The specific type of rock used to make rockwool insulation is basalt, a volcanic rock that melts at approximately 3,000 degrees fahrenheit. When i moved in i installed a sante fe dehumidifer that keeps the whole space under 40% humidity. The timehonored practice of insulating rim joists with fiberglass batts is no. Choosing the best products for your basement wall repair project. Cracks in your foundation and basement walls come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Its not uncommon to see fiberglass basement insulation in direct contact with foundation walls.
Owens corning ecotouch r 40sq ft single faced fiberglass roll insulation with with sound barrier. For example, rigid foam is commonly used for basement wall insulation because it resists the moisture given off by basement masonry walls. There are a several techniques for fixing cracks in basement walls. If youre ready to insulate the rim joists in your basement or. For exterior walls, attics, basement headers, ceiling and floor frames. Dec 02, 2017 brief discussion on the merrits of both types of insulation. Green curmudgeons, architects, and outlawing batt insulation.
In fact, one side of the basement already has the foam insulation. A friend threw a punctured can of great stuff into his buddys locker. Epoxy crack injections sometimes, contactors will inject epoxy or even grout into a foundation wall crack to seal it. In this article ill show you how to insulate basement walls properly. First, tyvek or similar against the concrete basement wall, then 1 14 roxul comfort board for a thermal break, then a stud wall filled with roxul batts sheetrock. Also considering going diy and using foil faced board and r 15 roxul on walls foil board and r23 roxul on under exposed floors. Rigid foam andor fiberglass for finished basement in ma. Basement insulation how to insulate basement foundation walls. I ran down to the basement many times to see if and when the puddle appeared. Plus, i learned that there are some greener options that are very low voc and. This is a popular company that manufactures fibreglass for the insulation of. If you dont do this correctly youll be exposing your family to dangerous mold.
Its held in place by metal fasteners that are driven into the concrete. Insulation by location not all insulation is the same. For more information, see installing fiberglass right. Diy spray foam insulation plus two additional insulation tips. So, i was wonder if i can first lay a r in in the fill it.
Jan 04, 20 my house is 18 years old with a poured concrete basement. Sometimes, the soil pressure may shear the first course of concrete block above the basement floor slab and the wall slides inward. I hate fiberglass and the old batts were poorly installed. When properly installed, closed cell foam spray or board provides two benefits.
Diagnosing cracks in your basement and foundation walls. And we found one long vertical crack on a poured foundation wall. Fiberglass batts, on the other hand, are typically used to insulate between wall studs, floor and ceiling joists, and roof rafters. Using fiberglass batts in conjunction with the spray foam and with a water vapor barrier, you. Jul 15, 2016 in fact, one side of the basement already has the foam insulation. Not exactly the most pleasant site for the locker owner. They did not use any fiberglass on the foundation walls.
Its easy to build a basement better, or to finish an existing basement. The frozen water expands increasing the damage to your foundation and making the crack worse. The ultimate guide to rv insulation which rv insulation is best for you. The fiberglass is in direct contact with the concrete. The contractor used fiberglass insulation with a plastic barrier on the interior side. The ultimate guide to rv insulation rving planet blog. I spoke to someone at the roxul company the other day who recommended the following basement insulation. Finishing my basement roxul insulation and ready for.
Apr 07, 2017 i insulated with roxul r15 comfort batt. Although the roxul instructions and their video instruct you to install the comfort board directly on the wall, if you look closely in their video, they are installing it on top of a material called flex guard aspire. Basement and stud wall fiberglass insulation installation instructions. I would like to insulate the basement walls completely from the weather. If any of the cracks are growing, or if they always seem to re crack, contact a professional to help. Building envelope design by roxul 8 8 8 8 8 6 5 4 basement wall comfortboard is 1.
For an unfinished basement where you dont want or need finished walls and want to leave insulation exposed, a good choice might be a blanket insulation that is covered with a white flameresistant polypropylene facing, such as certainteeds basement insulation. Make the crack wider at the top than at the bottom to keep the mortar in place. Sep 06, 2015 got a quote of 1200 for closed cell foam 3 inched on walls and 4 inches under floor. So, im thinking, roxul for the whole basement ceiling, double drywall with green glue under the bedroom area, and putting in a soundproof door leading into the basement, as well as insulating the stairwell wall. Roxul vs fiberglass insulation for soundproofing better. Why is roxul insulation such a good sound and fire barrier. In fact, improperly insulated basement walls are one of the biggest reasons for mold in homes.
Id heard from contractor friends that roxul was better and that made me curious enough to try it. Using the radonseal foundation crack repair kits makes the repair of cracks in poured concrete walls easy and inexpensive. Compared to most insulation materials, roxul is more fireproof. Top 5 reasons pros choose rockwool over fiberglass. Now do i do the floors next with the same r igid boards, plywood on top then my studded walls. Roxul vs rigid foam im getting so many conflicting views and suggestions with how to insulate my basement. Structurally, by checking for cracks, crumbling of the concrete, and so on. The thermal resistance of insulation is measured by whats commonly known as the rvalue, and the higher the rvalue, the better. Roxul is denser than fiberglass, and may be worth the upcharge for a variety of reasons. Slag, a steel manufacturing byproduct, is mixed with the liquidhot basalt, and the resulting. Learn why 5inches of flameretardant insulation wont do much to help if your home is on fire. Fiberglass and rock wool absorb less than 1 percent of their weight, whereas cellulose absorbs 520. I would be insulating the walls from the back side hence why im using foam board vs regular vapor barrier.
