Basement Insulation - Wall Wrap

[jeff0514]

Another question for my basement project. My builder installed the white plastic wall wrap type insulation in our basement. Should I take that down or frame over it? There is also an insulated area that has clear plastic over it. I can see some slight mildew underneath the plastic.

Therefore, I am concerned about mold issues by leaving all of this up. I have a friend who took his down and used the foam board insulation and ferring strips overtop to frame his basement. Thanks!

 

[RedDog]

The best, but not the cheapest would be to frame and then spray closed cell foam.

 

[DevilDog]

Mike Holmes only uses closed cell spray foam so u should as well.

 

[blizzisu]

This site might be helpful. http://buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/basement-insulation

The standard poly vapor barrier over insulation will eventually lead to mold in most situations.

 

[jeff0514]

This site might be helpful. http://buildingscience.com/documents/information-sheets/basement-insulation

The standard poly vapor barrier over insulation will eventually lead to mold in most situations.

Thanks... I have since seen this site. My question is whether now that the framing is done, is it still worth having my contractor tear out the wall wrap as best as possible from behind the studs and replace with some other type of insulation that is more breathable? He won't be happy, since he's supposed to start hanging drywall today.

 

[blizzisu]

Thanks... I have since seen this site. My question is whether now that the framing is done, is it still worth having my contractor tear out the wall wrap as best as possible from behind the studs and replace with some other type of insulation that is more breathable? He won't be happy, since he's supposed to start hanging drywall today.

If you don't have water or moisture issues then it's probably not worth the cost to have your contractor change it at this point. Only you can answer that though.

 

[jeff0514]

I haven't had water issues. Only area of concern is one wall above foundation that has Windows where the builder used unfaced batt insulation between studs and covered with clear plastic. There is some slight mildew noticeable in spots. Is it worth at least replacing that? I stick my hand in and don't notice any moisture at this point.

 

[jeff0514]

My foundation slopes away from the house significantly. I've only noticed our sump pump run once in the 10 years we've lived here. That was last spring I believe when we had 7 inches of rain one day.

 

[troyisu]

I just left my wall wrap in place and framed up against it. Basements been done for 3 years now with no issues at all and stays quite warm. I also haven't ever had water issues and my pump has run very little over the course of 8 years in the home.

 

[Wesley]

Be like Mike Holmes.

 

[jeff0514]

OK... i am not an HGTV aficionado, so had to Google who Mike Holmes is. I see that he is a big advocate of the rigid form insulation board for basements. I have also read articles on websites such as Building Science. Anyway, my situation is that my contractor has already framed over the white poly blanket insulation, electricians have already wired everything, and the contractor has already begun hanging drywall. Even if he were to pull the handful of drywall sheets down, it looks like I am out of luck with using the rigid foam board without tearing out all of the framing and electrical. Does anything have any potential solutions with this? Is it worth having the contractor rip everything out? Or do I just eat that cost and go with another contractor? Or do I take the risk of leaving the white vinyl covered fiberglass insulation? I went ahead and cut slits every 2 inches in the vinyl to at least let it breath, based on another recommendation I received. Still not the best, but would be better than leaving the solid piece of vinyl on the walls.

My contractor is adamant that it is standard for contractors to just frame right over top of the blanket. If so, is it worth asking him if he would provide some sort of warranty that if I ever encounter mold issues that he would pay to come back in and re-do everything at that time? Again, we'd only be talking the exterior below-grade walls that come in contact with the concrete foundation.

 

[CYme]

Did they compress the insulation with the framework or just leave it uncompressed? If it is framed away, leave it alone. If they pushed the framing up tight to the foundation and compressed the insulation, you MAY​ get moisture. I still probably wouldn't worry about it.

 

[jeff0514]

Did they compress the insulation with the framework or just leave it uncompressed? If it is framed away, leave it alone. If they pushed the framing up tight to the foundation and compressed the insulation, you MAY​ get moisture. I still probably wouldn't worry about it.

They did NOT compress the framing against the insulation. I actually questioned it at first why he framed out from the concrete so far. In hindsight, if I would have gone with the rigid foam board I think I could have saved a few inches each wall. I talked to a local insulation business about the issue and they recommended since the framing is already done to cut the slits every two inches. Hopefully that will reduce the chances of moisture/mold. I was clueless about insulation before this... now I will know for when we build our next house I guess.

 

[DollaDollaBill]

I framed over the insulation in my basement without issues....I think. I guess I'd have to knock a wall down and check for mold. Never had any water problems before or after finishing though

 

[jeff0514]

Apparently no smell of mildew either? I assume that would be the first sign of mold... Otherwise you wouldn't know until it was so bad it comes through the drywall?

 

[cloneluke80]

foam board all the way, your situation is tough though. I assume is concrete formed foundation?

I might let this slide since so much work is done. I would say since you have no major moisture issues you can get by ok.

 

[jeff0514]

foam board all the way, your situation is tough though. I assume is concrete formed foundation?

I might let this slide since so much work is done. I would say since you have no major moisture issues you can get by ok.

Yes, concrete foundation. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess and if I were going to build a house or finish another basement in the future, I would definitely spend the extra $$$ for the foam board. It was never given to me as an option by my contractor, so I only found out after someone told me about it and then I did my own research. But unfortunately after the framing and electrical was already done. I suppose I could still cut out the blanket, pull it out from between the studs, and use spray foam? How much does spray foam cost compared to the foam board? I understand it is considerably more expensive. Of course that means my contractor has to wait around until that can be done, so I doubt he'd be happy with that.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

Yes, concrete foundation. Hindsight is 20/20 I guess and if I were going to build a house or finish another basement in the future, I would definitely spend the extra $$$ for the foam board. It was never given to me as an option by my contractor, so I only found out after someone told me about it and then I did my own research. But unfortunately after the framing and electrical was already done. I suppose I could still cut out the blanket, pull it out from between the studs, and use spray foam? How much does spray foam cost compared to the foam board? I understand it is considerably more expensive. Of course that means my contractor has to wait around until that can be done, so I doubt he'd be happy with that.

I am on 4 + years of a finished basement with the contractor blanket being framed over with no problems. Framers said they do it all the time and my engineering friend that makes insulation for a living said it should be no problem.

 

[jeff0514]

Thanks for all the input guys. Seems like the foam board insulation provides more assurance that you won't get mold, but that doesn't mean I will necessarily have issues with framing over the blanket either. Time will tell I guess! Thanks again.