Properly Insulating a Basement Wall: E2 Basement Finishing

In this DIY home improvement video series, I’ll be finishing a basement step by step. This video will cover properly insulating a basement wall. I'll also talk about fire blocking. Fire blocking is very important. It allows your family to get out safely in the event of a fire. I’ll also show you how to install rigid foam board insulation. Closed cell foam board insulations keeps your basement warm but is also moisture resistant. It is even a vapor barrier. Use closed cell foam board if you don't want mold in your basement. Let me show you how to build a room in the basement!
Don’t forget to subscribe so you don't miss the rest of my videos in my “Finishing a Basement” series.
General steps to finish a room in your basement:
1) Discuss your project with your local building department
2) Design the space
3) Create your floor plans
4) Select you contractors
5) Pull any permits required
6) Adjust any plumbing or HVAC
7) Fire blocking and insulation
8) Frame the room
9) Install doors
10) Rough in your plumbing electrical and HVAC
11) Insulate your walls if needed
12) Install and finish drywall
13) Paint walls
14) Finish electrical
15) Install flooring
16) Install trim
17) Install plumbing fixtures
Floorplanner.com
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Knife- amzn.to/3m4biHG
4’ straight edge- amzn.to/3K9tHur
Sheathing tape- amzn.to/3ZzPrp7
Fire block expanding foam- amzn.to/40VrDNr
Fire resistant caulk- amzn.to/3K9RBWY
“Finishing Basements” book- amzn.to/3KuFpRW
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Video Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:12 What is fire blocking
0:51 Installing fire blocking
2:48 Installing foam board insulation
5:00 Closing
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[@melissamuszynski3734]

Can't wait to see the finished product!

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

I'm getting there!

[@lindamuszynski8828]

Looking great!

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Thanks!

[@andrewsawhill4771]

Great video - learned something new today!

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Good ro hear!

[@christianjohnson2383]

looks professional! Thank You for this video we have a house in the Heights of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA and needed to freshen up on this skill!

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

That sounds fun! Thanks for the comment.

[@darpansharma8157]

Great information, really helpful. I am going to do it this summer

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Definitely do it.

[@GlueTubber]

repeat after me: Rock Wool! Fiberglass insulation is soooo 20th century. Rock Wool won't rot, won't settle, won't mildew, and won't burn. Plus it provides superior insulation and sound-proofing. It's more expensive, but worth it! :)

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

I use that in other areas of my home.

[@inspiringbuilds]

It will look great in the end! I will say you want to maintain an air space between your insulation and concrete. Apply PL300 in circular beads to the foam board so the air space is continuous from the bottom of the basement floor to the top of the floor joist and will find its way outside. If you don’t do this and apply it across the width of the foam board back and forth it will trap in the moisture. Follow my techniques and you’ll never have to deal with mold. 👍

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Thanks for the tips!

[@inspiringbuilds]

@@HowIDoThingsDIY Yes sir, keep up the good work. 👍

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Thank you. I shall.

[@melissajulius2581]

Thanks for the tips! Question - should you add a 2x2 between every two foam boards, glued to the wall? IRC requires fireblocking at minimum every 10' horizontally. I am working on my basement now, and didn't realize code had changed (my last basement finish was in 2014), so I have to go back and cut out some foam to add 2x4s flat between the boards (I used 1.5" thick foam boards). Luckily I haven't got very far! I have 9' ceilings so I am adding the fireblocking vertically now before I cut remaining 1' sections of foam for the top of the walls.

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

That's not required in my state.

[@daddypapi3842]

Hi, great channel. My 28 year old basement has a “cove joint” about an inch wide. If water entered basement floor, it will lead the water to a sump pump. Do you recommend placing 2” foam board on top of cove joint or sealing cove joint then placing foam board like you did? Thank you.

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

I'll admit I'm too familiar with that foundation joint, but I found some information on this link. It sounds like you don't want to seal it. I hope this helps! www.groundworks.com/glossary/cove-joint/

[@stb1938]

Any advice on adhering the rigid foam insulation on basement wall that is bowing/leaning? it has been mediated to not get worse but most likely the rigid foam insulation is not going to sit flat on the wall. Should I just use more “glue” on the foam, is it ok to have a gap behind it (I feel like it defeats the purpose if I have gaps between the wall and the foam). Would not have been an issue if I was doing doing it the wrong way with the fiberglass insulation inside a tarp given its flexibility….

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Actually, its best to have an air gap to allow some air flow. That way if there is any moisture coming from the concrete i it won't collect. I guess it depends on how warped it is. If its really bad you could also use spray foam insulation.

[@sotinastos]

Hi Travis, we have a cinder block foundation and the walls are not finished. Would we take the same approach to finishing our walls the same way? Thanks and great content on your channel

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

I believe so. Just make sure you don't have any moisture issues.

[@xpump876]

So, Crap. I'd had plans to divide my basement with a 2x4 framed wall under the steel beam and on one side of the room put up Foamular 2" sheets as done in this vid and then just paint it with latex/foam safe paint. Your post is the 1st one that's stated that "..most bldg. codes require you cover the foam board with drywall .. " I'm in St Louis Mo and don't know if this rule applies. Curious how you'd put up drywall against the foam ? .. I'd think you would have to frame it in to have some way to adhere the drywall to.

