Insulating Concrete Walls Below Grade

Basement walls made out of concrete stone concrete bloc and other masonry foundation materials have very minimal insulating properties and cause approximately 20 of heat loss in a home.

Insulating concrete walls below grade.

Above and below grade walls of a building or home can use insulated concrete forms icfs in their construction. Interior insulation insulated cavities insulation inserts foamed in place insulation granular fills in block core spaces and exterior insulation systems. A properly insulated basement provides comfort and is a good way to save on your energy bill. Wet insulation is ineffective insulation rigid foams that retain high volumes of moisture lose about half of their insulating r value.

Closed cell spray polyurethane foam or either xps eps or polyisocyanurate rigid foam. Because insulation installed on below grade building foundations and under concrete slabs is often exposed to moist soil it is crucial to choose an insulation that has minimal long term moisture retention and the ability to dry quickly. Insulation is applied to houses with slab on grade foundations exactly as you would insulate the outside of a full basement see section 6 1 insulating the basement from the outside. Crews can use mechanical fasteners or polystyrene compatible adhesive to attach the insulation.

If the foundation is on frost susceptible soils install a layer of impermeable insulation horizontally in the soil at a slope ratio of 1 5 for at least 1 m 3 ft. The variety of concrete masonry wall constructions provides for a number of insulating strategies including. However for masonry block walls and below grade insulated concrete forms the surfaces must first be prepared. Installing rigid foam insulation below grade on building foundations the insulation whether eps or xps is installed over the damp waterproofing after that layer has adequately cured.

Preparing masonry block walls for exterior damp proof coating. The best way to insulate the interior side of a basement wall is with foam insulation that is adhered to or sprayed directly on the concrete. Rigid foam can be adhered to a poured. Because they are naturally located below ground level basements are mostly cool and damp.

Basements however have specific features that must be kept in mind when it comes to insulating the foundation from the inside starting with the fact that a variable portion of the walls is below ground. For poured concrete walls a damp proof coating can be applied directly to the surface. However because of soil conditions below grade walls require added waterproofing steps unlike above grade walls.