The modern home is not complete without insulation. Anyone who cares about their heating costs and the environment must have considered insulation. Many people believe that the attic is the most important place to insulate and they are correct. A great deal of heat is lost through an uninsulated loft space but few people give enough consideration to basement insulation. It may surprise you to know that a basement insulation system can save up to 30% of the heal loss from your home. A basement is generally the least cared for room in the home. It will have old windows with gaps around the frame and may have large areas of wall that are in direct contact with the ground, as well as the floor. Earth is not a good insulator and the water that is absorbed in soil helps to conduct heat away from any wall that is touching it.
The majority of basements have no insulation at all and this means that there is great scope for improvement. Insulating your basement can be included with a program of work that includes renovation or redecoration. Before commencing a basement wall insulation or basement floor insulation it is important to ensure that there are no water leaks in the surrounding area. This is because the basement insulation will mask any problems once it has been installed and a water leak can seriously reduce the effectiveness of your basement insulation system.
Basement floor insulation is probably the easiest form of insulation you can install yourself and will quickly give results that you can measure. Floor basement insulation usually comes in the form of batts or blankets which are laid out on the floor and then fixed down. These basement insulation systems can then be carpeted over or they can be purchased with a durable coloured covering which removes the need for any extra work once the insulation has been installed. This can easily be achieved by even the most novice DIY enthusiast as the basement insulation is simply cut to fit with a knife.
Another easy project for the home owner is basement wall insulation. This can be achieved using polystyrene or expanded foam insulation that is simple stuck to the basement walls and then covered or painted over. Both forms of basement insulation are water resistant and so will not have their effectiveness reduced by the absorption of water.
It may be that you are not willing to try to do your own basement insulation and a contractor will need to be employed. If money is not an important factor the basement insulation contractor may suggest that you fit a cavity wall in you basement along with the floor insulation. This involves installing a false plasterboard wall approximately three inches away from the existing basement wall and filling in the cavity created with insulation. This false wall then looks exactly like a real wall but it now comes up to scratch from an insulation point of view.
Whatever you decide to do remember that basement insulation is an important consideration when you asses the insulation properties of your home.
Basement wall insulation is an easy project for the home owner