Basement "Edge" insulation

Wil · 04-05-2007, 08:00 PM

I recently bought a newly constructed home and am starting to finish the basement. I remember during my walkthrough with the builder they told me that if I ever decided to finish the basement I should pull out the edge insulation that is wedged between the concrete basement floor and the concrete wall. It's about an inch. I was told that this would allow any water that might seep through the walls to drain down into the gap between the wall and the floor and eventually go into the sump pit to be pumped out.

My question is can I and should I really remove this edge insulation? I tried to remove a section but it doesn't look like this will come out. All I can do is shred it apart which doesn't seem productive. I tried pouring some water down the crack through the foam and it seems to drain down just fine. Also, we've had plenty of heavy rains and have never had any water in the basement so I don't really think (knock on wood) it will be much of a problem.

I just wanted to see if anyone else has heard of this and has an opinion.

Thanks!

**AtlanticWBConst.** · 04-05-2007, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil

I recently bought a newly constructed home and am starting to finish the basement. I remember during my walkthrough with the builder they told me that if I ever decided to finish the basement I should pull out the edge insulation that is wedged between the concrete basement floor and the concrete wall. It's about an inch. I was told that this would allow any water that might seep through the walls to drain down into the gap between the wall and the floor and eventually go into the sump pit to be pumped out.

My question is can I and should I really remove this edge insulation? I tried to remove a section but it doesn't look like this will come out. All I can do is shred it apart which doesn't seem productive. I tried pouring some water down the crack through the foam and it seems to drain down just fine. Also, we've had plenty of heavy rains and have never had any water in the basement so I don't really think (knock on wood) it will be much of a problem.

I just wanted to see if anyone else has heard of this and has an opinion.

Thanks!

I think I understand this....but if you can post a pic...it would be helpful....

Wil · 04-05-2007, 10:29 PM

I hope this helps. the insulation is the green foam that you see between the wall and floor of the basement. Let me know if you'd like another picture.

Thanks for your help.

concretemasonry · 04-05-2007, 11:04 PM

You really don't need it for insulation since it really does nothing,

Your slab is sitting on the soil and the footing. The footing is sitting on the soil also. The soil in that area is the same temperature as the soil outside the wall. All at that depth are about the same temperature because the of the relatively high heat transfer through all of the materials in all directions. It is not like warm air rising since soil conducts heat equally in all directions at the same rate.

Depending where you are, it will be 55-60 degrees just about all year long. The surface may vary slightly because of the interior air flow.

They probably put the foam in the joint to prevent it from getting clogged up and being ineffective some time down the road when it might be needed.