Basement Insulation?? Advice??

[LD1]

Pay now or pay later..

Not sure what you mean.

Probabally 99.9% of homes are fiberglass and the other .1% are spray foam. Are you saying that is the case with 99.9% of homes??

I do appreciate your concern though. But in my case, it was either fiberglass or nothing at all cause I just couldnt afford the sprayfoam. So IMO, fiberglass is certainly better than nothing at all. And for $300 vs $1700.......

I think one would have a VERY hard time proving that sprayfoam would save me $1400 in any length of time. Especially in a basement:confused2:

 

[Johnp33]

I put up a metal building and was going to get my half spray foamed, people that worked in metal buildings that had foam said there experience with it was it cracked up and came loose, was nearly impossible to remove.
I bought R30 fiberglass for the walls the ceiling was done when it was built

 

[CurlyDave]

I would question whether any insulation at all is a good idea for many basements.

I just finished a house in the SF Bay area, and the town and building codes required insulation in the downstairs, which is dug into a hillside much like a walk-out basement. The area has a few hot days in the summer, but not more than 5 or 10 per year. My thinking was that if I left the walls which are against dirt completely uninsulated, I would need more heat in winter, but this would be offset by much less air conditioning in summer. In fact, if I could avoid installing any A/C at all, there would be savings both in cost of insulation and not buying the A/C unit in the first place.

Not every house is going to have this situation, but there are some instances where no insulation at all in certain walls is more economical than insulation when the total cost of a full year heating/cooling cycle is calculated.

 

[hr3]

Not sure what you mean.

Probabally 99.9% of homes are fiberglass and the other .1% are spray foam. Are you saying that is the case with 99.9% of homes??

I do appreciate your concern though. But in my case, it was either fiberglass or nothing at all cause I just couldnt afford the sprayfoam. So IMO, fiberglass is certainly better than nothing at all. And for $300 vs $1700.......

I think one would have a VERY hard time proving that sprayfoam would save me $1400 in any length of time. Especially in a basement:confused2:

About 20 years ago I finished off a 30 by 30 area in my basement under the master bedroom.. Did like you did,,fiberglass and studs held off the basement walls..One summer I had a waterline break and had 6" of water throughout the basement..
The adjuster that came to look at it said that if I had used rigid foam or spray foam I would only have to take the bottom 2' of rock off let it dry and then repair.. but with the fiberglass it had wicked up so high all the walls had to come out..

 

[LD1]

About 20 years ago I finished off a 30 by 30 area in my basement under the master bedroom.. Did like you did,,fiberglass and studs held off the basement walls..One summer I had a waterline break and had 6" of water throughout the basement..
The adjuster that came to look at it said that if I had used rigid foam or spray foam I would only have to take the bottom 2' of rock off let it dry and then repair.. but with the fiberglass it had wicked up so high all the walls had to come out..

So by your logic, I should spend 5x's more money to save the insurance company money in the event of water damage??? I doubt they would lower my premiums either.

Sorry, but I dont want to spend a fortune only to save someone else money at my expense

 

[newbury]

So by your logic, I should spend 5x's more money to save the insurance company money in the event of water damage??? I doubt they would lower my premiums either.

Sorry, but I dont want to spend a fortune only to save someone else money at my expense

Actually by my logic you should have started the fiberglass a 8" inches off the floor.

 

[LD1]

Actually by my logic you should have started the fiberglass a 8" inches off the floor.

I think that would have negated most of the effects of the insulation, since cold air settles, and their is an air gap behind the wall......

The entire walls in this basement were done for about the cost of JUST spray foam. So If I have to tear everything out back to the block IF something bad happens....Im only out $1500. But in 6 years I have had zero issues. I try to stay on top of things. But if something DOES happen...thats why I pay insurance.

But that would be the same for anyone with a finished basement.

 

[hr3]

Now I'm realy confused.. You started the post saying,,

2-10-12

Backgroung...I want to finish the basement on a budget. It is heated/cooled but the cold walls seem to suck a lot of heat out of the house.

Then in your last post you state

3-22-12

The entire walls in this basement were done for about the cost of JUST spray foam. So If I have to tear everything out back to the block IF something bad happens....Im only out $1500. But in 6 years I have had zero issues. I try to stay on top of things. But if something DOES happen...thats why I pay insurance

 

[LD1]

Now I'm realy confused.. You started the post saying,,

2-10-12


Then in your last post you state

3-22-12

What part are you confused about:confused2:

On 2-10-12 I was asking about insulating a basement on a budget.

3-22-12, It has already been insulated. I got the advice and found the answers to what I was looking for. I purchased insulation, and have it insulated already.

Whats to be confused about? I guess I should have posted an update as to where I was at, but the thread was dead for three weeks or better so I didnt bother. Someone brought up spray foam a few days ago. So I updated everyone by saying I was already done.

So again, what are you confused about? Try asking me a question rather than quoting a few of my posts and mearly saying you are comfused

 

[hr3]

The 6 years part that you left out of my quote.. You say in 6 years you see no issues?? Not sure if it is that you have lived there 6 years or the project has been done for 6 years..

Wish you all the best hr3

 

[LD1]

The 6 years part that you left out of my quote.. You say in 6 years you see no issues?? Not sure if it is that you have lived there 6 years or the project has been done for 6 years..

Wish you all the best hr3

I have lived here 6 years and NEVER had any basement related issues. That 6 years was an UN-finished basement. I am just NOW finishing it:thumbsup:

 

[shortthrow50]

You guys don't worry about mold

 

[MotorSeven]

A properly done footer/ground work with perimeter drain and rain water management to keep it away from the foundation will prevent any mold in any basement.

LD I have to do the same thing. My basement has two sides in ground so I am only going to insulate the exposed sides. I already have quite a bit of 2" High density foam board, so I am thinking of putting it on the outside then stuccoing it. I think waterproof paint inside and wiring in metal conduit is a nice clean look good in a basement.

As for spray foam, I am sold on it. I put it in the apartment side of our quonset hut(14x30) 5years ago and I heat the whole place with a 1500 watt Pelonis cube heater. It is more expensive, but worth every penny and I think it out performs anything else out there in many ways.

 

[shortthrow50]

A properly done footer/ground work with perimeter drain and rain water management to keep it away from the foundation will prevent any mold in any basement.

LD I have to do the same thing. My basement has two sides in ground so I am only going to insulate the exposed sides. I already have quite a bit of 2" High density foam board, so I am thinking of putting it on the outside then stuccoing it. I think waterproof paint inside and wiring in metal conduit is a nice clean look good in a basement.

As for spray foam, I am sold on it. I put it in the apartment side of our quonset hut(14x30) 5years ago and I heat the whole place with a 1500 watt Pelonis cube heater. It is more expensive, but worth every penny and I think it out performs anything else out there in many ways.

i know but the threat is always there. Only thing that scares me and once it is finished, you wont even know if its growin or not. I work for a builder and have seen some nasty crap growin behind some finished basement walls. Even condensation can build up on the concrete walls