Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [basement-insulation]

42 questions
3
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2 answers

Should I run vapor barrier across the ceiling in a basement?

I'm currently working on finishing my basement. Right now I'm working finishing up the insulation and am getting ready to install a plastic vapor barrier. Since I live in Massachusetts which is a cooler climate, I plan to install the vapor barrier…
user2704238
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Will I lose a ton of efficiency by removing the blue foam insulation from my unfinished basement?

My house inspection noted that the exposed blue foam insulation in my basement is not to code and (if there’s a fire) could be dangerous due to noxious fumes. The insurance provider has told me to remove it, or cover it with drywall to ensure…
user138192
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3 answers

How can I insulate a crawl space with very large joist spacing?

I have an older home (60's era) with rather cold floors. I was thinking of adding fiberglass batting to help with this, but when I went to measure the joist spacing, it seems MUCH larger than I expected. Spacing between the joists in the photo is…
James C.
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Can I attach tongue and groove wood paneling (or similar) directly to foam over concrete block?

I am currently working in the cinder block basement of a small cabin in a climate with very cold winters. The convective cold from the cinder block walls in the winter is quite chilly. I want to attach one inch thick XPS to the walls to aid in heat…
absentx
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Is there any reason *not* to add shipping styrofoam pieces to wall insulation?

My basement walls are covered with a few inches of polyiso foam board with interior stud walls being built over the foam board. I have some extra pieces of foam board from the installation that I am going to add to a couple of the stud bays (a…
susie derkins
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Framing small basement wall, but stairs don't leave space for foam insulation

I'm working on finishing my basement, and I'm not sure what the best approach is for framing this short section of wall so that the stair drywall transitions smoothly into the basement wall. This house was built roughly 10 years ago, it should be…
agscala
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Insulating a basement roof

Not sure if "basement roof" is the right term for this... My houses concrete foundation has a small extension, which sticks roughly 2-3 feet out from the rest of the foundation for a space of about 4-5 feet. This results in roughly 10 sq ft of…
yoozer8
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Basement Insulation Advice

We have a basement kitchen which was dug out about 25 years ago and wasn't insulated. Behind the kitchen units there is a void up to the retaining wall on one side and an external wall on the other. I'd like to add some insulation but I'm limited in…
Griff
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Can rigid foam insulation board be installed on wet walls?

In the middle of a room addition; block foundation crawl space just built. I was planning on installing rigid foam board to the interior walls before the framing begins by using a powder activated gun with nails and washers. Can I do this while…
Evil Elf
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Can rockwool batting be used in termite heavy area under interior face of foundation wall in ground contact?

I have a gap in my below-grade cellar ceiling and the interior face of my exterior foundation brick wall that I want to seal up. I'm thinking of stuffing it with some Rockwool batting. It was an area that was previously attacked by termites so I…
MonkeyBonkey
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Is this hose bib install missing insulation or a shut-off valve?

Plumbers installed an outdoor faucet in a requested location by drilling through a block basement wall and installing a hose bib that will not freeze. I asked if a turn-off valve needed to be installed on the inside and they said that wasn't…
cr0
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Basement wall design

I'm working on finishing my basement with 6 corners. The back wall is solid concrete with 4 corners (the garage is above one section). There is no moisture, and I plan on keeping it fresh with the two windows on the non-concrete side. Should I use…
MoKi
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How to fire block/draft block large gaps in the basement?

Coming up on my inspection and I am unsure what to use to fire-block/draft stop parts of my basement. The framing around the perimeter sits between 4" to 6" away from the poured concrete. I'm using this spray foam to fill smaller gaps and holes (It…
EMAW2008
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Newbie questions on framing exterior basement walls

I'm looking into doing some finishing work on my basement, which is entirely unfinished at this time with the exception of some shelving. House is circa 2008 built in Western NY (Zone 5). Foundation walls are solid concrete pour. The foundation…
Andy Hall
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Can I remove accumulated sawdust from fiberglass insulation?

I have an unfinished basement with framed and insulated (the yellow fiberglass stuff) walls, but no sheet rock. Over time there has been a lot of accumulation of sawdust on the insulation as the area is a workshop. I'm now planning to finish the…
Matthew
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