tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post2821258036808397872..comments2024-03-23T05:37:06.956-04:00Comments on Dover Projects: How to Insulate Basement Rim JoistsPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119271007207624360noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-13651178682503516722015-01-17T16:41:04.553-05:002015-01-17T16:41:04.553-05:00I just fiberglassed my whole basement and got a to...I just fiberglassed my whole basement and got a ton of condensation. Had to rip it all out and now I'm putting up 1" XPS against the concrete. Lots of work, but beats having mold. So I thought I was good just keeping moisture off the concrete, but then I pulled out the fiberglass bats that were shoved in the rim space that the builder installed and BAM... soaked!! Some wood was already showing mildew. New construction! So now I'm ripped all that out too and placing foam boards and great stuff in those spaces before replacing the fiberglass....IF i decide to put the fiberglass back in there. Thanks for the article!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-36797178408430405262013-12-22T13:50:00.525-05:002013-12-22T13:50:00.525-05:00Thank you for this post. I'm actually tackling...Thank you for this post. I'm actually tackling this very project in my house right now. The rim joist is currently insulated with fiberglass that I'm going to pull out and re-install over the rigid foam, once it's put in. I'm happy to see you mentioned doing that in this post.<br /><br />http://www.jaygaulard.com/insulating-basement-rim-joists/Jayhttp://www.jaygaulard.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-19444724528537173462013-11-25T17:54:07.373-05:002013-11-25T17:54:07.373-05:00Hey, I am in a 1920's farm house, but someone ...Hey, I am in a 1920's farm house, but someone in the recent past parged the whole wall over the sill with concrete. Do you think I can do this method still? My floors are quite cold and with it being a "crawl space" more like a dungeon with limestone floors. I would like to do this but not sure if it will work!Wonder Woman!https://www.blogger.com/profile/15338182037325748873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-38861537764051805162013-01-24T08:54:27.546-05:002013-01-24T08:54:27.546-05:00While using rigid insulation board is an excellent...While using rigid insulation board is an excellent strategy on basement walls is a great strategy, using super tuff-r isn't necessarily the best idea (or cost effective). Polyiso, xps foam and eps foam all have different water vapor characteristics and should be selected based on your particular wall assembly and climate zone. Building science.com is hands down the best place to read up on basement insulation.<br /><br />Nice articleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-10964205793292129542012-11-16T00:06:21.324-05:002012-11-16T00:06:21.324-05:00Great article. We will be doing this in our basem...Great article. We will be doing this in our basement in the next month or so.<br /><br />I am concerned about not being able to see pest and water damage though, but we were treated for termites and the majority of our moisture issues went away when we had new gutters installed.<br /><br />You can also use the Great Stuff pest block, apparently it works quite well at blocking pests. I hope they have it to use with the foam gun, I'd like to use it in the upcoming project.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15396716725651965513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-84504582194714297832012-02-09T00:14:09.695-05:002012-02-09T00:14:09.695-05:00i read this article, it is very impressive and thr...i read this article, it is very impressive and through.<br />I have one question: before you put 2" board in sill box <br />did you applied regular caulk or did you use great stuff?<br /> my thinking is use caulk inside and use great stuff outside?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-81938680522643633722012-02-06T01:08:36.808-05:002012-02-06T01:08:36.808-05:00I did this project this weekend, for the parts of ...I did this project this weekend, for the parts of my basement I could get to. In retrospect I kind of wish I hadn't used Great Stuff - it's Nasty Stuff. Cutting the insulation to be a tight fit, and caulking around the edges, would probably have worked as well and been less messy.<br /><br />I always start with gloves & then take them off when they get in the way. My hands will be clean in a week or so, I suppose. :)Erichttp://sandeen.net/wordpressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-80037385585259743172012-01-06T11:14:42.942-05:002012-01-06T11:14:42.942-05:00Oh and here's a javascripty graph of my data. ...Oh and here's a javascripty graph of my data. :) I've since realized that I didn't do it quite right, I should have plotted all months not just winter months, used a different HDD base temp etc but it gives you a flavor. I'll get it updated at some point.<br /><br />http://sandeen.net/energy_demos/hdd_regression_graph.htmlErichttp://sandeen.net/wordpressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-49924061062254142142012-01-06T11:12:50.252-05:002012-01-06T11:12:50.252-05:00I've been trying to analyze my heating bills v...I've been trying to analyze my heating bills vs. efficiency improvements by comparing therms of gas used to heating degree days - I have a few posts on my blog too, most recently plotting linear regressions of therms vs. heating degree days. If you have heating bills going back a ways, it would be interesting to see how you might have improved!Erichttp://sandeen.net/wordpressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-48260610661613649322011-12-21T11:34:25.244-05:002011-12-21T11:34:25.244-05:00love the post. I am giving you a shout out and usi...love the post. I am giving you a shout out and using your drawing on my blog - hope you don't mind. collegehillrenovation.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-34318602406127538562011-10-03T17:03:39.226-04:002011-10-03T17:03:39.226-04:00The same thing happened to my basement. In the sum...The same thing happened to my basement. In the summer you were getting a nice cooing effect from the uninsulated walls. Just a few feet below the ground you will find temperatures of about 54 degrees. During my search to find out why the basement was warmer, I noticed that I had many small leaks in the ductwork. I patched them, added a return and the temp in the basement went up about one degree in the summer and 5 degrees in the winter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-16072248319284164952011-07-31T08:14:46.369-04:002011-07-31T08:14:46.369-04:00I recently did as Peter suggested and air sealed m...I recently did as Peter suggested and air sealed my unfinished basement. The result was a warmer upstairs in the winter and lower heating bills, but a WARMER basement in the summer. Gone was the nice 60 degree basement in the summer, and it is now about 70 degrees down there. Any one know why? It just seems weird to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-1687490183090124322011-05-26T14:40:41.355-04:002011-05-26T14:40:41.355-04:00One major drawback to insulating the rim joists, i...One major drawback to insulating the rim joists, is that it can hide water, mold, termite, and carpenter ant activity.