For those who remember, basements were empty spaces. They were allocated for the laundry room; furnace room; hot water heater, and junk. Very few basements were finished in any way, and fewer were used for living. The walls were made of brick or cement – there was no insulation – and there was no drywall. The basement was cold and damp, and with a musty smell. Over the years, basements have become valuable living areas, with additional space, and for countless uses.
Today’s basement is totally livable. It might be a living room; a home-based office; an additional bedroom; or a freestanding “in-law suite”. At the same time, livable means comfortable, which is why insulating the basement, is important. But beyond the comfort, a well-insulated basement provides energy savings around the year. For those considering basement insulation in Brampton, the insulated basement will translate into reduced utility costs, especially during the extremes.
Average homeowners do not put enough importance on basement insulation. It’s counter-productive because the basement should really be as properly insulated as other parts of the home. In some cases, the professionals will say that insulating the basement is actually more important than the rest of the house. Basements are unique, and because of that they should be properly sealed, insulated and ventilated. It’s the only way to provide the comfortable living conditions and reduce utility costs.
The benefits of insulating basement walls (and doing it properly) are numerous. Thermal resistance is substantially improved; air transfer (indoor/outdoor) is inhibited; and moisture is prevented from collecting. With a properly insulated basement, the heating and air conditioning system operates with more efficiency; energy conservation is increased during the winter and summer months; and cost savings are realized right around the year. Once done, the benefits last for years to come.
There is no doubt that insulating the basement walls is worthwhile. It’s a home improvement project that will reduce heating bills throughout the winter and cooling bills throughout the summer. In regions of the country where weather patterns are extreme, the cost savings will be even better.
Industry research reveals that the best outcome for basement insulation is based on R-Value. Quite simply, higher R-Values will deliver the better outcomes. Of course, outcomes will differ, depending on the layout of the basement; the chosen insulation product; and the chosen installation method.
Seasonal utility savings will depend on various factors: the actual size of the basement; the insulation product that is installed; the total R-Value installed; and the geographic location of the home. But a top-quality insulation product (and a professional install) is guaranteed to deliver significant savings.
Depending on the geographic region, there may well be building code requirements when insulating basement walls. In this regard, a good contractor can recommend the best product and best install method. In all likelihood, a new construction project will have different specifications than a retrofit.
Most every contractor will have a different opinion. But all agree that the individual condition of a house will dictate the need. Since there are pluses and minuses in every scenario, it’s good to rely on the contractor to suggest the best option. For many homeowners, budget will dictate the approach.
When preparing the basement for insulation, it’s critical to evaluate if there are water entry issues. Water entry issues are problematic and must be resolved prior to insulating. Depending on how serious the issue, and how extensive the fix, this could become a major project of its own.
Practically every basement has hard-to-reach areas. They are difficult to reach, and difficult to apply insulation. In these areas, the best application is spray foam. No other product can provide the same kind of complete and extensive coverage. Spray foam will seal and insulate in one application.
For homeowners considering basement insulation in Brampton, the job begins by making the space completely airtight. A good contractor can recommend a suitable product and application for the job. For the professionals, insulating the basement floor is just as important as other parts of the home. For this, it’s recommended that a good base of spray foam be applied, followed directly by a concrete layer on top. For projects where the budget allows, this two-step installation is the best.
In basements, it’s also important for the walls to be airtight. Having an airtight space means airflow is restricted, and moisture accumulation constrained. For this, insulation professionals recommend a preliminary application of spray foam, and a follow-up installation of fiberglass “batts”. Working in tandem, these products perform to the maximum. The spray foam application creates an air barrier, vapor barrier, and insulation layer, while the “batts” provide added R-Value that’s cost-effective.
Basement insulation is essentially about conserving energy while reducing heating and cooling costs from one season to the next. And in the basement, the best outcomes result from a good spray foam application. In more recent years, many insulation professionals have suggested spray foam as the product-of-choice. However, spray foam can be somewhat costly, and so the hybrid approach (spray foam PLUS fiberglass “batts”) has become a great alternative, with excellent long-term results.
For the average homeowner, the hybrid combination using fiberglass “batts” and spray foam is an ideal approach for the budget. And regardless of scope, basement insulation is a big undertaking. It’s therefore important to do right, the first time. The hybrid approach is guaranteed to bring excellent, long-lasting results: the basement will be completely airtight – the air and moisture barrier will properly balance the indoor environment - and the spray foam will ensure the highest possible R-Value. Finally, annual energy consumption will be greatly reduced, and utility bills will be diminished from one season to the next.