Basements, from the way that they are built to the way that they are finished, present a lot of singular issues for the homeowner and the builder.
Areas that are below-grade tend to have higher moisture levels than areas that are at or above-grade. This can lead to the growth of mold and mildew inside the walls and even in some types of insulation.
Basements are also notorious for having poor air flow because of a lack of windows or other types of ventilation. They also tend to be colder year round, which means that if they aren’t properly insulated, they could be decreasing the energy efficiency of the entire structure.
In addition, insulating basements might be slightly different from other interior areas of the home since they are mostly underground and more susceptible to moisture infiltration. During construction, the exterior of the foundation can be insulated. This is a code requirement in many northern climate. However, if you are finishing a basement or retrofitting an interior there are insulation options.
Most builders are already familiar with using continuous insulation over the exterior of the building. Continuous insulation helps stop thermal bridging and air gaps, two of the biggest sources of energy loss through the walls of a home. Because the basement walls can be finished in several different ways, it’s typical for continuous insulation to be the best method of providing insulation to the area.
Continuous insulation on the interior of a basement helps prevent the same type of thermal bridging that can cause energy loss in the rest of the house. Insulating in this manner can also help address some of the moisture risks in basements as it can help prevent the condensation that can build up when there is an extreme temperature difference between the inside and outside walls.
When you use continuous insulation throughout the interior of the basement, you improve the energy efficiency of the space, as well as the comfort levels of both the basement and the floor above. And because continuous insulation is often thinner than traditional interior insulation, it allows for a stud wall to be placed over and finished with interior drywall.