Insulating basements / Discussions

...Insulating a slab from above in a cold climate like Winnipeg is a smart move to improve comfort. Since it was built in 2008 it likely has some insulation, but not a lot, so adding 4 inches of insulation will significantly reduce heat loss and keep the floor and your feet warm. There is nothing wrong with EPS foam, you ...

...basements - Why encapsulation is the best method for basement and foundation upgrades A more reliable approach is to install the dimpled membrane against the wall, followed by a continuous layer of rigid 2-inch XPS foam boards with sealed joints. You can then build an  interior framed wall that is safely protected from...

We just had a rare flash flood which raised the water table and forced water into our basement between the floor and wall. It was a finished basement with carpeting. We don't plan to put carpeting back in but would like something nice looking that would not have to be removed if this ever happened again. It previously ...

Concrete block basement wall. Moisture issue in spring ( and I suspect fall). We get a lot of people asking about the best way to insulate a cinder block (CMU) foundation wall, I would say the first place to go is this discussion here which I think already answers all your questions -   How to insulate a cinder block f...

...Basements Moldy? How to Fix & Prevent Mold in Homes A dehumidifier is a good thing to have in a basement but it won’t do much to remove moisture from the other side of a vapor barrier. Judging by how the builders designed the interior and the fact that it is still wet 15 years later, I would be surprised if they in...

...basements, and for a few more tips you could check out this page -  How to Insulate Basements Properly And to address your question specifically, in a perfect world yes, you would do it all and continuously. If you are simply not going to insulate your laundry room, you are still better to do the rest of it than not at...

I'm trying to insulate Rim joists /cripple walls in basements have read about three methods using EPS & batt with slightly different orders. Plan to insulate concrete walls with 2" of EPS, with 2x4 framing (filled with rockwool batt), and then drywall. Which one of these approaches should I use?  1) Sandwich multip...

I live in climate zone 5 in USA and plan to frame basement walls roughly 3” away from concrete and then place mineral wool between the studs.  I do not plan to apply any vapor barrier to the concrete or between the studs and drywall and the mineral wool has no vapor barrier.  Is this space between concrete and studwall...

...insulating it. Many basements in older homes simply are not insulated at all, and therefore they do have higher heating bills to show for it (which is not great long term), but for one winter I wouldn’t think twice about leaving it uninsulated. The basement may not be suitable for refinishing, but it will for sure be s...

Our house is a little over 100 years old, with a cinderblock foundation walls in the basement.  We’ve got a minor crack in the grout, and we were advised to fill the block with concrete for strength, in addition to repairing the grout.   Thanks in advance  Hi Nina,  That's a structural question that we would be unable ...

...basements properly in new homes -  Best practices for building basements in new homes Now that we got that stuff out of the way.... here are some more direct answers to your questions. There are a lot of questions in there so I've copied them here below so neither of us get lost :  Question: Concrete Foundation: Durof...

...basements walls the same way they build above grade walls, without realizing that they can’t dry to the outside.  So putting organic materials like wood against a wet concrete wall, (yes, your concrete wall is probably wet even if you think its dry) followed by batt insulation and a sheet of plastic should surprise no ...

Hello, I'm in the midst of a post-flood basement renovation and have been doing some reading on your website only recently. I'm realizing that I may have made some mistakes and would like your advice as to what direction to take in order to minimize future problems. The basement was partially finished when it flooded a...

...insulating your basement. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), this part of the home is typically responsible for more than 30% of heat loss. Here is a page that can help, all about how to build a basement properly -  Why basements are moldy and how to fix it  It sounds like you do have prob...