Best Way to Finish Walkout Basement with Existing Blanket Insulation o

5 years ago

Hello I have a walkout basement in Michigan that I would like to finish. My home was built in 2019 and has existing blanket insulation on the top half of the wall. I have not had any moisture issues since moving here.

What is the most cost-effective way to finish the basement?

A) Leave the existing blanket insulation and start the wall frame up against it?
B) Remove the existing blanket insulation and replace with some sort of vapor barrier?
C) Something else?

Trying to keep it super cost-effective but also won't cause me a ton of issues down the road. I know using rigid foam board is probably the best option but prices are sky-high right now so looking for a cheaper alternative.

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (2)

worthy
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
You can follow Mike Holmes' advice and use rockwool. Or you can do it right with spf, rigid board or a combination of those followed by fg.

To cut costs, look for re-cycled foam board. It may not be pretty, but it's fine to use.
Seabornman
5 years ago
The problem with basement walls that currently show no moisture is that after insulating to code levels and covering with materials that don't allow drying, the wall temperature is lowered and the chance of condensation goes up. Will your wall get wet after it is insulated and finished? Maybe. A layer of XPS foam directly applied to the concrete is a way to keep the possible condensation from happening.
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