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.
“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?
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?
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.
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.
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