Welcome to the Fine Homebuilding podcast, our weekly discussion of building, remodeling, and design topics aimed at anybody who cares deeply about the craft and science of working on houses. Senior editor Patrick McCombe, senior editor Brian Pontolilo, Fine Homebuilding contributing editor and production manager for TDS Custom Construction Ian Schwandt, and producer Andres Samaniego make up our team today.

On this week’s episode, listeners share their home shop ideas. The crew answers questions about insulating above-grade basement walls and how to form and insulate the edges of a building slab. Want to be featured on a future episode? Please email us your questions to [email protected]. You can find previous podcasts and check out the show notes at finehomebuilding.com/podcast.

Note: The Fine Homebuilding Podcast team is always looking for ways to improve, so we’re switching up our video strategy. But don’t worry—you’ll still be able to watch all your favorite clips from the show. Check out our YouTube channel or keep scrolling to see more! 

Check In:

• Ian: Double-duty garage shop

Listener Feedback 1:

Caleb writes:

Hey Podcast Crew!

I just finished listening to episode 651 and it was, as always, a great show! I really enjoyed the brief discussion on Casey’s shop. He’s an extraordinary carpenter and seems like a really cool person, I can’t wait to see the article on his shop. Also, I think more than anything I’m excited to find that he works out of a two-car garage! I’ve been in our home with an oversized two-car garage for about a year now, and the shop is definitely a work in progress, but I’ve been loving it. Sure, I wish it was bigger, but at our last apartment I was building furniture in the parking lot, so this is definitely a step up!

If you’re interested in seeing more pictures, I can send some. Sometimes I wish my shop was a little farther along, but then I remind myself that I’ve only been here a year and it will continue to get better!

Can’t wait to see the write-up on Casey’s shop and all the listeners’ shops when they write in!

Caleb Carpenter
Rad Woodworks

• Casey Knips’ Shop
• FHB Podcast 651

Question 1: Does it make sense to insulate an above-grade basement wall with rigid insulation?

Corey from Roanoke, Va., writes:

I’ve emailed a few times (large kitchen window, froth pack on basement bump-outs). You all are always a wealth of knowledge and great resource for all things.

I’m back at my basement project again. I have 30 sheets of 2-in. XPS ready to install. Three of my basement walls are below grade and concrete. These are getting XPS. The remaining side is not below grade and is a 2×4 framed with fiberglass.

My question: should I put XPS on the wall that isn’t concrete?

Please help me straighten out my thought process. I’m insulating the concrete from any interior air getting to the cooler concrete and condensing. But technically, the non-below-grade wall is going to have a greater temperature delta and would be cooler than the interior air. But if there’s condensing, it’d dry to the inside. This is different because the concrete won’t allow any drying to the outside. Am I thinking correctly in this?

Thanks again for your wonderful jobs and answering questions!
Corey

RELATED STORIES

• Details for Exterior Insulation
• The Case for Exterior Insulation

Question 2: What’s the best way to form and insulate a thickened-edge or turn-down slab?

Andrew from Wisconsin writes:

Hi guys,

Attached is an idea I have for forming up a monolithic garage slab. Is it dumb to put 2 in. of foam against the form boards before pouring? I like the idea of a 2×4 sideways on top to keep the foam in place and to screed off of. I’m going to have 2 in. of foam under the slab with a vapor barrier. Everything is over several inches of compacted three-quarter clear stone. Any thoughts you have on the slab or forms are appreciated.

Thanks, Andrew

• Frost-Protected Shallow Foundation
• High-Performance Raft Slab

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Unfortunately that is all the time we have for today. Thanks to Ian, Brian, and Andres for joining me, and thanks to all of you for listening. Remember to send us your questions and suggestions to [email protected], and please like, comment, or review us no matter how you’re listening–it helps other folks find our podcast.

Happy Building!

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Reliable Crimp Connectors

These reliable, high-quality connectors from Wirefy work on 10-22-gauge wire have heat-shrink insulation to keep out water and road salt.

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Affordable IR Camera

This camera is super useful for tracking down air leaks in buildings. The one-hand pistol grip arrangement frees your other hand for steadying yourself while maneuvering tricky job sites.

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Handy Heat Gun

This heat gun is great for drying joint compound, primer and paint when patching drywall and plaster walls. Plus it can soften adhesive, get a very cold small engine to start, and shrink heat-shrink tubing.

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