Basement Insulation

Basement insulation can not only make your home more comfortable, it can save you money on your utility bills. Did you know that your foundation walls could be responsible for 20 percent of the heat loss in your home? While basement insulation will cost money, in the long run it will save you money in utility bills, enhance the comfort in your home and raise your home’s value.

Basement insulation can be achieved in several ways. Determining which insulation is best for your home depends on your situation. For starters, is your home currently under construction? There are certain types of insulation installed during construction of the home? Will you be finishing your basement? Still other types of insulation work best when you will be finishing your basement.

The cheapest form of basement insulation is traditional blanket batt and roll insulation. While this is the least inexpensive choice, it is not usually the best choice for a basement. Should you ever experience a moisture problem, this type of insulation can provide a feeding ground for mold and mildew.

For basement insulation if your home is under construction or about to be constructed either concrete block insulation or insulating concrete forms is a good choice. For concrete block insulation, the cores of the blocks of the foundation are filled with loose foam beads or liquid foam insulation. Some newer types of concrete block can even be filled with sheets of rigid foam insulation.

Insulating concrete forms are foam boards that are held together and used as forms for a poured concrete foundation. These foam boards remain in place after the concrete has cured and create basement insulation in the wall itself. Steel rebar is added as well to strengthen the poured concrete.

Foam board insulation is a good basement insulation option for existing basements. These rigid boards can even add structural integrity to your home while providing insulation.

Loose-fill insulation and sprayed foam insulation are both good choices for basement insulation in a finished basement. Both of these are installed after the basement is finished since they need walls to hold them in place and provide fire ratings as required by most building codes.

Of course anytime you are thinking of installing basement insulation you need to first make sure the basement is free of moisture. Proper waterproofing is key before installing any kind of basement insulation.

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