Should you put a vapor barrier on basement walls?

Steve Bliss, of BuildingAdvisor.com, writes: The short answer is: Don’t use a vapor barrier in a finished basement. This is asking for trouble, especially with a full bathroom, which generates a lot of humid air. Rigid foam board on the interior, like you have, is the ideal insulation.

What kind of insulation is best for basement walls?





Rigid foam sheets are best for DIYers who are insulating basements prior to framing the walls. Rigid foam also works well when the concrete or block walls are smooth and flat. Rigid foam insulation is easy to use. In addition to scoring, it can be cut by an ordinary wood saw.

How do you insulate a cold wall from the inside?

Internal wall insulation is done by fitting rigid insulation boards to the wall, or by building a stud wall filled in with insulation material such as mineral wool fibre. Internal insulation: Is generally cheaper to install than external wall insulation.

How do you insulate a basement wall in Ontario?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So you don't need a lot of insulation on basement walls in fact. You can do the job well with just a two inch layer of polystyrene stuck right to the surface of the concrete.

Should you insulate interior basement walls?

Walls. Basement walls should be insulated with non-water sensitive insulation that prevents interior air from contacting cold basement surfaces—the concrete structural elements and the rim joist framing.

Do I need to insulate basement walls below grade?





Your best bang for the dollar in this instance is to insulate the coldest part of the wall, again typically to 2-feet below grade. However, there are many instances where insulating the full wall is the best option, such as if your walls are stone, or the floor is earth or crushed stone with no vapor barrier.

What is code for basement insulation in Ontario?

On a side note most all areas require a non finished basement to be at least insulated and vapour barrier to a point usually 6″ below the exterior grade line.

How do you insulate a basement foundation wall?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And customers to install a polystyrene rigid foam board at least an inch thick onto that exterior wall first. Once.

Can you use fiberglass insulation in basement walls?

If you must use fiberglass, there needs to be a space between the insulation and the wall. If not, the place where the insulation touches the concrete will be overtaken by mold and mildew. Remember, fiberglass does NOT resist moisture, so it’s generally a no-no when insulating basements.

Is there a benefit to insulating interior walls?



Insulating interior walls isn’t absolutely necessary, but it does offer a number of benefits. It controls noise, improves energy efficiency, provides fire protection, and reduces the risk of moisture problems.

What is the cheapest way to insulate basement walls?

The smart and inexpensive way to insulate joist bays is to use extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam insulation panels cut to size to fit inside the bay and “glued” in with expanding foam. When the expanding foam hardens, trim away the excess and cover the foam with a piece 1/2″ thick drywall to meet fire code.

Will insulating basement reduce humidity?

Insulating your basement cannot reduce the humidity because it is designed to help control temperature. Insulation can help reduce humidity by keeping the air colder or reducing condensation by keeping the air warmer. However, it cannot change the moisture levels in the air.

Should I put plastic on basement walls?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And the plastic. On this wall you don't have a solid air barrier that allows all the heat and moisture. Within the home and in the basement to penetrate this wall cavity.

How do you vapor barrier a basement wall?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So the the first product that you could use would just be a six mil poly sheeting. So plastic sheeting. And obviously this is just a little wee strip just a sample right here you're covering your

How do you insulate basement walls to prevent mold?

The ideal Basement wall assembly to prevent mold growth:

  1. Install two inches of rigid insulation board directly against concrete. …
  2. Frame an interior 2×4 stud wall at 24 inch centres, pressed tightly against the foam panels.
  3. Install mineral wool batts in the cavities.

Should you seal basement walls before finishing?

Nothing will ruin a beautiful remodeling job like soaked carpets, moldy drywall and damaged furniture so it is essential that a basement be fully waterproofed before any finishing work begins.

How do you finish a basement with an interior French drain?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Them i was going to use two inch rigid foam on the walls. After i sealed them of course i was going to put dry lock or something similar on the walls.

Should you Drylock basement walls?

Of course, the reason you need to seal any basement foundation is because the foundation is porous. Moisture can come through the concrete, stone or block and cause a lot of problems under the house so sealing it is an integral part of the process in making sure your basement is clean and dry.

How do you waterproof the inside of a basement wall?

Apply a masonry waterproofing product to the walls



Seal/coat the interior of the walls with a suitable masonry waterproof product. When the paint dries, the sealant forms a watertight bond to stop water from seeping through. This is how you can waterproof your basement walls from inside.

Is interior waterproofing effective?

Waterproofing a basement from the inside is typically the best option for most homes – mainly because it’s more cost-effective and less disruptive than exterior excavation.

Should you seal basement walls?



If there are not any immediate problems with the walls or floors, prevent future damage by applying one or two coats of basement sealer. It is also important to safeguard the basement by ensuring that water can’t make its way into the home via the foundation.