I don't want to insulate my basement.

1648 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by gregzoll, Jan 29, 2013

charliek2

Discussion Starter · Jan 28, 2013

There, I said it. Convince me otherwise and I will do it.

Central NJ. Basement dry as a bone, no internal sump pump or drain, never a hint of water or mustiness. Humidity, even in summer, has never been above 40% and right now is at 20%. No dehumidifier.

Walls are painted with Dryloc and have been that way forever.

I need to build one stud wall against an exterior wall to hold up the cabinets I will be installing and run the plumbing for the sink I will put in.

It will be a single wall against the north side of the foundation that is about a foot above grade.

My plan is to build the wall about an inch off the block to allow for air circulation and not insulate it at all.

We have no heat or A/C in the basement but we do use the woodburning fireplace from time to time.

I was going to attach a PT 1X4 along the top of the foundation to attach the top plate to that would act as a fireblock. (Air can circulate back and forth behind the wall but not upward.)

If this is all a dumb idea I am happy to hear it. Insulation and moisture are tricky and not my area of expertise.

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Gary in WA

· #2 · Jan 29, 2013

http://www.quadlock.com/technical_library/bulletins/R-ETRO_Value_of_Basement_Insulation.pdf

Page 69; http://www.buildingscience.com/docu...merica-high-r-foundations-case-study-analysis

If IRC; "1. In concealed spaces of stud walls and partitions, including furred spaces and parallel rows of studs or staggered studs; as follows: 1.1. Vertically at the ceiling and floor levels. 1.2. Horizontally at intervals not exceeding 10 feet (3048 mm)." From:
http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/irc/2006f2/icod_irc_2006f2_6_sec002_par017.htm Other codes are similar, ask your Fire Marshall.Gary
PS. you may need a fan with a sink...ask AHJ.

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charliek2

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 29, 2013

thanks for the links. I will thoroughly read through the insulation one more later but it looks like it addresses efficiency and my main worry with insulation is that I will trap moisture. The room is already comfortable.

The sink will be used very rarely, mostly to rinse a glass or two or wash my hands.

It looks like my fireblocking plan is OK as long as I add two more vertical 1 X 4's at intervals along the wall.

Am I reading that right?

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gregzoll

· #4 · Jan 29, 2013

Right now looking at my thermostat for downstairs, it is 7 degrees cooler in my basement. Only thing I have done, is insulate the Rim & sill joist bays. But to answer your remark, it is better to insulate the basement, so that you can keep it up around the upstairs living space.

Especially if you find that yours is more out of range, than what I see mine as. I keep mine cooler, due to we use it for storage of some paintings that are not replaceable, and other assorted items that need a space that is cool and dry, along with a mid humidity rate, which we keep around the mid 50's down there.

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