Basement Insulation in Aurora

It used to be that the basement space was allocated for the washer and dryer, the furnace equipment, and the hot water heater. There was plenty of storage space, the walls were made of cement block or brick, and there was rarely any insulation or drywall. Most basements were dark, damp, cold, and musty. But in the past few decades, basements have become more functional and more livable, and these days most every basement is being used for something practical.

Basements have become livable spaces. They are being used as additional bedrooms, living rooms, home-based offices, even “in-law suites”. The space has become functional and comfortable, and that comfort is a result of good insulation. Today, a well-insulated basement space is comfortable from season to season, and is energy conserving during the extremes of winter and summer. For basement insulation in Aurora, it’s particularly important because of ever-increasing heating and cooling costs.

The typical homeowner does not really appreciate the consequence of a well-insulated basement. This is misplaced, since basements should be insulated properly, just like other parts of the home. In fact, insulation professionals often point out that insulating the basement might be more important than other parts of the house. Indeed, insulating the basement is an excellent home improvement project, with numerous benefits and numerous cost-saving outcomes.

Properly insulating basement walls is worth the cost. With a good product and a professional install, there are a number of benefits: indoor/outdoor air movement is suppressed; thermal resistance is improved; and moisture accumulation is prevented. A well-insulated basement allows the HVAC unit to operate more efficiently, while ensuring energy conservation. Best of all, there will be annual cost savings on the home’s utilities, especially in regions where weather conditions are more extreme.

Is it a worthwhile home project to insulate the basement?

Proper basement insulation, which includes properly insulating the walls, is a very worthwhile home project. A well-insulated basement will reduce the cost of winter heating and summer cooling, and will deliver yearly savings that will make the overall project cost well worthwhile.

What do the experts suggest when insulating basements?

Insulation professionals agree that the benefits of insulating are based on the installed R-Value. Quite simply, the higher the R-Value installed, the better the cost savings overall. The specific results will, of course, depend on the insulation product used; the installation technique; and the basement size.

Can savings be measured after the basement is insulated?

When a quality insulation product is professionally installed, it will practically guarantee substantial cost savings on winter and summer utilities. But once again, specific results will be dependent on the size of the basement, the amount of R-Value, and the insulation technique being used.

When insulating the basement, are there building specs?

Depending on the location of the home, there may be a required building code when insulating the basement. A good contractor can assess the situation, and can likewise recommend the best product and installation for the project. New home construction will likely have stricter specifications.

Does the basement area require preparation of any kind?

The most important thing to watch for is water entry. Water entry is a major problem in basements, and must be fully rectified prior to any insulation work. Depending on the seriousness of the issue, fixing a water entry issue could well become a major project of it’s own.

How are hard-to-reach areas in the basement insulated?

Most every basement has some of those hard-to-reach areas, and they are all difficult to insulate. The best product for insulating those hard-to-reach areas is spray foam insulation. Nothing can seal or insulate as effectively as spray foam, and it’s all done in a single application.

For homeowners doing basement insulation in Aurora, a good contractor will be able to recommend the product and installation that would be best for the job. And today, more contractors are going with spray foam insulation as the best application for the basement. A good spray foam install will surround the basement walls completely, and provide an effective air barrier, a solid vapor barrier, and superb insulation. In one installation, spray foam delivers the highest R-Value of any product.

For the best basement insulation possible, the experts suggest insulating the basement floor. In this application, spray foam is installed into the floor and a concrete layer is installed on top. This is a highly effective approach, which seals and insulates to the maximum. As far as insulating the rest of the basement, the prime objective should be to create an airtight space – it will restrict airflow and will prevent moisture accumulation.

Insulating the basement is primarily about conserving energy, which translates into cost savings on utility bills. Here, the very best outcomes come with a spray foam installation. This is a high quality product with proven results, and spray foam can do it all with one single application. It creates an airtight basement space. It acts as an air barrier AND a moisture barrier. And it provides insulation that has the highest R-Value rating of any insulation product on the market.

Spray foam insulation is truly a premium product, and may not suit some home improvement project budgets. However, an excellent alternate is the “hybrid” approach. This is an install that combines spray foam and fiberglass “batts” into one application. To begin with, the spray foam is installed as a base, followed by an additional application of fiberglass “batts”.  This “hybrid” approach is quite cost effective for every budget, and will deliver benefits, both short term and long term.

Basement insulation is a big project and an important project. It should be done right the first time. And although spray foam is considered the best insulation product on the market, the “hybrid” approach is an excellent option when budgets are more limited. The “hybrid” products work well together, with the spray foam sealing and insulating, while the fiberglass “batts” serve to enhance the overall R-Value.  The installation is very cost-effective, making the initial cost well worthwhile.