Insulating Concrete Walls Below Grade

Eps insulation blocks can be custom cut into a variety of shapes and sizes to meet wide ranging job specifications.

Insulating concrete walls below grade.

And in terms of resistance to infiltration by water and radon gas by ensuring that. Historically used as a stable roof insulation eps has gained wide acceptance in wall below grade and under slab applications due to its low moisture absorption strength and stable long term thermal performance. Both above and below grade icf walls are durable sound reducing energy efficient and disaster resistant. Above and below grade walls of a building or home can use insulated concrete forms icfs in their construction.

The best way to insulate the interior side of a basement wall is with foam insulation that is adhered to or sprayed directly on the concrete. However because of soil conditions below grade walls require added waterproofing steps unlike above grade walls. Wet insulation is ineffective insulation rigid foams that retain high volumes of moisture lose about half of their insulating r value. Damp proof the exterior surface of the below grade walls of basements and unvented crawlspaces.

Basement walls made out of concrete stone concrete bloc and other masonry foundation materials have very minimal insulating properties and cause approximately 20 of heat loss in a home. Plastic vapor barrier against concrete wall fiberglass insulation inside stud wall then drywall. Insulation is vital for concrete basement walls the basement hold the house s furnace water heaters laundry machines and essential utilities. Because insulation installed on below grade building foundations and under concrete slabs is often exposed to moist soil it is crucial to choose an insulation that has minimal long term moisture retention and the ability to dry quickly.

Closed cell spray polyurethane foam or either xps eps or polyisocyanurate rigid foam. Insulation on the exterior of below grade portions of the wall is temporarily held in place by adhesives until the backfill is placed. That portion of the rigid board which extends above grade should be mechanically attached and protected. Stud wall filled with fiberglass insulation an inch or two away from the concrete wall.

Because they are naturally located below ground level basements are mostly cool and damp. Fiberglass insulation inside a bag hanging from the rim joist down along the foundation wall. Since the walls to be insulated are concrete and located partially below grade you must first of all make sure they are in good condition.