We are getting ready to finish our basement and the home builders installed completely encosed insulation on the basement walls, enclosed with plastic, and were wondering if we should use it or rip it down and install our own with a vapor barrier? The insulation is 2.5 inches thick so we would loose that floor space. We live in Colorado Springs, Colorado and there is a 30 inch frost line. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Before tearing the insulation out, find out who else has that system for insulating their basement. Find out how it has worked. Give it a season to see how it works for you. Without actually living in your house in your location it will be a major guess to say the contractor's system will work or not work. The normal temperatures in your location aren't as severe as around here and there are other locations that get colder. You could insulate for my location. Would that give you the same benefits as it would give me? I'd try it as see how it works.
JdN
Posts: 7330 | Location: Elkader, IA, USA | Registered: Mar 07, 2004
This more of a question but doesn't the wall have to dry from the inside assuming it has been waterproofed from the outside? wouldn't the vapor barrier get in the way ?
Basement walls (concrete or block) will wick mosture from the ground. The plastic installed protects the insulating material from getting mosture and mold. Need a vapor barrier on both sides.
If you use insulation with a vapor barrier only on the living side then some water proofing on the basement walls are needed...water proof paint.
