Replies

1. 
   MSA1 | Mar 19, 2009 05:50am | #1

   Rigid. Never use batts below grade, if the basement floods the batts will soak up water and you'll have to replace it.

   We did a basement a few years ago that did flood. The clean up crew liked what we did for two reasons. First, we used rigid ins that doesnt soak up water, second, we left a little gap between the studs and the ins. This allowed a path for air movement when they turned the fans on.

    

   Family.....They're always there when they need you.

2. 
   Shep | Mar 19, 2009 01:57pm | #2

   When I do a basement, I glue 1-1/2" or 2" rigid foam right to the foundation walls, then frame in front of that. I seal any gaps with spray foam.

   I also like to use steel studs in basemants, for 2 reasons. First, they're much lighter and easier to carry down, which is getting more and more important at my age. Second, steel studs won't grow mold. Wood can.

1. 
   marv | Mar 19, 2009 03:25pm | #3

   This is the great debate.  I say unfaced batts so moisture can move in and out thru the walls.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

   Marv

1. 
   mike_maines | Mar 19, 2009 08:00pm | #7

   Why would you want moisture moving through your walls?  I'd rather be able to control where it is and how it gets there.  Saturated fiberglass is good for growing mold but not for insulating.

1. 
   marv | Mar 19, 2009 10:47pm | #8

   My views were stated a few weeks ago in 116837.  Many people are not using vapor barriers.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

   Marv

1. 
   mike_maines | Mar 19, 2009 11:25pm | #13

   Guess I missed that one.  I don't use vapor barriers in regular walls but basement walls are not regular walls.

    

2. 
   RickD | Mar 19, 2009 06:07pm | #4

   Basic question - what adhesive do you use to glue the foam panels to concrete walls?

1. 
   frammer52 | Mar 19, 2009 10:48pm | #9

   Spray foam in the cans at HD

    

   117973.5 in reply to 117973.3 

   Basic question - what adhesive do you use to glue the foam panels to concrete walls

   Edited 3/19/2009 3:48 pm ET by frammer52

1. 
   cargin | Mar 20, 2009 03:33am | #18

   frammer

   Do you have a link.

   Is this like expanding foam that you can spray on the walls?

   Great stuff in a garden sprayer? LOL

   Might be useful for my old foundation walls.

   I have an old stone foundation with a inner brick wall and sometimes a ledge.

   Rich

1. 
   frammer52 | Mar 20, 2009 05:37pm | #19

   I just use the expanding foan in a can from HD.  Works grest, in fact that is what it is called, Great Stuff!

2. 
   cargin | Mar 20, 2009 08:50pm | #20

   frammer

   I though you were talking about this stuff, and that they carried at HD. 

   I didn't see a price on this site but other sites I have seen a price like $1/SF per inch.

   Great Stuff is the name brand of expanding foam we use for air sealing too.

   Rich

   View Image

   2 Formulas - Fast Rise E-84 Fire-Rated Surface Spray and Slow Rise, Low-Pressure Cavity Fill Formula

   Closed Cell Polyurethane Foam Insulation - Expands 8 to 1 for better control and less waste.

   R-7 Per Inch - Low perm rating makes it practically waterproof

   Easy to use, portable and disposable - Completely self-contained kits. No power supply or additional machinery required!

   Toll-Free Technical Support - 100% guarantee against defect

   Air Seals, insulates, soundproofs, water resistant, 1000's of uses!

3. 
   frammer52 | Mar 20, 2009 09:16pm | #21

   I was thinking about buying some to seal my rim joists.

2. 
   Snort | Mar 19, 2009 10:53pm | #10

   PL makes a foamboard adhesive, so do lots of others.http://www.tvwsolar.com

   I went down to the lobby

   To make a small call out.

   A pretty dancing girl was there,

   And she began to shout,

   "Go on back to see the gypsy.

   He can move you from the rear,

   Drive you from your fear,

   Bring you through the mirror.

   He did it in Las Vegas,

   And he can do it here."

1. 
   RickD | Mar 19, 2009 11:10pm | #11

   thanks - haven't seen it anywhere

3. 
   Shep | Mar 19, 2009 11:18pm | #12

   A water base construction adhesive.

   You gotta read the tube to see if its compatible with foam. If not, it'll eat the foam, and won't work.

4. 
   nailitnow | Mar 19, 2009 11:43pm | #14

   there is a special glue pl 800 its blue works great check with your supplier

1. 
   Snort | Mar 19, 2009 11:58pm | #15

   Lowe's has it, too.http://www.tvwsolar.com

   I went down to the lobby

   To make a small call out.

   A pretty dancing girl was there,

   And she began to shout,

   "Go on back to see the gypsy.

   He can move you from the rear,

   Drive you from your fear,

   Bring you through the mirror.

   He did it in Las Vegas,

   And he can do it here."

3. 
   RickD | Mar 19, 2009 06:08pm | #5

   someone here once showed me this link - might be useful to 'ya http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0509c-renovating-existing-basements

1. 
   plate | Mar 19, 2009 07:25pm | #6

   That link is exactly what I needed. Thanks X100

4. 
   andy_engel | Mar 20, 2009 01:03am | #16

   Rigid. Expanded polystyrene - the white beadboard stuff - if you can get it. No vapor retarder.

   Check out buildingscience.com for more than you ever wanted to know about basement insulation.

   Andy

   "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

   "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

   "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King

5. 
   Billy | Mar 20, 2009 03:20am | #17

   The Building Science articles are the bomb.  They say you can use either XPS or EPS foam panels.  Some say to use borate treated foam such as Performguard for insurance against termites and carpenter ants, which is available only as EPS.

   The latest FHB had this product below, which seems like it might work well.  It's new though, and I don't know if anyone here has tried it.

   http://www.insofast.com/Home_Page.html

   Billy