Ceiling Insulation in Your Basement
Placing batts in the basement, with Fiberglass or other type of batts will not do anything from protecting from the cold temperatures outdoors. All it does is separate the basement from other rooms in the house.
The procedures to insulate the basement is to install fiberglass batts in the areas between the basement/living floor joists. Fiberglass is very inexpensive and easy to place.
The Thermal Boundary- How to find it
Insulating the ceiling in the basement only separates the basement from the home envelope or the thermal boundary. Doing this makes the basement more part of the exterior rather than the interior. In the winter months this makes the basement cold to a point of discomfort. Along with it other pipes and ducts will also be colder making your home less energy efficient.
Yet another discrepancy for basement ceiling in sulation is that batts do not seal the air in the floor above. As a result the cold moves to the upstairs inefficiently through gaps cracks, plumbing and electrical.
The best strategy- Insulate the walls
To really achieve energy efficiency it is a better ideal to insulate the walls of the basement rather than the ceiling. Placing Rigid foam insulation against the walls of the basement will serve to protect the walls and the rest of the space from the outdoor temperatures. Rigid foam will resist mold and it will retain its R-value over time. It does not get damaged in humidity either, which is usually the state of the basement.
What if you home already has basement ceiling Insulation? This is not a problem. It can be left there and the walls can be insulated. This process in combination with air ceiling throughout the perimeter will change your basement into a livable area which will increase the value of the home. This is a far cry from what was once considered to be a repair situation.
Problems with Floor Joist sagging and the loss of Insulation Because of it
Fiberglass batts under perform in these conditions
Truth be told, Fiberglass batt just do not work in the basement. They tend to sag, get compressed and fall of place resulting in lost R-Value.
Many builders continue to install fiberglass in the basement, even though it is not a good idea. In the past, because of the low price and wide availability, it was used a lot. Now that we know performance levels and where to apply them, energy efficiency takes precedence.
- Pests and Insulation- Fiberglass is a comfortable home for mice. It is a protective home that is easy to move through and that is why mice make nests in fiberglass.
- Fluffy but Unworkable-As mentioned before, fiberglass insulation in the ceiling will not stop the air as it moves to the upper floors. Moreover gaps, opening and cracks contribute to the air loss.
- No Help-Insulation on the joists will not contribute to the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. Even if you want to make the basement part of the home, the only way to corral the basement into the thermal envelope is to install insulation on the basement walls.
Rigid Foam Panels distinct Advantage in the basement
In most cases existing fiberglass can be left in place as long as its condition is acceptable. A better solution would be to upgrade for the right kind of insulation. The masonry of the basement’s foundation insulate extremely well with Rigid foam boards. These will keep your basement cozy and have little to no thermal heat reduction.
The Home Insulators Top quality Foam boards will give top performance along with masonry fasteners made from top quality steel.