5 Different Types of Basement Wall Insulation Explained

Basement wall insulation is not an option, it is a necessity. It is a very efficient solution to various problems related with having a basement, such as mold, high utility bills and cold air leaking into your home. You can be sure of saving approximately 30% on your energy bills once the basement has been insulated. Basement insulation is a way to insulate the basement either by installing the insulation on the outside of the walls or inside the walls. Also, you can choose to insulate either the ceiling or its walls. Usually people prefer insulating the ceiling because its area is smaller than the basement’s walls.

1. Blanket Basement Ceiling Insulation

A number of options are available depending upon the climate of the region and also the preference of the individual. One of them is the blanket basement ceiling insulation. It uses either fiberglass blanket sheets or cotton blankets for insulation. Some of the advantages of this kind of insulation technique include a very inexpensive way of insulation, it can cover a very big area and the installation method itself is very simple. One of the disadvantages with this kind of basement insulation is that it can only provide thermal transfer to a certain limit.

2. Loose Fill Ceiling Insulation

Another type of basement insulation is through loose fill ceiling insulation. It uses fiberglass, mineral or cellulose wool and all of these are produced through recycling the waste products. It is more effective and also a little expensive. This method is expensive because, in order to be effective, there should be no voids or gaps between the insulating materials and the installation should be densely packed.

3. Spray Foam Insulation

One more kind is the spray foam insulation which is very effective for basements that has been completely built and do not require further renovation work. This type of insulation is very expensive also. Some liquid foam insulation products contain types of polyurethane or polyisocyanurate substances. They, combined with foaming agents, are sprayed on the basement walls.

4. Concrete Block Insulation

Concrete block insulation is another way of insulating the basement. The concrete blocks are of polyurethane or polystyrene and their hollows are filled with kinds of foam or perlite pellets. It is a good choice for new constructions as it requires a lot of work by the mason. Its disadvantage is that it is a not a very effective way of reducing the movement of heat through the walls.

5. Foam Boards

Basement can also be insulated by using foam boards. They are very helpful in decreasing the heat conduction as they use a lot of other elements like steel and wood. The foam boards do not catch fire very easily but in the case that they do, they emit noxious gases and therefore need to be covered with a fire barrier whenever they are used.

When a basement ceiling or its walls have been effectively insulated, the advantages can certainly add up. Insulated basements can mean more heat inside the home while cold air is kept outside. It can mean a healthier air untainted by mold or mildew. And can also mean a lower heating bill.