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Recent Articles
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How To Frame And Insulate Basement Walls
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Tom K. of Juneau, AK wrote: Hi Itchy, This year my project is insulating the basement walls. I have looked at a couple of different methods. What approach would you use to insulate basement walls? There are only two methods I would recommend. One is attaching the insulating by using furring strips. The other is to frame a wall for the insulation to rest in. That is the method I'll show you. Before you get started, make sure you don't have any moisture problems. If you do you need to fix them first. Also you need to prep your basement for insulation. Inspect the basement walls and remove any nails or obstructions. Apply caulk to any cracks and allow to dry. Finally, apply a coat of waterproofing sealant to the basement walls. |
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You're going
to need to frame a wall. I would use 2" X 4" lumber built flush to the wall.
This will allow you to install insulation up to a value of R-13. I would also
frame it 16" on center. The top plate can be nailed to the bottom of the joists
and the bottom plate will need to be fastened to the concrete. Cut each piece of
2" X 4" separately, use a level and install
When insulating a basement wall you could use fiberglass batts or blankets. I would recommend using rigid foam board. It has a higher r-value per inch of thickness and resists moisture better than fiberglass. You can buy rigid insulation in dimensions of 2' wide and 8' long. Use a straight edge and cut the rigid insulation to fit the wall cavities. Use two layers of insulation and make sure the second layer overlaps the seams of the first layer installed. Once the basement walls are insulated, you need to install a vapor barrier. Using a staple hammer attach a sheet of 6 mil plastic to the wall by stapling it across the top plate and going down the face of the studs. Staple about every 6 inches and when you get down the bottom plate staple down the length of it as well. That's it. The insulated basement wall is now ready for drywall to be installed.
Photo Courtesy of U.S. DOE
Related Tips and Advice:
How To Prepare Your Basement For Insulation | ||||
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the
studs 16" on center. Depending on your situation, you may be able to build the
wall on the floor and lift it up and secure it in place. Once completed apply a
bead of caulking to the bottom plate, top plate and the studs at each end to
seal all gaps.
