Basement Insulation in Oakville

For years, basements remained as empty spaces. Basements were for doing laundry; for the furnace and hot water heater; and very often, for storage and junk. The basement space was not set up as a living space. For the most part, walls were brick or cement; there was no insulation; and no drywall. The basement was usually cold, damp, and musty. But during the last few decades, basements have actually become functional and comfortable – a living space that is used for many different purposes.

Today, the average basement is livable. It might be a living room; a home office; a bedroom; or one of those “in-law suites”. The basement is now functional and comfortable - and the key to comfort is the insulation. Insulating the basement walls is essential to comfort, and a properly insulated basement will provide that comfort, as well as energy savings season to season.  The thing is, the cost of heating and cooling is always rising, and a well-insulated basement can bring meaningful savings year round.

The truth is, the average homeowner does not fully recognize the importance of basement insulation. This is a big mistake because the basement should be just as insulated as the upstairs. In fact, the experts say that insulating the basement is even more important. This is because basements are unique, and as such, require proper sealing, insulating and ventilation. For those doing basement insulation in Oakville, it will ensure a comfortable living space and lower utility bills.

Insulating basement walls, with a good product, and a professional approach, brings many benefits. The thermal resistance of the space is enhanced; the indoor and outdoor air transfer is constrained; and moisture accumulation is controlled and inhibited. Furthermore, a properly insulated basement allows the HVAC unit to operate at greater efficiency, ensuring better energy conservation, especially during weather extremes. Most importantly, there will be cost savings from season to season.

Is it really worthwhile to insulate the basement?

For many reasons, insulating the basement and the basement walls is worthwhile. This is one of the better home improvement projects. An insulated basement contributes to lower heating and cooling bills, with very substantial savings in geographic regions where temperature swings are extreme.

What do professionals suggest for the basement?

Industry experts agree that the benefits of basement insulation are relative to the R-Value installed. In short, the higher the R-Value, the better the outcome. But overall outcomes will vary with each basement: physical layout; insulation product; and installation method – they will all have an effect.

Are there real savings with basement insulation?

With a high quality product, and a professional installation, a properly insulated basement will bring significant utility savings to the homeowner. But again, cost savings will depend on various factors: the size of the basement; the insulation product; the R-Value installed; and the location of the home.

What are the specifications for basement insulation?

It depends on the region, but some areas may have specific building codes that govern basement insulation. A reputable insulation contractor can elaborate on these specifics, while suggesting the right product and installation for the job. In fact, new construction may have more specific codes.

Do the basement walls require special preparation?

When preparing the basement, it’s critical to determine if there are any water entry issues.  A water entry issue is problematic, and must be fully resolved before any insulation work commences. It will all depend on the seriousness of the problem, but suffice to say that it could be a major project.

What about insulating those hard-to-reach areas?

Most every basement has those hard-to-reach areas. These are difficult to insulate comprehensively. The very best product for those areas is spray foam insulation. And there’s no other product on the market that will seal and insulate as thoroughly – and all in one single application.

For homeowners considering basement insulation in Oakville, choosing a good contractor will help in deciding the right product and application for the job. From a professional viewpoint, a spray foam installation that envelops the basement from top to bottom is the best approach. It’s an application that delivers the best results and benefits. The spray foam creates a superior air barrier, an excellent vapor barrier, and insulation that offers the best R-Value of any comparable product on the market.

In the basement, insulating the floor is something worth considering. In this kind of application, an initial base of spray foam is applied to the floor, followed a traditional layer of concrete flooring. For effective sealing and insulating, this is truly an ultimate approach. As for other parts of the basement, it’s absolutely vital for everything to be airtight. This means that airflow can be constrained, and moisture accumulation can be suppressed.

At the end of the day, basement insulation is about energy conservation and cost saving. Bottom line, the best results come from a spray foam installation, using a quality product with an expert install. Many professionals have already made spray foam insulation their product-of-choice. And it’s mainly because spray foam delivers the results: a completely airtight basement; a super effective air and moisture barrier; and insulation with the highest R-Value available on the market today.

As a premium quality product, spray foam insulation may not suit every project budget. The next best approach is the “hybrid” approach – it combines spray foam insulation with fiberglass “batts” in a combination install. Here, the initial application is spray foam, and the additional install use traditional fiberglass “batts”.  The two products work well together and deliver excellent results that are both short term and long term.  The hybrid approach is a very cost effective alternative.

Regardless of basement size, insulating is a big deal. That’s why it’s worth doing right the first time. Overall, spray foam is the best product and installation for the job, but for an alternate approach, the hybrid installation is viable. Both the spray foam product and the fiberglass “batts” deliver superb performance, within a specific budget. The spray foam offers the ultimate in sealing and insulation, and the fiberglass “batts” supplement the R-Value, while keeping the project cost-effective.