Fiberglass is the most commonly used type of insulation in garages just as its the most popular type in homes. The first and easiest is to scrape the debris from inside the crack using a chisel or similar tool. Roxul does not give me a rash with fiberglass insulation you have to cover complete up gloves, long sleeves, etc. The basement wall repair products you use will depend mainly upon the type of damage your wall has sustained. I dont have water issues, but i do get some moisture down there who doesnt. Cracks in a basement foundation or crawl space wall can allow water into your home. The methods of using foam board or roxul or fiberglass are also hope for the best but your needing greater hope and even better luck, fiberglass holds water well and will create mold quickly, roxul is hydrophobic, but the water still has to go somewhere and foamboard will keep the water on whichever side it came from but does not deal with it. Keep searching until you find a contractor that understands the situation with foam vs fiberglass. I like roxul better than fiberglass as it stops air movement better and its much less annoying to install. This type of movement will have horizontal cracks that may occur near the center of the wall or nearer to the top of the wall. Basement and stud wall fiberglass insulation installation instructions for finished basements its best to install traditional faced or unfaced batt insulation between studs in a framed wall.
The windows and about 5 feet of the walls are above ground. But before you invest in roxul, find out how much it would cost to insulate your walls with densepacked cellulose a much better choice for an 8inchthick wall. An alternative to the batten insulation is rockwool acoustic insulation 80. Im planning to build a home office in my basement, which will take up about x16 of my 24x36 basement. One of the most common is when the crack begins at the top of the.
These primary types are fiberglass insulation and foam insulation, though foam insulation comes in multiple forms. Fiberglass insulation is cheap and readily available and often used in poorly insulated basements. Building envelope design by roxul general insulation. Comparing the facts no matter what the building challenge. When it comes how to do insulation for a basement, there are several insulating options. By doing this, i was able to see that a tiny trickle of water. Check out which material is best for your project, whether its attic and loft insulation, wall insulation or another area of your home. Fiberglass insulation is nothing more than a ready and willing sponge that will soak up every ounce of water in your basement and promote the growth of mold and. Jan 02, 2015 my first introduction to diy spray foam insulation was in high school. Today, the installers arrived with bails of roxul afb and i was expecting the comfortbatts. If you dont do this correctly youll be exposing your family to dangerous mold exposure.
Sound insulation in basement ceiling im about to put in a suspended ceiling, and im wondering if its best to put the soundattenuating fibreglass between the floor joists above, get specialized ceiling tiles, both, or something else. This is bad stuff to breathe in, but the continuous roll version, for use in walls, comes lined with paper that makes it cleaner. The methods of using foam board or roxul or fiberglass are also hope for the best but your needing greater hope and even. It keeps the basement warm in winter and cool and dry in summer.
They have to be hung and stapled into place or they will slump and leave gaps. Insulating concrete foundations from inside the basement. The primary reason is that fiberglass gets on your skin and and becomes very irritable. Fast forward to finding roxul comfortbatt finally easily available on their website for special order pro desk at home depot can get it as. Basement wall insulation with roxul home improvement forum. He developed a crack and because the spray foam was on all the outside walls, they could not find the source and had to take down all the walls and chip and scrape all the foam off.
Mar 06, 2011 mixing roxul wool with fiberglass posted in home theaters. To keep mice out, cover holes with metal flashing or pack every crack, crevice and hole with steel wool, and then caulk or cement over it. Roxul is safer than pink or fiberglass insulation, and a few pieces against your windows will be quite safe but not beautiful. They might think because the temperature below the frost line stays pretty constant, you have to worry only about insulating the top half of the basement walls. One of the most common is when the crack begins at the top of the concrete basement wall and moves diagonally down to a corner.
Likewise, fiberglass batt insulation is a bad idea for insulating an attic, which requires a very thick layer of insulation at least 16 inches. Feb 06, 2017 comfortboard vs rigid foam insulation. For example, blown fiberglass insulation, which is a great idea for insulating an attic, should not be considered at all in a basement environment. How to insulate a basement wall greenbuildingadvisor. Hi shannon, i would like to insulate my basement with roxul products, comfort board followed by comfort batt. With mineral wool batts and better fiberglass products, is that really. Alternatively, if using fibreglass blownin insulation, fill all cavities to the. How to compare rock wool and fiberglass insulation home.
