Basement Insulation:

What to Do & What Not to Do

March 29, 2012
Kohta Ueno
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 2
BackgroundBasement
ThermalBehavior
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 3
Basement/Foundation Energy Use
Basement ~ of energy consumption in a typical
house case
Often left unaddressed in insulation retrofits
Basements ~80% of houses in Northeast and
Midwest
Code requirement for insulation in DOE Climate
Zone 3 and higher
Uninsulated concrete wall very low R value
(R-0.4 to R-0.8)
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 4
BasementInsulationLocation
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 1 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 5
BasementInsulationLocation
4.6 ACH50; 2129 CFM 50 total;
1100 CFM 50 through floor
8.5 ACH50; 3590 CFM 50 total;
1740 CFM 50 through floor
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 6
Heat Loss from Basements
Greatest heat loss from top of wall
Basement slab insulationlittle energy benefit
(but some moisture benefits)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
0.0 - 0.3
0.3 - 0.6
0.6 - 0.9
0.9 - 1.2
1.2 - 1.5
1.5 - 1.6
D
e
p
t
h

i
n

m
e
t
e
r
s
Percentage of bel ow-grade heat l oss
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 7
Heat Loss from Basements
Full height insulation anywaycold surface
condensation, easier to build?
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 8
BackgroundBasement
MoistureBehavior
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 2 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 9
Basement Moisture Behavior
Historically, many moisture problems with
basement insulationbuilder callbacks, etc.
Building a hole in the ground
Recommended assemblies with reduced moisture
risk
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 10
Foundationsw.bulkwaterissues
Severe and rapid damage to interior insulation
and finishes due to bulk water intrusion
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 11
BasementInsulationProblems
Wintertimeinteriormoisture
condensation(likeabove
gradewalls)
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 12
Cold Weather Condensation Issues
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 3 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 13
BasementInsulationProblems
Lackofdryingofassembly
(moisturefromconcrete
andsoil);soilisat100%RH
Soilgascondensation
Liquidwaterthroughwall
Wintertimeinteriormoisture
condensation(likeabove
gradewalls)
Condensationatbottomofwall
(thermallagofsoil)
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 14
Priorities for Dealing with Water
Damage Functions (In Order of Importance)
Liquid Water
Control from exteriordrainage, grading
Will address in more detail
Capillary Water (wicking)
Air-Transported Moisture
Vapor Diffusion
General rules; can vary on case-to-case basis
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 15
DealingWith
BulkWater
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 16
Drain Water Away From Foundation
Also address water
concentrations
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 4 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 17 17
Control Liquid Water (drainage mat)
See Building Science Insight 057:
Hockey Pucks and Hydrostatic Pressure
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 18
Ground Skirt Detail
Photos via Petersen Engineering
petersenengineering.blogspot.com
Optional:
French drain at
perimeter
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 19
Recommended
Assemblies
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 20
April 9, 2008
Recommended Wall (XPS/Frame)
Wintertime condensation
controlled
Summertime (bottom of
wall) condensation
controlled
Concrete can dry through
XPS at a safe rate
XPS is moisture tolerant
1 XPS
Drywall/latex paint
Stud wall w. batt
Air seal XPS
Capillary break
@ footing
Sill gasket under
bottom plate
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 5 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 21
Recommended Wall (Foil-faced Polyiso)
Photos via Marc Rosenbaum
thrivingonlowcarbon.typepad.com
No drying through foam: air
seal must be perfect
(100% RH behind foam)
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 22
Substantially dry basement
Judgment call
Steel studs clear
of spray foam
Recommended Wall (Spray Foam)
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 23
BuildingScience2008
Foundations and Basements No. 23/74
Sprayfoambasementinsulation
Opencell
Climatespecific
Nobulkwater
Closedcell
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 24
Other Good Basement Walls
Adhered membrane (backup water control)
XPS foam (insulation)
Drainage mat to footing drain (primary water control)
Protection of insulation above grade?
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 6 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 25
Other Good Basement Walls
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 26
Other Good Basement Walls
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 27
NonRecommended
Assemblies
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 28
Test House Setup (Chicago)
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 7 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 29
Test House Setup (Kitchener)
Test walls
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 30
Test Walls (Kitchener)
2 extruded polystyrene
Polyethylene roll blanket
Stud frame w. fiberglass &
polyethylene; painted gypsum
board
Stud frame w. fiberglass & no
polyethylene; painted gypsum
board
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 31
Polyethylene & Stud Frame Walls
Stud frame, polyethylene one side
Stud frame, polyethylene both sides (moist. barr.)
Polyethylene roll blanket
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 32 32
So What Did We Find?
All the walls essentially workedno substantial
failures
If no liquid water, and dry interior conditions
(wintertime RH)failure prone assemblies OK
Examine monitoring resultsrelative risks
Air leakage important
Many other conclusions
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 8 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 33
Moisture buildup (Double Poly Wall)
Stud frame wall with polyethylene
on both sides
RH sensor behind exterior poly
moisture barrier
RH rose to ~100% and remained
at this level
Basement had dried for 3+ years
before installation
Lack of drying of assembly
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 34
Inward Vapor Drive
Condensation source of
builder callbacks
Magnitude and
relationships of
moisture flows
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 35
Inward Vapor Drive to Poly
Wafer sensor roughly at grade
Sensor shows difference between
100% RH and liquid water condensation
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 36
Inward Vapor Drive to Poly
0
10
20
30
40
50
9/05 11/05 1/06 2/06 4/06 6/06 7/06 9/06 11/06 12/06
M
o
i
s
t
u
r
e

