Basement mould / Guides

...mould-free. The neighbouring home to the East is being constructed using 16” Double stud wood frame achieving an insulation value of R-56. Foundations: All three foundations will be constructed using I CF blocks with an additional interior wall for extra insulation. The result is a foundation with an R-40 insul...

...basements that is all too familiar is due to either poorly installed insulation , or having no insulation at all. Building below grade presents much greater challenges than above grade as walls cannot dry to the outside. Please see our pages on how to prevent mold in basements guide and basement insulation guide guide ...

...Basements: Trust your nose - does it seem dank and mouldy? Is there any sign of previous flooding? Is it insulated, and how well? A good thing to know is when any upgrades were done; basements are almost always built poorly and will likely have a much shorter lifespan than above-grade walls. Sometimes walls in mechanic...

...basement walls correctly Raise wood-framed basement walls and any wood-framed floor structure off the ground by resting them on foam blocks. Even though it still happens in almost every tract home basement, do not install interior vapour barriers on basement walls; this will trap moisture and cause rot and mold in ...

...basements as oulined above Ventilate using a HRV or ERV, because let's face it - fresh air improves any Man Cave! Further reading for basement mold prevention: How to choose between an ERV & HRV system for basement ventilation & Mold prevention - EcoHome Guide How much insulation does a basement need - EcoH...

...basements as oulined above Ventilate using a HRV or ERV, because let's face it - fresh air improves any Man Cave! Further reading for basement mold prevention: How to choose between an ERV & HRV system for basement ventilation & Mold prevention - EcoHome Guide How much insulation does a basement need - EcoH...

Vapor Barrier + Air-Con = Damp Moldy Walls So here's a little known fact that most HVAC installers won't tell a potential new client for central air; Polyethylene vapor barriers in combination with air conditioning in homes can rot walls because of the condensation they may cause. This is why if you have a newer hom...

Crawlspace insulation - be careful to get it right A crawlspace comes with all the downsides of a basement, but it is just too low a space to be functional either beyond the folded plastic christmas tree and a couple of boxes of baubles. Unless there is a good reason for it, going through the process of pouring a fo...

...basements or crawlspaces – When a home is built on a crawlspace or basement this can often be the cause of humidity in the home – even when the home is newer many areas building Code’s lock humidity in finished basement walls for years, causing damp and mold issues. Many basements were built with inadequate insulation,...