On 1/17/2005 1:15 PM US(ET), dude took fingers to keys, and typed the=20
following:
Yes, there is no vapour barrier or insulation behind all of the finished=
part. The basement is also very damp in the summer.
Sould I re-drywall and vapour barrier the whole basement andd not just t=
he
half that is currently drywalled??
Also, what do you think about the spray foam for the drafts?? The house =
was
built in 1950 and I've talked with a few of my neighbours who have the s=
ame
problems with drafts. Actually, there are drafts allover the house.
kudos
Steve
=20
If removing all the drywall is not a problem for you (other than getting =
rid of it), I would go that route.
I have a 1/2 basement around 30' x 30', so only 3 walls are to the=20
outside and they are 1' out of the ground in the front and 2' out of the =
ground on the side and back. Poured concrete walls. I also have 5 vinyl=20
clad wooden single paned basement windows on two adjacent walls, 4 on=20
the side wall and one in the back, each 15"H x 30"W.
What I did...
2 x 4 framing 16" OC all around the 3 outside walls. I also have a Bilco =
door, but I installed a steel clad door in the wall framing for further=20
insulation there.
3-1/2" fiberglass insulation batts between studs (paper side facing in). =
3-1/2" fiberglass between ceiling joists (put there for noise abatement=20
when the kids were small and boisterous and this was their playroom)
Plastic vapor barrier stapled to studs, floor to joists.
Sheetrocked.
Dropped ceiling with 2' x 4' panels.
Partially carpeted floor.
I have no heat in the basement except for ambient heat from the oil=20
burner and the propane water heater which are both in a utility alcove=20
under the staircase.
Currently the outside temp is 22=BAF. The wall thermometer next to my=20
computer desk reads 66=BA as does the one on the other side of the room. =
In the NY summer, the temp down here never goes above 75=BAF.
"Noozer" wrote in message
news:TySGd.103004$8l.66215@pd7tw1no...
=20
"dude" wrote in message
newsgroups.com...
=20
Hi all, here is my dilemma:
I bought a house 2 years ago in the summer with a half finished baseme=
nt
(supposedly). This is where my tv is and is a busy spot. I found out m=
y
first winter that the walls were not insulated and and that there are
=20
some
=20
nasty drafts.
=20
It sounds like it wasn't finished properly. I'm betting that if they
=20
didn't
=20
use insulation, they didn't put a vapour barrier up either. Insulating =
the
walls is just asking for a damp basement, etc.
Cut a small section of drywall out and see if there really is no
=20
insulation
=20
and check for the plastic vapour barrier. It should be between the dryw=
all
and studs, so any insulation would be in contact with the foundation, n=
ot
the drywall.
If there's no vapour barrier you might plan on taking the drywall down =
and
redoing the job. Major pain and major waste, but at least you'll know i=
t's
done properly. While the drywall is down you can install plastic
=20
"envelopes"
=20
around your electrical boxes to help keep the drafts out as well.
=20
=20
--=20
Bill
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