Cincinnati Homes For Sale

Courtesy of Tom & Tracey Capuano with Pillar to Post Home Inspections:  

The basement is usually the last place people think to insulate, yet the basement can account for up to 1/3 of heat loss in a home. Upgrading basement insulation can significantly cut down on energy use. It also creates a comfortable space - a boon to people who wish to extend their recreation and living space into the basement. The perfect time to consider insulating the basement is during a renovation.

Deal with dampness first - Most experts agree that you should deal with any dampness issues before insulating the basement from the interior.

Seek out knowledgeable contractors - Do not simply follow traditional conventions. Significant advances in the best techniques for insulating basements mean better results.

Fix basement windows - One of the most effective strategies for improving the thermal efficiency of your home is to seal air leaks. Seal and weather strip basement windows, which are often neglected.

Where Should the Insulation Go?

From a building-science point-of-view, it is better to insulate the outside of the foundation. From a practicality point-of-view, however, insulation is easier to apply from the inside, especially if done while renovating.

Here are the pros and cons of exterior versus interior insulation:

Exterior Pros

• You can address any foundation water issues at the same time.
• Insulation will not take up interior basement space.
• The foundation itself will be warm (at the interior temperature), reducing condensation issues.
• The foundation stays dry inside, reducing or eliminating mold and mildew.

Exterior Cons

• Disruptive and expensive: you have to dig soil to get at the foundation.
• The above-grade portion of the foundation insulation is difficult to finish and protect. Rigid-foam insulation is the most common exterior insulation material, most often finished with stucco, a fragile finish that gets damaged from impact of lawn tools, etc. Possible fix: use exterior insulation for the below-grade part of the exterior and then insulate the above-grade part from the inside.

Interior Pros

• Much easier to install and less expensive than exterior insulation.
• Does not disrupt landscaping.
• Can be done while renovating the basement.

Interior Cons

• Foundation wall will be at exterior temperature (cold), making it prone to condensation. Possible fix: foam-based insulation that is tightly sealed to the foundation wall is a good way to control air leakage from the house to the foundation wall surface.
• Likely migration of moisture into the finished wall due to seepage from outside and from capillary action that draws moisture up from the ground through the footing.
• Any moisture that gets into the wall system from the two mechanisms above does not dry readily, making the wall prone to mold.

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