Proper Insulation For Basement Ceiling

The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and locations in the home.

Proper insulation for basement ceiling.

If it is an unfinished basement in north america that you wish to insulate then an r value of 12 or higher is recommended. The truth is insulating a finished basement ceiling makes a lot of sense but not for the reasons you might expect. R value is a measure of insulation s ability to resist heat traveling through it. Many insulation types require a fire rated covering because they release toxic gases when ignited.

Interior insulation reduces usable interior space by a few inches. Illustration by ian worpole. How to insulate a basement ceiling and should i insulate the walls. First you ll have to maneuver batts of insulation around the clutter of wires pipes and cross bracing in a typical basement ceiling.

Hold the batts in place by stapling their paper faced vapor retarders to the lower edges of the joists. Top 9 energy suckers. Adding insulation cuts off this heat transfer. Avoid expanded foam insulation the type that has little white beads pressed together when insulating basement walls because it isn t as durable and has a lower r value.

For basement ceilings batt or blanket insulation is the insulation of choice. But its open cell structure still allows moisture to escape. Sprayed against the underside of the roof deck it seals against air movement eliminating the need for a vapor barrier or ventilation. Start by gluing 3 4 inch extruded polystyrene foam insulation to fit against the rim joists and foundation walls.

Start with getting any moisture issues under control then use water resistant insulation like closed cell spray foam or xps foam board. When tom insulates a cathedral ceiling or a finished attic he also turns to foam. Insulation level are specified by r value. With the right insulation ceiling tiles or sheetrock adding to the basement ceiling will help keep noise from transferring between levels.

Your best option is insulating your exposed foundation walls. Here are a few things to consider when installing interior basement wall insulation. R value is the insulation s ability to resist heat flow. The type of insulation you should use depends on the purpose of the space being insulated.

The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Compounding that is the sealed combustion installation. Let s take a closer look at insulating a finished basement ceiling for both temperature and noise protection. It doesn t protect the damp proof coating like exterior insulation does.

Insulation will have to be weaved around and behind the various pipes and wires and then stapled into place. Energy efficiency isn t a common reason to insulate your basement but sound proofing is. Extruded polystyrene foam can be yellow pink or blue depending on the manufacturer for insulating basement walls.