I'm trying to decide on the best approach to insulating a basement
wall. I'm currently contemplating the following:

Option #1:
Use 2 inch polystyrene foam insulation directly against the exterior
walls and tuct tape it to seal it. Erect my 2x4 stud walls against this
and drywall. Also, I could potentially insulate between the 2x4 walls
with regular bat insulation to increase my R value.

Option #2;
The old way, as defined by a contractor I spoke with. Lay out tar paper
against the exterior walls. Erect my 2x4 stud walls against this. Fill
the voids with bat insulation and vapour barrier the wall. Put up the
drywall.

The first one obviously appears to be the warmer but is it more
overkill ? I'm a little concerned about the loss of real-estate due to
the added wall thickness but the extra heat & potential energy savings
do sound appealing.

thanks,

Option #1:
Use 2 inch polystyrene foam insulation directly against the exterior
walls and tuct tape it to seal it. Erect my 2x4 stud walls against this
and drywall. Also, I could potentially insulate between the 2x4 walls
with regular bat insulation to increase my R value.

Mike Holmes did it this way. he even did the floor the same way.

Option #2;
The old way, as defined by a contractor I spoke with. Lay out tar paper
against the exterior walls. Erect my 2x4 stud walls against this. Fill
the voids with bat insulation and vapour barrier the wall. Put up the
drywall.

Is the basement wall concrete or frame? I'm guessing concrete. I' ve never
heard of using tarpaper on an interior wall. Given the two choices, I'd
pick #1

wrote:
I'm trying to decide on the best approach to insulating a basement
wall. I'm currently contemplating the following:

snip

Prime challenge in reducing the huge energy loss through basement is
moisture-control. Exit-path, as in siding etc. upstairs, is essentially
non-existent.

See http://www.buildingscience.com/resources/basements.htm and links
within for discussion of ongoing research.

J