C
o
n
t
e
n
t

(
%
)
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
E
x
t
e
r
i
o
r

T

(
F
)
Roll Blanket Frame/poly Frame/latex T Exterior
~50% RH wafer range
0
10
20
30
40
50
9/05 11/05 1/06 2/06 4/06 6/06 7/06 9/06 11/06 12/06
M
o
i
s
t
u
r
e

C
o
n
t
e
n
t

(
%
)
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
E
x
t
e
r
i
o
r

T

(
F
)
Roll Blanket Frame/poly Frame/latex T Exterior
0
10
20
30
40
50
9/05 11/05 1/06 2/06 4/06 6/06 7/06 9/06 11/06 12/06
M
o
i
s
t
u
r
e

C
o
n
t
e
n
t

(
%
)
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
E
x
t
e
r
i
o
r

T

(
F
)
Roll Blanket Frame/poly Frame/latex T Exterior
0
10
20
30
40
50
9/05 11/05 1/06 2/06 4/06 6/06 7/06 9/06 11/06 12/06
M
o
i
s
t
u
r
e

C
o
n
t
e
n
t

(
%
)
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
E
x
t
e
r
i
o
r

T

(
F
)
Roll Blanket Frame/poly Frame/latex T Exterior
100% RH wafer range
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 9 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 37 37
Air Leakage
Foil-faced polyisocyanurate
in plastic tee tracks
Dewpoint of air behind
insulation identical to interior
Evidence for air leakage in
many walls
In most cases, allowed drying
of concrete wall
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 38
FrostandFreezing
Issues
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 39
Freezing/Frost Heave Issues
Interior insulation reduces heat flux colder
ground temperatures/deeper frost penetration
Frost damage unlikely <60 extreme frost depth
Inward frost heave impossible directional heave
Adfreezing similar: can occur on unheated
structures. Heated
heat flux still outwards
(although reduced)
Canadian BETT study
(1980s)
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 40
Freezing/Frost Heave Issues
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 10 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 41
Freezing/Frost Heave Issues
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 42
FootingCapillary
Breaks
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 43
Vapor Diffusion vs. Capillarity
Vapor diffusion Capillarity
Capillarity ~10the
moisture movement rate of
vapor diffusion alone
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 44
Controlling Capillary Water
Polyethylene under
floor slab (w. free-
draining fill)
Capillary break
between soil &
basement wall
Measures already in
building codes
Capillary break at
footing-wall connection
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 11 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 45 45
Footing Capillary Breaks
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 46 46
Footing Capillary Breaks
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 47 47
Footing Capillary Breaks
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 48 48
Material Choices
Asphalt-based (standard
dampproofings)
Cementitious coatings
(cement-based
waterproofing, polymer
modified)
Can add acrylic polymer
admixture if desired
(greater durability?)
Latex paint based
waterproofing coatings
Silanes & siloxanes
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 12 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 49
Membrane Material
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 50
Membrane Material
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 51
Membrane Material
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 52
Membrane Material
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 13 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 53
SprayFoamBulkWater
ControlRetrofits
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 54
Background
Basement with persistent bulk water (leakage)
issues
Retrofits of existing foundations
Especially uneven wall (rubble stone) foundations
Hybrid insulation and bulk water control
assemblies
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 55
RetrofitInsulationLocationChoices
Retrofits:interiorinsulationisoftentheonly
availableoption
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 56
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 14 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 57
InteriorRubbleRetrofit
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 58
InteriorRubbleRetrofit
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 59
InteriorRubbleRetrofit
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 60
InteriorRubbleRetrofit
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 15 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 61
InteriorRubbleRetrofit
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 62
Air Gap Membrane Variant
Spray foam sufficiently stiff at typ. thickness (2 +)
XPS basement slab perimeter insulation
Spray foam forms concrete slab thermal break
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 63
Beam pocket detail (air seal)
Beam pocket detail (air seal away from sub-slab)
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 64
Flat Surface Walls
Spacer mesh to provide drainage
behind foam
Drainage space must be airtight
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 16 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 65
Flat Surface Walls
Alternate version: air
gap membrane layer
Drainage space must be
airtight
Another option: XPS
with channels and filter
fabric
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 66
Insulatedslabon
topofexisting
slab
Nomembrane
upwallsurface
Lightgaugesteel
framinginterior
wall
Wetvs.dry
basement?
Partial Drainage Detail
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 67
Sumpmustbeconnectedtodrainagemesh
Airleakagearounddrainagespace
termination(interiorchimney)
Partial Drainage Detail
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 68
Spray Foam Bathtub
2011 by Byggmeister; reprinted with permission
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 17 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 69
Insulation Normalized Costs
$0.00
$0.02
$0.04
$0.06
$0.08
$0.10
$0.12
$

