I am planning to start on my basement in the winter. I would like to start putting up the framework. Should I insulate the whole wall, & what other insulation, or vapour barrier I should be putting down & how do I go about starting this project. Should I put down a sub-floor?
Answer:
When insulating any below-grade masonry wall it is best to build (in place) a 2X4 structure with studs 16" O.C. and pull it an inch and a half from the wall in order to accommodate R-20 fibre insulation without compressing it. The insulation actually goes from the sub-flooring above to within eight inches of the concrete floor and so does 6mm polyethylene vapour barrier. This system avoids a lot of condensation problems and at the same time, permits a bit of heat loss to the drainage tile along the exterior perimeter of the footings. In areas where frost is a problem, it is important that drainage at this point not be impeded. Unless it was absolutely necessary, I would not put down a sub-floor.
