Insulation Between Concrete Walls

2 calculate how many inches of insulation you need to achieve your.

Insulation between concrete walls.

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. Most homeowners require insulation with an r value between 13 and 21 in their basements where most concrete walls can be found. Rigid board exterior insulation systems need little or no maintenance and varied exterior surface finishes are available to blend with any kind of architecture. Warnings if installed improperly and not sealed completely moisture will gather behind insulation components to a concrete wall allowing for mold and mildew growth a potential health hazard.

Some types of thicker foam board insulation are available but they may need to be special ordered. The correct method of using rigid foam is to run continuous 4 foot by 8 foot sheets of the foam across the concrete basement wall making the rigid foam the de facto wall. The insulation becomes an integral part of the wall panel when the concrete is placed. Basement wall systems should never include polyethylene.

Your only option is to cover the inside of the exterior walls with a continuous layer of insulation as though you were insulating a basement wall. And there is no effective way to fill the voids in an existing concrete block wall. That is why insulating your basements walls is necessary especially when you live in areas that have very cold climate. Embedded rigid board insulation in wall panels is increasingly popular for precast and tilt up walls.

The insulation may be rigid board extruded or expanded polystyrene or polyisocyanurate closed cell spray polyurethane foam cellular glass fibrous batt or fibrous blown in insulation note however that fibrous insulation is susceptible to moisture. Interior insulation refers to insulation applied to the interior side of the concrete masonry as shown in figure 1. Adding layers of closed cell foam polyurethane sheeting or reflective barriers to a concrete wall can all increase the insulation value of concrete. Foam board insulation is easy to use and is a great diy way to add some insulation.

It comes in standard size 4 8 sheets and smaller sizes in many different thicknesses from 1 4 inch to 2 inches. How do i insulate walls with stud bays only 1 inches thick. Basement insulation is cost effective. Measure and cut the fiberglass batt for an exact fit.

If your wall assembly includes studs or furring strips polyethylene can trap moisture leading to mold or rot. You don t need any poly between the concrete and the foam insulation nor do you want poly between gypsum drywall and the insulation. Every gap and compressed batt leaves a path for heat or cold to escape. Add about 1 4 in.

It s easy to insulate your walls with fiberglass insulation at least when they re open but the job still requires attention to detail to get the maximum benefit.