Best way to insulate basement walls?

[Bill Featherstone]

We have a 60's ranch ... one story with full basement ... front wall is an earth wall and one side wall is partial earth ... front and back exterior walls are 8" block and side walls are 8" block with brick ... front interior wall is exposed block and rear and side interior walls are finished with paneling on fur strips ... we're remodeling and getting into some of the interior walls ... of course, there is no insulation, vapor barrier, concrete sealer, or anything else ... what is the best way to build back the interior walls, with special regard to insulation, etc. ... we're going back with drywall ... by the way, there are two baths in the basement with exterior walls.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Bill

[rwand1]

What geographic region of the country is the house located?

[Bill Featherstone]

Originally Posted by rwand1

What geographic region of the country is the house located?

We're in NW Arkansas ... zone 6a.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Bill Featherstone

We have a 60's ranch ... one story with full basement ... front wall is an earth wall and one side wall is partial earth ... front and back exterior walls are 8" block and side walls are 8" block with brick ... front interior wall is exposed block and rear and side interior walls are finished with paneling on fur strips ... we're remodeling and getting into some of the interior walls ... of course, there is no insulation, vapor barrier, concrete sealer, or anything else ... what is the best way to build back the interior walls, with special regard to insulation, etc. ... we're going back with drywall ... by the way, there are two baths in the basement with exterior walls.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Bill

If you're going to insulate from the interior, see www.buildingscience.com .
They promote the most sensible interior wall system.

[rwand1]

Brian,

Any ideas about insulating a earth wall?

Cheers,

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by rwand1

Brian,

Any ideas about insulating a earth wall?

Cheers,

"front wall is an earth wall and one side wall is partial earth ... front and back exterior walls are 8" block and side walls are 8" block with brick ... front interior wall is exposed block and rear and side interior walls are finished with paneling on fur strip"

I thought he meant "buried in the earth"! need clarification!! Anyways, earth is an insulator, ain't it?

[rwand1]

Brain,

It maybe an insulator but it also allows water moisture through depending if its below or above and or protected?

Earth wall as in adobe or rammed earth wall?

[Bill Featherstone]

Clarification ...

our basement walls are all made of concrete block ... the front wall (closest to the street and running parallel) is all underground and part of it is protected with a patio and carport at the street level ... one side wall is partially underground and partially protected ... because of the age of our house, I strongly suspect that there is no french drain below the footing of the front wall ... probably, the only protection on the outside of the front wall is the black tar stuff ... anyway, I'm trying to find the best way to insulate earth walls (walls with dirt against them) and non-earth walls (no dirt against them) ... also, do any of the walls need vapor barrier, or should all of the walls just be allowed to breathe?

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Bill, possibly a Z-girt anchored to your block walls with a 2" styrofoam for an R-10 value and a drywall to cover it up to meet the fire codes might work for you. A vapor barrier would not be necessary with the use of the styrofoam.

This is assumming you have a dry basement.

The IRC appears to call for r-10 for your area , for basement walls.

Marcel

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Bill Featherstone

Clarification ...

our basement walls are all made of concrete block ... the front wall (closest to the street and running parallel) is all underground and part of it is protected with a patio and carport at the street level ... one side wall is partially underground and partially protected ... because of the age of our house, I strongly suspect that there is no french drain below the footing of the front wall ... probably, the only protection on the outside of the front wall is the black tar stuff ... anyway, I'm trying to find the best way to insulate earth walls (walls with dirt against them) and non-earth walls (no dirt against them) ... also, do any of the walls need vapor barrier, or should all of the walls just be allowed to breathe?

Go to: www.buildingscience.com and see their recommendations.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Brian; do you mean this?

http://www.buildingscience.com/docum...te%20basements

Marcel

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Brian; do you mean this?

http://www.buildingscience.com/docum...te%20basements

Marcel

That's it but a bit expanded since the last time I was on their site.

[Bill Featherstone]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Bill, possibly a Z-girt anchored to your block walls with a 2" styrofoam for an R-10 value and a drywall to cover it up to meet the fire codes might work for you. A vapor barrier would not be necessary with the use of the styrofoam.

This is assumming you have a dry basement.

The IRC appears to call for r-10 for your area , for basement walls.

Marcel

Z-girt?

We're using 3/4" fur strips, so 2" styrofoam is not possible. We are covering with drywall ... green board at the bottom and regular drywall on the top. What about paperless drywall? Is it necessary? Our basement is dry.

[Bill Featherstone]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

Go to: www.buildingscience.com and see their recommendations.

this website is a bit difficult to navigate ... can you provide a link to the page that applies to basement walls?

thanks

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by Bill Featherstone

Z-girt?

We're using 3/4" fur strips, so 2" styrofoam is not possible. We are covering with drywall ... green board at the bottom and regular drywall on the top. What about paperless drywall? Is it necessary? Our basement is dry.

Bill, this is what I am talking about.

Z-Furring

SIZE :1”, 1-1/2”, 2” and 2-1/2”,
GAGE: 25, 20, 18, 16, and 14ga
Applications: Dietrich Z-Furring Channel, made of 25 gage galvanized steel, is used to attach rigid foam insulation and other types of insulation, and gypsum panels, veneer gypsum base or conventional plaster base to inte-rior side of masonry walls. Also used with mineral fiber Z-furring insulation blankets when fire-resistant construction is required.






Works really well.

Marcel