Eps, xps and mineral wool are unharmed by moisture, and perhaps most. In either case, id seal the hole through wall with expanding foam. You can also get loosefill fiberglass, which it suitable for blowing into a. As i have began doing this, i am seeing that the fiberglass is so fluffy that throwing on the 1. Preventing mold when you insulate your basement ecohome. Every time it rained, whether lightly, mediumly, or heavily, i ran down to the basement many times to see if and when the puddle appeared. Tap insulation vs fiberglass insulation the money pit. Not only is that wrong, its a sure way to create moisture problems. Compare the depth with an rvalue map and chart to determine how much. Got a quote of 1200 for closed cell foam 3 inched on walls and 4 inches under floor. So, if youre interesting in stopping the type of noise leakage that results in sounds traveling. Designing with mold and mildew resistant insulation rockwool. However, if your basement walls are not insulated, i doubt putting roxul in the windows will make any perceivable difference to your basement temp in general.
Roxul vs fiberglass batts specifically for sound insulation. Regular fiberglass will hold water for a long time, slowly collecting at the bottom and causing mildew and rot on the surrounding walls. This fix usually lasts about two years before it fails and allows water into the basement or crawl space again. What is the difference between rockwool and owens corning. These seals are powerful and can even make the basement wall stronger.
Fiberglass this pink stuff is all i knew of when i started. Choosing the best products for your basement wall repair. The locker was stuffed with foam insulation the next. Hello, i am wondering if i can mix roxul wool with fiberglass. Better r value, fire and water resistant, nice sound barrier, easier to work with. Im replacing the insulation in my partial height basement stud walls concrete to 42, 2x6 to 92. You can insulate the exterior wall with roxul, no vapor barrier. What causes horizontal cracks in concrete block foundations. It comes it 3x4 sheets,and you can cut with a kitchen knife,just like a cake.
When cracks become large enough, water leaks in and makes them bigger over time. The sound control and roxul s normal insulation are actually the same product but the sound control is ratedcertified for sound insulation and the other has been ratedcertified for insulating. Basement and stud wall fiberglass insulation installation. I have done several basement renovations and prefer roxul with a 6ml vapour barrier. More details if you care but suffice it to say this is the time to replace the wall insulation. Mineral wool insulation isnt like fiberglass greenbuildingadvisor.
However, if we focus on two similar and popular sound control products from each insulation type, a comparison works better. Mixing roxul wool with fiberglass posted in home theaters. Jan 25, 2017 fiberglass insulation is the most common type of rv insulation. Diy basement wall crack repair that even novices can do. In my opinion it is better than the typical pink fiberglass stuff. Whilst cracking open a window if your basement has them is fine if the. Shop a variety of products including batt, blownin. Unfortunately, roxul is closed for the holidays but i based on your experience we are moving ahead with the afb product.
All mice need is a little crack in a wall or foundation to get. I use it in walls, floor and ceilings definitely works. For optimal acoustic performance when it comes to soundproofing, you need to look into soundproofing insulation. It is a special type of soundproofing material because it works by creating an acoustic barrier that prevents sound from traveling any further. There are basically two brands of insulation on the market. Roxul comfortbatt helps keep the outside, outside and to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the.
Comparing roxul or rockwool with fiberglass insulation for soundproofing isnt quite like comparing apples to oranges. A modern california home wrapped in rockwool insulation for. I went through a similar purchase process for insulating my basement. Dec 16, 20 im replacing the insulation in my partial height basement stud walls concrete to 42, 2x6 to 92. So, i was wonder if i can first lay a r in in the fill it up with roxul wool. Whether you stress that you will trouble others with the loud sounds in your home or the other way around, roxul insulation gives all the acoustic.
So you can see roxul beats the pink insulation, and total blows away the spray foam insulation polyurethane and. Rockwool cant stop a pipe from bursting in the wall, but it can help with what comes after. Its sold in precut batts and long blankets that fit between wall studs and ceiling joists. It is much denser than fiberglass, has a higher iic ratinginch thickness than fiberglass, and also a higher fire resistance rating. Roxul safensound is r22, has an stc of 45, an nrc rating of 1. I have insulated my basement so far with closed cell rgid boards 1. The five reasons i picked roxul rock wool over the pick fiberglass insulation. These cracks will staircase up and down the foundation walls near the ends of the wall. White mold poses similar negative health effects, or problems, to those of black molds.
My ceiling is kinda deep and it will cost me more money to cover it will roxul wool. Find out why you should skip the pestresistant, flameretardant tap insulation and just add more fiberglass insulation to your attic if thats what you already have. Learn how to insulate basement walls from industry pro todd fratzel. Slag, a steel manufacturing byproduct, is mixed with the liquidhot basalt, and the resulting combination gets spun into threads and pressed into standardsize insulation batts. The sound control and roxuls normal insulation are actually the same product but the sound control is ratedcertified for sound insulation and the other has been ratedcertified for insulating. If any of the cracks are growing, or if they always seem to recrack, contact a professional to help.
If you ever experience a leak you want the water to. To ensure that humid indoor air wont reach the cold rim joist, the crack at the perimeter of each piece. Brief discussion on the merrits of both types of insulation. Radonseal doityourself foundation crack repair kits. In that house, it was installed just for soundproofing between the basement and the. There are several common types of diagonal cracks in basement walls. Whats worse is if these cracks get water in them that freezes in the winter.