When insulating a heated basement, only the walls need to be insulated, but the ceiling may also be insulated for noise control between floors. When floor space or wall depth is an issue, rigid foam insulation can be installed over furring strips. Their notched-design system makes installation easy—panels butt together to form a tight barrier against air infiltration and energy loss. Here are some tips for the project:
- Prior to insulating a basement, all foundation walls should be checked for water leakage and corrective action should be taken.
- The band joist should be caulked and sealed to prevent air infiltration at the construction joints and around all penetrations such as plumbing, electrical lines, and heat/AC and dryer vents.
- The installation process for rigid foam insulation is much like that for paneling—material is attached to the walls with furring strips that are screwed to the walls at each slot formed by the joints in the insulation.
- The material should be covered with a 15-minute thermal barrier such as gypsum as soon as the insulation is completely installed.