Insulating Basement Walls with GNI - FAQ

September 20, 2019

No matter the size or type of home, if it has a basement it can benefit from professionally installed basement wall insulation. Insulating basement walls makes a remarkable difference in terms of: home comfort improvements, draft reductions, moisture control, and utility costs.

Since the basement of a home is exposed to different conditions than the other floors, it is important that the walls are properly insulated, air sealed, and vapour barriered. Otherwise, energy efficiency will suffer, the home will be less comfortable, and utility costs will be higher. Also, the home will be more susceptible to moisture build up and air quality issues. 

In order to protect a home from the outside elements, an entire ‘protective shell’ must be formed through insulation and airtightness. This protective shell (called the building envelope) is a functioning and interconnected system, and is part of what makes insulating basement walls so effective. Without effective basement wall insulation, the first line of defense in the home’s protective shell / building envelope will be entirely non-existent. This means exterior air is free to fill your home from the bottom up, making it significantly harder to keep your home heated during the winter and cool during the summer.

To learn more about insulating basement walls in your home, or the Home Efficiency Rebates that are currently available for basement wall insulation, contact our Customer Experience Team at 1-800-265-1914, or online at www.gni.ca/contact. We also offer free in-home evaluations to help you get started with your home renovations or upgrades. 

Will Insulating Basement Walls Improve My Home Energy Efficiency?

Without question! If your home is currently without basement wall insulation, then you can easily see a significant whole-home improvement with a professional installation. Every basement is different, and every home is exposed to different elements and potential flaws. For this reason, we recommend having a home energy audit conducted by a registered energy advisor. 

This provides an in-depth look into the energy efficiency of an entire home, including the basement. This means that you can be prepared with a tailored list of upgrades they could make in their home, the cost of those upgrades, and the potential energy / financial savings for each of those upgrade suggestions.

With this information, you can tackle the areas of their basement that need it the most, and plan for renovations that fit within their needs and their budget. To get started on insulating your basement walls, or to learn more about home energy audits and why we recommend them, give us a call at 1-800-265-1914, or stop by our website at www.gni.ca/contact.

Do My Basement Walls Need A Vapour Barrier? 

For effective and continuous moisture control, yes - basement walls should be properly and professionally vapour barriered. Vapour barrier is especially effective in this part of the home due to the fact that most basements are entirely or partially underground, making the humidity / moisture levels higher.

So, if you are insulating basement walls in your home, you should also consider having an effective vapour barrier installed to help control issues such as moisture or mould. It is also worth considering the type of insulation and vapour barrier, as there are a couple of different options. For example, spray foam can be used for basement wall insulation; acting as an effective insulator, an air-sealer, and depending on building code, potentially a vapour barrier all in one.

Our insulation experts are able to help you determine what your basement needs, along with the right type of insulation + vapour barrier combo for both your goals and your budget. Give us a call at 1-800-265-1914 to learn more or to schedule a free in-home evaluation.

Should I Insulate My Basement Walls? When Should I Start?

If you are looking for lower utility bills, fewer drafts, a more comfortable home, and a higher market value, then you should be looking towards effective insulation for your basement walls. Also, the sooner you start preparing for and planning your upgrades, the sooner you can have those upgrades completed and start reaping the benefits of a more energy efficient home. 

Insulating basement walls is absolutely an investment, but it does not have to be an investment that is made blindly. With a home energy audit, each possible upgrade in a home is broken down in terms of costs, benefits, and expected returns (through utility savings and rebates). When working with GNI, we will arrange for you to have a comprehensive home energy audit conducted, making it easy for you to see all of your renovation options, along with the current energy performance of your home. 

Should I Insulate My Unfinished Basement Walls? 

Any basement, whether it is finished or unfinished, is worth being insulated. The difference of an insulated basement can be felt throughout the entire home, even if the basement is without finished drywall etc. In fact, insulating an unfinished basement can easily be completed in a number of ways.

For example, if the basement has wooden studs, fibreglass batt insulation can be effectively used without much effort. If it does not have any studs, fibreglass blanket insulation can be used and the necessary precautions can be taken if there are plans to finish the basement in the future. There is also the option of spray foam, which is often considered the most effective choice when insulating basement walls (both finished and unfinished), as it provides the most benefits; such as: a high R-Value, strong air sealing and can assist with moisture control.

By insulating the unfinished basement walls in your home, you are able to greatly improve your entire home’s energy performance. This means a more comfortable home on every level, fewer drafts, a smaller utility bill, and even a higher market value. Additionally, our expert insulation professionals here at GNI can help you navigate the correct rebate for your needs, so that you are able to see a return on your investment even sooner. 

If you have any questions about insulating unfinished basement walls, or about the benefits of an energy efficient home, give our Customer Experience Team a ring at 1-800-265-1914, or a message online at www.gni.ca/contact. From there, you can also schedule a free home evaluation to help you figure out your options and plan for upgrades in the future.