Insulation, Radiant and Vapor Barriers - Basement wall
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mark251
02-09-06, 03:26 PM
Hello,
I am in the process of finishing my basement. The house is just over 1 year old. It is a block wall basement on a walk out ranch. Due to some water pipes and other cables, I had to build the longest 2x4 wall 8 inches from the block wall. It runs the length of that wall. What are my insulation options? There is about a 8" gap behind the framing and the block wall. I live in Nebraska so the winters are cold and the summers are hot and humid. So far I have not noticed and moisture on the walls. Any ideas?
TIA.
I am in the process of finishing my basement. The house is just over 1 year old. It is a block wall basement on a walk out ranch. Due to some water pipes and other cables, I had to build the longest 2x4 wall 8 inches from the block wall. It runs the length of that wall. What are my insulation options? There is about a 8" gap behind the framing and the block wall. I live in Nebraska so the winters are cold and the summers are hot and humid. So far I have not noticed and moisture on the walls. Any ideas?
TIA.
Concretemasonry
02-10-06, 03:39 PM
In Nebraska, you should not lose too much sleep over the insulation needed.
At the most, you are only insulating the conditioned space from the basement wall/soil that is about 50 degrees, and not as cold as the outside air.
In a typical situation, unless the gap between the frame wall and the basement wall is totally sealed and vapor proofed on ALL sides and ENDS, you will have much higher temperatures in the gap and the need for insulation is even less.
The more insulation you pack into the basement for winter, the less benefit you will get out of it when you cool in the summer.
Most people forget about the benfits of the temperature of the soil when cooling.
Dick
At the most, you are only insulating the conditioned space from the basement wall/soil that is about 50 degrees, and not as cold as the outside air.
In a typical situation, unless the gap between the frame wall and the basement wall is totally sealed and vapor proofed on ALL sides and ENDS, you will have much higher temperatures in the gap and the need for insulation is even less.
The more insulation you pack into the basement for winter, the less benefit you will get out of it when you cool in the summer.
Most people forget about the benfits of the temperature of the soil when cooling.
Dick