Basement insulation for a “good enough” renovation
I am renovating a 1600 sqft ranch house and considering the best way to insulate the basement. I’m in zone 5 (near Rochester NY). The house was built in 1985. The basement is block construction and seems dry (I closed on the house in November and the only moisture I’ve seen in the basement was due to a gutter downspout draining directly on the foundation).
I have access to some used insulated metal wall panels with 2″ EPS insulation. The panels are similar to these: http://www.walkincooler.us/insulated-metal-wall-panels-47-x-96-x-2/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxsPT_bv55wIV0MDACh0hRgrQEAAYASAAEgLKZ_D_BwE .
For anyone who has used this type panel or is familiar with them, will there be any long term issues if they are touching the block wall, or am I better off spacing them off the wall slightly? The panels are approximately R10, for my area is this “good enough”, or should I consider putting them on top of some recycled polyiso?
My idea for installation is to drop them into a channel section that I will shoot into the wall about an inch or so off the floor around the perimeter of the basement and at the top to use blocking off of the floor joists to hold them in place. All electric outlets will be surface mounted with either wiremold or conduit to contain the wires.
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Replies
R15 is code for basements in zone 5.
Outside of Boston, 3" reclaimed polyiso (R17) runs $20/sheet last I checked. You can use 1x4's screwed through to the wall to secure foam and give a mounting surface for drywall.
The "good enough" question I would have is what the rest of the house looks like and what your plans are for it. If you're wearing a t-shirt, is a balaclava instead of a ski hat the best way to stay warm?
If the rest of the house is a sieve then R10 vs R15 isn't where you should be putting your effort. If you intend to bring the rest of the house up to modern codes then the basement should be as well, the question is whether to do it now or later.
To answer your rest of the house question, it is a blank slate right now. I pretty much gutted the house to the 4 outside walls and am in the process of building it back. Most of the outside walls will be 2X6 with newer windows - mainly Andersen new or slightly used that I picked up on facebook marketplace. My plan for the wall insulation is most likely cellulose or mineral wool with polyiso either on the inside or outside (there seems to be a good case for both and I'm not sure yet which way I lean). The attic insulation will most likely be a thick cellulose.
So, in short, the rest of the house won't be a sieve. It will essentially be new construction with a mix of new and slightly used components. My real question is at what point do I say "good enough" vs. let's spend a ton of money and time chasing perfection.
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