Hi,

I can't remember the name but it is 4x8 sheets of foam covered with tin foil comes in different thickness. Have the mailman glue it to the wall between the studs or glue some thin shims to the wall then glue the foam sheet to the shim. That will give a little air space between the foam sheet and the wall.

Could P.O. = previous owner?

Good Luck Woodbutcher

Back when oil was cheap that was a very normal method. Insulation is good but not if it doesn't leave you enough room to get down the stairs. You could use a product with drywall laminated onto foam to make a thin wall with at least a little R value.

PO = Previous Owner

Is it a problem not having vapor barrier on the concrete wall? The basement seemed waterproofed but it concerns me that the studs are attached directly to the concrete wall and exposed to the moisture.

Ooh.

Is it a problem not having vapor barrier on the concrete wall? The basement seemed waterproofed but it concerns me that the studs are attached directly to the concrete wall and exposed to the moisture.

The basement was finished at least 30-40 years ago by PO...

Well that looks better after 30 years than the stuff I picked up yesterday at the lumber yard. I would leave it alone.

Is there is waterproofing and/or insulation on the exterior face of the foundation wall? That's the place to deal with these issues.

If there is no exterior insulation or waterproofing, the original design was a wise one since the wall cavity was able to dry to the inside and the condition of the studs is evidence of that. To avoid creating a moisture problem, I would just reinstall the drywall.

The whole question of vapor barriers in basements is a fraught one, with many different opinions and approaches within each climate type, then huge differences among climates. It is safe to say there is not general agreement. A reasonably safe approach is to apply waterproofing to the outside of the foundation if possible and provide a means for moisture to escape on the inside. Mechanical dehumidification may be necessary in the basement. Trapping moisture inside a wall is invariably a bad idea. Waterproofing the outside will never be perfect and you should expect some moisture in the concrete, if not now then later. Give it an escape route.

A possible alternative to leaving it alone is spray applying an inch+ of high density urethane foam then reapplying the drywall.

And spray the band joist too

Thanks for all of your input. I believe the waterproofing was done in the past. The basement is dry and I plan to run dehumidifier in the summer to lower the humidity. I am glad that I don’t have to spend money to redo the frames. : )