Alex KesheshianApril 23, 2020Last updated: Sept. 25, 2020
Building a new raised bungalow in Ontario. Basement will have 9' ceilings, 5 ' concrete wall and 4' knee wall built with 2x6 and batt insulation r22. Should I run rigid insulation inside the foundation wall up the concrete and cover the knee wall as well? If so what product makes the most sense?
Basements are more susceptible to moisture and water damage, so you should keep that in mind when choosing insulation for basements, along with how to design a wall so that they can dry in order to prevent mold from developing. Yes, we would propose a continuous layer of rigid insulation against foundation walls to separate the stud wall from the concrete. Our recommendation would be EPS rigid foam, read more here –
And yes, I would say running the Rigid insulation from the bottom of the concrete and up covering the above grade stud wall portion is a good idea. 2 is the thickness Where EPS begins to act as a vapor barrier, so depending on your climate zone and ideal construction method, a building inspector may or may not accept EPS as the functional vapor barrier. If not, you could first apply a 6-mil poly barrier between the EPS and the stud wall. See more about basement construction here –
Basements in Canada & USA face serious challenges: fluctuating water tables, surface floods, thermal shock, radon gas infiltration, condensation, mold, mildew,…
Why are basements moldy? Because we build walls so they can't dry. Simple changes in wall design will result in mould-free durable basements. Basements don't h…
Basement mold and mildew can easily be avoided with better designed walls. Common building practices trap moisture in wall assemblies preventing them from dryi…
When it comes to choosing a building envelope there are many variables to consider: what climate zone you're building in, performance, durability, health, comf…
Rigid foam insulation boards are different. Choose carefully between Polyisocyanurate, EPS & XPS or Mineral Wool & Hemp as the wrong choice can reduce insulati…
Crawlspaces are becoming rare for new home construction in USA & Canada. If you've got a crawls space with damp, mold, odor & cold issues, here's how to insula…
Installing 8 inches of Roxul mineral wool below a concrete slab floor. Insulating below slab-on-grade foundations
Why insulate under a slab on grade foundation…
Basements are more susceptible to moisture and water damage, so you should keep that in mind when choosing insulation for basements, along with how to design a wall so that they can dry in order to prevent mold from developing. Yes, we would propose a continuous layer of rigid insulation against foundation walls to separate the stud wall from the concrete. Our recommendation would be EPS rigid foam, read more here –
Choosing the right Rigid Insulation Panels
And yes, I would say running the Rigid insulation from the bottom of the concrete and up covering the above grade stud wall portion is a good idea. 2 is the thickness Where EPS begins to act as a vapor barrier, so depending on your climate zone and ideal construction method, a building inspector may or may not accept EPS as the functional vapor barrier. If not, you could first apply a 6-mil poly barrier between the EPS and the stud wall. See more about basement construction here –
Best practices for basement construction for new homes and renovations