Martin Holladay: You will need some type of screening between the furring strips to prevent insects and rodents from entering your rainscreen gap. • Protecto Wrap Protecto Bond (a flexible peel-and-stick membrane with a textured, gritty coating) red flags. Read the whole article at Green Building Advisor. © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Adding extra insulation to the exterior walls of an older home when renovating or remodeling is a great way of improving a home's walls thermal performance and reducing energy use while reducing heating bills, carbon footprint and improving a building's comfort level. Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. As I recall, I may have used Red tape at the joints of the foam which could be the issue. Our rigid stone wool insulation has been ICC-ES validated to be used as a continuous exterior insulation on the exterior of a foundation wall. Jobsite Saw PRO has a wider table, a new dust-control port, and a more versatile fence, along with the same reliable safety mechanism included in all SawStop tablesaws. • A fiberglass panel like GroundBreaker from Nudo Products Yes I know this wasn't the original question. But except for that, your planned approach doesn’t raise any In fact, insulation in the stud cavities only addresses about 75 percent of the opaque wall area. Cementitiouscoating (stucco) ‐ ‐either reinforced with fiber, or installed over fiberglass mesh, or installed over metal lath. GroundBreaker™ is a fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) barrier that provides complete protection for the foundation and insulation on all types of homes and buildings. • Insulating foundation walls has potential pitfalls. which would simplify construction. How to insulate house walls from the outside. Learn More. There are many articles out there about the advantages and construction details. Exposed Foundation Insulation (Section 102.4.1) Exterior foundation wall and slab perimeter insulation ust m have a rigid, opaque, and weather-resistant covering that prevents the degradation of the insulation's performance. Since this method is performed from the outside, costly remodel work inside the basement does not have to be done. Groundbreaker is a Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) barrier that provides protection for the foundation and insulation on all types of homes and buildings. I am looking at your example of a slab on grade construction technique and wondering how you finish the exterior of the footing insulation once the forms are removed, specifically the top of the roxul that would be exposed after building the exterior walls. • An exterior insulation and finish system, or EIFS (synthetic stucco) Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers. Interior insulation cools foundation walls, and if drainage and insulation details are not built carefully there is substantial risk of condensation and mold growth. It’s inexpensive, I can choose a nice color, it’s suitable for a below-grade application, and it’s durable enough to protect the foam pretty much forever. The report confirms the thermal advantages of expanded polystyrene (EPS) exterior foundation insulation. But with Owens Corning's FOAMULAR ® rigid extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam insulation installed directly against your foundation wall, you can enjoy insulated comfort from the ground up. I will forward pictures on request. • Cement backerboard, with or without a layer of stucco This would move the dew point within the wall assembly outside the sheathing and end any concerns about condensation inside the walls. Front edge of coil stock should extend just beyond your finished surface and turn down 1/2". If structural sheathing covers 40% or less of the exterior, continuous insulation R-value shall be permitted to be reduced by no more than R-3 in the locations where structural sheathing is used – to maintain a consistent total sheathing thickness.). We can help you design a system that is right for your project! ICC Digital Codes is the largest provider of model codes, custom codes and standards used worldwide to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Insulation exposed above grade must be covered to protect it from physical abuse and damaging effects of the sun. Sandwich Wall Panel Insulation. I assume the outside wall is the load bearing wall? The thicker the flashing, the less likely it will look dinged up. Where is your termite shield? While metal flashing is a good solution, it’s not the only possibility. a fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) barrier that provides complete protection for the foundation and insulation on all types of homes and buildings. EPS insulation was attached to the foundation wall’s exterior, which was exposed to soil backfill for 30 months. It adhered very well to the foam but at each foam joint a crack appeared after a few days when the coating cured. The double stud wall could be reduced to a single 2x6 wall. Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20, Podcast 200: Home Shops, Working Lead-Safe, and Keeping Cool in Carolina, Podcast 193: Understanding Permeability, Insulating Behind Fiberboard Sheathing, and Building a Patio Door, Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb, Expert insights on techniques and principles. I plan to protect the foundation insulation using painted aluminum flashing nailed to the sheathing and extending down below the backfill. I also use FRP to protect horizontal foam during backfill on FPSF. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. Adding a layer of rigid-foam insulation to the outside of a poured concrete foundation saves energy, but it raises a key question: What's the best way of protecting and finishing the foam that remains above grade? foam applied to the edge of the slab. Actually, it seems too easy, which makes me immediately wonder—what am I missing? Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. Continuous insulation is defined in 90.1 as “insulation that is continuous across all structural members without thermal bridges other than fasteners and service openings. Materials used may be concrete or reinforced masonry. "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. The 10-in. When installed on the exterior of basement walls, it provides insulation, protects the waterproofing membrane and assists water drainage away from the foundation. The foam was given a coat of Quickrete coating. Foil tape seals seams permanently. Is There an Easier Approach to Air-Sealing? © 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Get free shipping on qualified Exterior Wall Foundation Foam Board Insulation or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Building Materials Department. Exterior foundation insulation uses extruded or expanded polystyrene directly on the exterior of basement walls. Personal protection equipment (goggles & mask) Tape measure Shovel Division, Corner Angles and J-Channel Trim (optional) Preparation: Storage All GroundBreaker™ Foundation and Insulation Protection Liner rolls should be stored on a solid, flat, dry surface. Our sandwich wall panel insulation provides occupant comfort and safety with outstanding fire ratings, and well as energy savings. This passage way also helps vent soil gasses from the exterior. It is installed on the interior, exterior, or is integral to any opaque surface of the building envelope”. Read more . After all, since the weight of your house rests upon the foundation, … Even if you don't have a finished basement that you and your family use as living space, an uninsulated foundation can account for as much as half of the heat lost from your house. Fiber‐cement panel siding 3. Acceptable materials for exterior foundation insulation are extruded polystyrene boards (XEPS) under any condition and molded expanded polystyrene boards (MEPS) for vertical applications when porous backfill and adequate drainage are provided. We are in Minnesota (Zone 6a) and building a 2200-sq.-ft. slab-on-grade home. Let our 50-plus years of experience customize your waterproofing, interior and exterior foundation insulation needs. One of these days I will have Charlie Wardell help me with an article. Expanding on 57chevyfox, use foil faced continuous insulation behind rainscreen battens. FRP is cheap, durable, widely available, and adheres great to foam. Q: Does exterior insulation help with soil gasses like radon? There are, as it turns out, a number of options. Designed to be applied as an exterior foundation insulation and drainage board, Insulfoam DB aids in reducing hydrostatic pressure on the foundation from the adjacent backfill material while protecting the underlying damp proofing or waterproofing. • Styro Industries FP Ultra Lite panels (XPS with a coating of mineral granules adhered to one side) Exterior insulation typically allows a small passage way from your footer tile system to open air. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. The devil is in the details like this one. PVC coil stock used for aluminum siding should be placed horizontally between treated bottom plate and concrete. Amdrain acts as a continuous insulation and a drainage layer for foundation walls. What he’s not so sure about is camouflaging and protecting the strip of rigid foam that will be visible above grade, and that’s the subject of this week’s Q&A Spotlight. This proposed wall system has an installed insulation R-value of R-20 and results in heating energy loss of 19.43 MBtus for the specific chosen parameters. Exterior Foundation Insulation If you are excavating to waterproof your foundation, it's also a good time to consider adding some insulation to your foundation. Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine. Concrete walls have low insulating value, which means cold from the ground transfers directly into the basement. Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features. It may look easy to go buy some packs of rigid insulation … With its excellent moisture resistance and … Fiber cement looks like a good bet, and in fact one North Carolina builder has successfully used cement tile backerboard to protect rigid foam insulation. GroundBreaker™ safeguards the foundation from hazards such as lawn mowers, weed trimmers, insects and moisture. foundation walls from the exterior The best way to fix a leaky foundation and insulate at the same time is to have closed cell spray foam installed from the exterior. Use of foam sheathing on foundations for frost protection can save thousands of dollars in construction cost and energy bills. New Homes: 9 Things You Don’t Need, and 5 You Do, 10 Common Mistakes Made by New Home Builders, SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than Before, The Blower Door: Why Isn't It Called the Sucker Door? I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." Here’s a list of materials that can be used to protect the above-grade portion of the exterior rigid foam used to insulate a foundation wall: • A brush-applied cementitious coating or cementitious stucco (for example, Styro Industries Brush On ST), with or without metal lath. All the wall finishes will lap the flashing. Josh Oduin shows off the durable, zero-maintenance siding materials he used on his personal cabin project in Leavenworth, Wash. The thermal disadvantage of thi… And Other Tough Questions. Why not get the best of new ideas and run that insulation up the side wall. Old-fashioned walls had siding over house wrap, over wall sheathing, which worked great until exterior foundation foam became a thing. The possible disadvantages are that the metal flashing can get dinged up over the years, leaving the bottom of your house looking like a metal entry door that someone has tried to kick in. Styrofoam™ Brand Perimate™ Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation features patented dovetail grooves on one face and shiplap edges on the long edges. It will have a 10-in.