Insulating Finished Basements

How to Install Basement Insulation

Like the rest of the house the basement walls should have wall insulation to reduce heating or air conditioning cost. Installing insulation is not a task the DIY homeowner looks forward to with relish. We usually associate insulation as an itchy experience caused from fiberglass batt insulation.

Well, there is another way. If your basement is completely below ground level the best insulation for insulating finished basements is styrofoam sheet insulation. If only part of the basement is below ground level, meaning that part of the basement is concrete and part is a knee-wall frame construction, you may want to stay with the fiberglass batt insulation.

Styrofoam insulation comes in sheets that are ½, 1, and 2 inches thick. It is easy to install, either between the studs or glued on the concrete wall before the stud frame is put in place. It is light weight and can be cut using a razor knife. The insulation factor (R factor) is nearly the same for equal thicknesses of fiberglass. Two inches of styrofoam insulation is adequate for basements in cold climates. In most cases ceiling insulation is not used in basements. The heat in the basement will better migrate to the upper level by conduction if there is no insulation between the floors. In some towns zoning laws require insulation between living floors.

Styrofoam insulation is also a very effective sound barrier. In addition to basement wall insulation it can used to insulate the walls in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and furnace rooms, to reduce unwanted noise so you can enjoy some peace and quiet. If you are considering finishing a basement I recommend considering styrofoam insulation over other types of insulation.

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