Comments on: DIY Basement Insulation Video

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:49:50 +0000

Perfectly acceptable…good luck.

By: Roger

Roger — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:48:37 +0000

Todd,
What’s your opinion of putting two 1 1/2″ pieces of polyiso back-to-back in the rim joists?
Thanks.
Roger

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:11:11 +0000

Jason – It will work but it’s not the best solution. Basements are so damp that I’d rather see at least a 2 inch layer of foam in the stud cavity before fiberglass. This is just another good layer of protection but one that I feel is worth it in basements.

Good luck.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 13 May 2013 03:37:28 +0000

Hi Todd,

Great video and very informative. My basement is a block wall that sits below grade then wood studs which are above grade that sit on top of the block. My plan was to use 2″ of foam board over the block wall and build a wall with unfaced insulation over it. I was only going to go up about 4 feet to where the studs sit on top of the block and create a shelf in the basement. Would this be a proper installation?

On the studs that are above grade I was planning on using fiberglass insulation then drywall.

Thanks,

Jason

By: Todd

Todd — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:59:14 +0000

Paul – Certainly a great question. The answer is…..there is no good answer. Basements like yours always run the risk of issues because you have “active” water events. Having said that I would probably modify the bottom of the sheets slightly. I would cut a 1/2″ thick piece of the foam from the back of the sheet to create a “channel” where the water can drip out of the hold and run down the wall to the drain. Be sure the sheets are well sealed to each other and the floor below.

Good luck…thanks for the compliments.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 03:32:18 +0000

Todd,

Thanks again. One last question if I may…

We had a major thaw this week, and the drylok helped considerably on the walls. A drop of dampness here and there, but for the most part all of the water moved down and out through the weep holes which are an inch up from bottom of block wall. They were drizzling water into the interior perimeter drain system pretty steady during peak thaw. That made me think…

Should I adhere the xps foam right over the weep holes and seal it down the floor, or should I cut the xps a bit short short and seal the bottom of the xps sheets to the wall just above the weep holes (leaving the bottom inch of block wall uninsulated, but unobstructed water flow from weep holes to french drain?)

My friend is helping me with this project, and he may have already asked this. I scoured your boards for his post, but didn’t see it. If I missed it, apologies for the redundancy. We have learned a ton from your website. We have done our research, and this is the single best resource we have found on this topic.

Thanks.

Paul