p
e
r

s
f

R
-
v
a
l
u
e
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 70
Installed Costs
Full retrofit $5-$7/sf basement wall area (R-20)
With stud wall $10-$11/sf basement wall area
Spray foam (installed) $1.00-$1.50/board foot
Perimeter drains ~$20-40/lineal foot
Rat slab (2 thick) ~$3.25-$4.00/sf floor area
Insulation system + water management
Cost comparisons should be to insulation + drainage
Has to be compared to what actually works!
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 71
AdditionalResearch:
SillBeamDurability
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 72
Sill Beam Moisture Durability
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 18 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 73
Sill Beam Moisture Durability
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 74
Thisbuildinghasbeenaround
forthelast100years
Sill Beam Moisture Durability
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 75
Silltofoundation
surfacecolder
Lessdrying
available
Permeable
insulationdetail?
Sill Beam Moisture Durability
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 76
Permeable Sill Insulation Detail
Foil-faced polyisocyanurate overclad on most of
house
High-density mineral fiber (permeable) at sill
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 19 of 20
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 77
Sill Beam Moisture Risk Factors
Exterior water control features
Capillary activity of foundation
Magnitude of splashback
Height of sill beam/rim joist above grade
Drainage plane location
Permeability of exterior
Westford Barn retrofit sill beam example
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 78
Field Survey Work
Sub slab insulation reduces risk of moisture
issues (carpets on slabs; cardboard boxes)
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 79
Questions?
Kohta Ueno
kohta@buildingscience.com
This presentation is based research covered in
BSC TO2 7.7 Hybrid Foundation Insulation
Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do 80
Resources
Building Science Digest 103: Understanding Basements
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-103-understanding-basements
Building Science Insight 041: Rubble Foundations
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-041-rubble-foundations/
Building Science Insight 045: Double Rubble Toil and Trouble
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-045-double-rubble-toil-trouble/
Building Science Insight 057: Hockey Pucks and Hydrostatic Pressure
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-057-hockey-pucks-and-hydrostatic-pressure/
RR-1108: Hybrid Foundation Insulation Retrofits: Measure Guideline
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1108-hybrid-foundations-retrofits-measure-guideline/
RR-1003: Building America Special Research ProjectHigh-R Foundations Case Study Analysis
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1003-building-america-high-r-foundations-case-study-
analysis/
RR-??: Bulk Water Control Methods for Foundations
RR-0309: Renovating Your Basement
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0309-renovating-your-basment/
Information Sheet 511: Basement Insulation
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/basement-insulation/
Hygrothermal Behavior of Interior Basement Insulation (Kohta Ueno MASc Thesis)
http://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca/handle/10012/3242
Info-408: Critical Seal (Spray Foam at Rim Joist)
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/critical-seal-spray-foam-at-rim-joist
2012 Affordable Comfort Conference Basement Insulation: What to Do & What Not to Do March 29, 2012
Ueno buildingscience.com 20 of 20