<br /><br />I'll live with the heat loss for peace of mind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-87973504185599671282010-11-02T15:20:56.760-04:002010-11-02T15:20:56.760-04:00Matthew, I'm not sure exactly what you are tal...Matthew, I'm not sure exactly what you are talking about, but my place is 100 years old and might have different construction that yours. I sealed everything. It's been a while now, but I think I even did a bead of caulk in all the gaps and seams (everywhere) before I put in the rigid foam. Hope that helps--PeterPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-53271075642616012972010-11-02T14:19:36.884-04:002010-11-02T14:19:36.884-04:00I couldn't tell in your pic as to whether you ...I couldn't tell in your pic as to whether you sealed the sill plate up itself, behind the insulating envelope or not. Is part of your sill plate exposed to the inside still?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660480459531102665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-67070213946615886272010-10-21T23:03:34.325-04:002010-10-21T23:03:34.325-04:00Nice article, wish I've seen it before. I did ...Nice article, wish I've seen it before. I did almost the same thing last nigh in my crawlspace and I was wondering if I'm the only one doying it this way. My only concern is if I'm tighting the house too much...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-63323990749785041632010-09-25T12:36:54.957-04:002010-09-25T12:36:54.957-04:00Hi peter
I have a 1910 1 1/2 story bungalow with a...Hi peter<br />I have a 1910 1 1/2 story bungalow with asbestoses siding and horse hair plaster walls and am wondering if you or anyone out there has any ideas or experiences on the best type of insulation and ways of doing it myself or really inexpensive insulation companies around the greater Worcester area always a fan of this web site mikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-31356890645591982842010-05-14T11:27:58.209-04:002010-05-14T11:27:58.209-04:00Thank you for the quick feedback and you confirmed...Thank you for the quick feedback and you confirmed my thoughts on the matter. I also think this is one for an experienced professional.Jim In Plymouthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04591462447275735392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-54943818353150963592010-05-14T11:21:29.869-04:002010-05-14T11:21:29.869-04:00That sounds difficult, as you won't see where ...That sounds difficult, as you won't see where you are spraying and how much. Definitely would caulk from the outside to seal obvious cracks... You may want to get a consult from an insulation installer, for the best way to approach your unique situation.Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-28764647918063396792010-05-14T11:04:25.508-04:002010-05-14T11:04:25.508-04:00We have a walkout rambler in Minnesota. The walko...We have a walkout rambler in Minnesota. The walkout level is finished; I do not wish to tear out ceilings to gain access to the rim joist area. To make matters more complicated, across the back of the house is a cantilevered deck which I think may be adding to the cold air flow in the winter time. I would like to drill holes between each deck joist and spray closed cell foam into the first 6 to 12 inches of the ceiling thus sealing the air flow from the outside. But I think that would require special tools. The spray jet would have to have a J hook at the end to blow the material back toward the operator to apply the closed cell foam against the sill.Jim In Plymouthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04591462447275735392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-91798557596638279322010-04-11T14:12:08.310-04:002010-04-11T14:12:08.310-04:00Insulfoam is similar to both Dow blue or Owens pi...Insulfoam is similar to both Dow blue or Owens pink rigid insulation just made differently. All are available in various densities. The insulfoam board with the plastic/foil film has a slightly lower R value per inch. The R value is around 4.8 per inch if memory servesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-86915222738870986762010-03-07T10:14:40.314-05:002010-03-07T10:14:40.314-05:00Is there a liquid foam (like Great Stuff) that wor...Is there a liquid foam (like Great Stuff) that works above your head?? I was trying to fill voids in my basement walls and ceiling yesterday and the stuff wouldn't work right because I had to turn the can upside down to get into tight areas (then only propellant was coming out, not the foam).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-86560882369446605942010-03-06T14:53:33.852-05:002010-03-06T14:53:33.852-05:00What about insulating heating ducts? I have force...What about insulating heating ducts? I have forced air heating ducts go from my basement up between walls and there is a huge gap (2-4") next to these ducts. Should I be insulating these large gaps with, say, foam or fiberglass?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-56651288496468042432010-01-07T16:48:24.626-05:002010-01-07T16:48:24.626-05:00So sorry for my mistake, Paul! Thanks very much fo...So sorry for my mistake, Paul! Thanks very much for your prompt answer.<br /><br />Paul, if I insulate the basement sill and insulate the duct work, will the pipes in the basement be OK? I don't know how much the leaky hot air from the ducts is helping the pipes not freeze in our cold cold unfinished basement, but I got to assume it's helping a bit. <br /><br />My auditor, who said lots of odd stuff, encouraged me to have a heat supply register cut in right off the main heat duct on the furnace to heat the basement. I thought this was utterly strange. How does it strike you?WGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306545998312576137.post-69707356583305583722010-01-07T15:34:52.096-05:002010-01-07T15:34:52.096-05:00Paul Button was actually the one that answered you...Paul Button was actually the one that answered you above. His website and business is linked above it you want to know more about him. He's a very good auditor. Thanks very much Paul for answering WG! <br /><br />I didn't have a chance to read Paul's comments yet or your last comments. I'll have to look later.Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06488707011426110003noreply@blogger.com