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding, but if you framed a wall in the middle of a basement, it doesn't need any insulation. If you don't want to drywall it you could also put plywood on the wall and paint that. Foam insulation releases toxic gas when burned. The building code is meant to increase the time it takes for the fire to get to it so you can get out of the house.

[@craigcusano6149]

These videos are really helpful. I have a question- I’m in a new build house where rigid insulation was installed on the exterior of my poured concrete foundation. Is it optional or required to install rigid board on the interior surface? And do I need to cover all walls or just the walls I am finishing? And last question, can I use rolled fiberglass insulation between studs in this situation? Thanks in advance.

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

My house is newer as well and has foam board on the outside of the walls. I have been told it's optional to add more, like I did in this video. However, the walls still felt a little cool to me so I added more insulation. I live in Wisconsin and it gets cold here. The other added benefit is that this foam board will act as a vapor barrier when using the right tape on the seams. If you use foam board on the inside and you have it on the outside, there really is no need for fiberglass batt insulation. If fiberglass batt insulation ever gets damp, mold will grow on it inside your walls. Closed cell foam board is much more mold resistant. My basement is very dry but I didn't want to take any risks. I only apply foam board to the walls I was finishing. Foam board needs something to cover it per my local building code so just leaving foam board uncovered is not acceptable.

[@craigcusano6149]

Thank you!! We are in Ohio so not as cold but still cold enough. I appreciate the very quick reply too.

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

@@craigcusano6149 Absolutely. Don't hesitate to ask more questions.

[@user-yx6ig3ds2r]

Do you know what R-value the builder used for the outside? was it R10 or a different R-value?

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Sorry, I do not know exactly what was used on the outside. But I can tell you that with the added R10 on the inside, my basement is very comfortable.

[@johnsmith-gm4kf]

What about using xps cementious board and painting it over after ?

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

I'm not familiar with that. What is it?

[@dogwalkinginc6371]

and what do you recommend if my basement is not super dry?

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Honestly, in my opinion, the first step would be to hire a company that can make it dry. I'd be very leary of finishing a basement that was not dry.

[@infiniti2015]

Great video series! When installing that Sheetrock as a fireblock, assuming it’s better to set it back a bit from your top horizontal stud to avoid going through and cutting off any excess, correct? I was going to use plywood but may use Sheetrock given it’s easier to corrrecr

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

I don't completely understand you're question. I like to use plywood but either is acceptable.

[@infiniti2015]

@@HowIDoThingsDIY I meant when installing the horizontal fire blocking, it essentially has to line up perfectly with your top plate line otherwise it would extend past the top plate and interfere with the ceiling sheet rock inside the room. Figured the Sheetrock would be easier to shave away if that happened.

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

@@infiniti2015 Ah! Got it. Yes. Or fall a little short.

[@infiniti2015]

@@HowIDoThingsDIY Cool. Thank you!

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

@infiniti2015 You're welcome!

[@nofurtherwest3474]

Do you just glue the drywall directly to the foam board?

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

No, I frame a 2x4 wall over top of that. I'm currently doing an entire series on finishing a room. Head over to my channel to see the episodes after this.

[@R_m_ki]

Are you planning to use more insulation in the frame

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

No. I don't like batts in basements. The stuff I used is very resistant to mold. Plus my basement has foam board on the outside of the walls as well.

[@cwally1994]

Do you glue and screw the drywall?

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

I screw it to the wood and used fire block caulking to adhere the backing piece in between the main pieces.

[@cwally1994]

@@HowIDoThingsDIY I'm asking about the walls and/or ceiling drywall.

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

I personally just screw drywall. I'll cover that when I get to that.

[@kflem8]

You screw your drywall to the foam board? Or did you build a 2x4 basement wall frame?

[@dalebcooper3718]

do you add r13 insulation after the wall is framed?

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

No. I have foamboard on the outside of the concrete walls plus this. This was plenty for what I wanted and I don't like fiberglass insulation in basements unless its for sound deadening. I just don't like any materials that have the opportunity to hold moisture and mold.

[@dalebcooper3718]

@@HowIDoThingsDIY ok thanks. Because I hear conflicting things about this. I’m finishing my basement soon and wondering if I should do both foam board and r13

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

@@dalebcooper3718 Some people do if they need more insulation. If the foam board is enough for your basement, then I would skip the fiberglass batts as they can hold moisture and mold. I did use some in my theater room for added soundproofing. It depends on where you live the construction of your basement walls and how dry your basement is.

[@TheHavocdog]

I sealed the concrete with a concrete sealer. Then I used 1 inch foam board on the concrete. After installing my studs, then I fit foam board in between the studs as well. I also used a mold resustant drywall product instead of normal dry wall. I used a mold reaustant drywall mud, and then painted with a mold resistant paint It really improved the warmth of the room and should be significantly mold resistant.

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

@TheHavocdog I like your style.