclaims that would be where my musty smell comes from. I already have framing in their but enough to squeeze in half inch against a rock foundaiton (built late 1800's). But this method requires more building materials, making it more expensive and overall more difficult to construct. The edges of the paper are stapled to the studs. What's your take on it? Do I need to fill the space at all? Installation & Services . Can you please explain a bit better what the mold expert told you? Step 1: Install the Sheeting. Get 2023 Foam Board Insulation price options and installation cost ranges. That means that, as long as you've done a perfect job air-sealing the rim joist, you can omit fluffy insulation between the joists (assuming that you would be satisfied with R-16 performance). It's a lot of work. Insulation of slab and strip foundation from below. insulation shop online. Currently there is only fiberglass insulation in the floor joists that is infected with rodents, and some poorly covered poly along the ground. Snap a chalk line and screw the top plate to the blocking with 3-inch screws. Frame partition walls as you did the outside walls, installing blocking between joists wherever its needed. Step three: Install a continuous layer of rigid foam on the underside of the the joists. You can do this with either a utility knife or a fine-tuned hand saw. Martin Holladay is a retired editor living in Vermont. For example, the wall may be 30 feet long by 7 feet high. My frames are already put up. If moisture collects on the backside after a few days, then water is wicking through the foundation wall from outside. Start with moving batts of insulation around the pipes and wires and staple them to the lower edges of the joists. With the wall system fully watertight, soft R-13 or R-15 insulation can be added between the studs as an option. This method is straightforward and less expensive than the stud system method. While this step is optional, it will double the R-value of the basement insulation. Sign up for our newsletter! 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