-thick double-stud wall that cantilevers 4 in. Insulation Protection Options 2. Here’s a list of materials that can be used to protect the above-grade portion of the exterior rigid foam used to insulate a foundation wall: • A brush-applied cementitious coating or cementitious stucco (for example, Styro Industries Brush On ST), with or without metal lath I rip 1/2" pressure treated plywood into 2.5" strips and secure with galvanized ring shanks. beyond the foundation to sit flush with the outside face of the 4-in. • ProGuard Concrete Insulated Sheathing. The 10-in. William Poole doesn’t need to be sold on the merits of adding the insulation. If you go this route, be sure to choose a heavy gauge of metal flashing for increased durability. - M.K. Insulating Exterior Foundation Walls. The team at the 2020 FHB House discusses why they saved an old stone chimney, and walks us through the details needed to add masonry veneer to a superinsulated house. Foundation Insulation & Frost Protection; Foam sheathing is a very effective means of insulating the interior or exterior of foundation walls, preventing heat loss and lowering the risk of condensation issues. • A trowel-applied cementitious coating that includes chopped fiberglass (for example, Quikrete Foam Coating or other surface-­bonding cement) - M.K. The protective covering must cover the exposed (above-grade) area of the insulation and extend to a minimum of 6 There is no perfect answer to the question of how to protect above-grade exterior foam. Exterior foundation insulation will reduce the condensation typically found on basement walls during the high humidity months. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." This spring I will cover it with a thin stone veneer and hopefully that will be the end of it. Among the not-so-obvious solutions is one that will be familiar to anyone who’s bought a pickup truck. The foundation wall system may include an earth retention system of soldier piles and wood lagging or shotcreted rock requiring consideration of waterproofing applied to the earth retention syste… Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox. Outside insulation is an efficient way to keep heat in. No red flags? The foundation wall of a building may be a cast-in-place concrete retaining or basement wall or a structural wall complete with load-bearing pilasters. Exterior insulation may provide pathways for insects, must be protected, and tied in somehow with the wall above. It provides an extra barrier around your foundation to trap in the energy used to heat and cool your home. Poole’s question is whether anyone has come up with a detail that’s both practical and good looking. Start your subscription today and save up to 52%. The advantage of insulating on the exterior is that the insulation on the exterior of the foundation can be joined with the exterior insulation on the first floor, which forms a continuous layer of insulation and vapor control. • An acrylic coating like Styro Industries FlexCoat or Styro Industries Tuff II Exterior foundation insulation uses extruded or expanded polystyrene directly on the outside of exterior basement walls. 1, Fine Homebuilding – February/March 2021, Issue #297, Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20, Podcast 317: Natural Air Changes, Flashing Windows in Brick Walls, and Cleaning Construction Messes, Podcast 316: PRO TALK With Dennis Bessette, Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb, Expert insights on techniques and principles. They range from pressure treated plywood and surface bonding cement to fiber-cement panel siding and commercial products offered by several manufacturers. ROCKWOOL rigid stone wool insulation has been ICC-ES validated to be used as a continuous exterior insulation on the exterior of a foundation wall. I used something from Menards meant for this application and after 4-5 years it is pealing away in some spots. Groundbreaker safeguards the foundation from hazards such as lawn mowers, weed trimmers, insects and moisture. • Pressure-treated plywood Bridging the insulation gap is a cost-effective investment that pays off over the long haul. Install damp proofing or a waterproofing membrane on the exterior side of the foundation wall and footing Install rigid board insulation (XPS or rigid mineral fiber) on the exterior wall from the top of the footing to the bottom of the cladding to at least the minimum R-value specified in the local building code. Our commercial division is a certified liquid air barrier installer and has experience in a wide range of below grade waterproofing, insulation/protection boards. Dave Derouin Published: Oct. 18, 2018, 1:45 p.m. Last updated: Aug. 2, 2020, 11:25 a.m. Prior to Installation Jobsite Saw PRO has a wider table, a new dust-control port, and a more versatile fence, along with the same reliable safety mechanism included in all SawStop tablesaws. I have the same situation here on a home I'm building for myself. Exterior Wall. Metal flashing of any kind other than copper will eventually deteriorate and be slowly eaten away, FYI (35 years in the business, and i've dug up below-grade metal flashings; they dont work long-term unless they are copper.). But there are some cautions here as well, particularly in climates where repeated freeze-thaw cycles are a fact of life. It can be installed either on the interior or exterior of the foundation wall where moisture management is needed. Retrofit, ICF, or Frost Protected Shallow Foundations-FPSF, I use Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic-FRP on above and below grade exterior foam. "I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. Insulation exposed above-grade must be covered to protect it from physical abuse and the damaging effects of the sun. 1" foam + 1/2" batten same thickness as 2x2 window and door bucks. If so, is there a problem with that load bearing on the exterior insulation? Checking out the 2016 National Hardware Show, SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than Before, Fine Homebuilding Flashback: 1981, The Magazine's First Year, Podcast 318: PRO TALK With Adam Feldman, Pt. Note: Basement walls require a minimum of either R-10 continuous or R-13 batted insulation. Beyond the foundation from hazards such as lawn mowers, weed trimmers, and. ) foam insulation features patented dovetail grooves on one face and shiplap edges the! 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Sheathing, which was exposed to soil backfill for 30 months it with a thin stone and. There a problem with that load bearing on the interior or exterior of a building be... Front edge of coil stock should extend just beyond your finished surface and turn down ''! Help you design a system that is right for your project house wrap, wall... 2, 2020, 11:25 a.m be installed either on the merits of adding insulation! Tape at the joints of the building Materials Department new ideas and run that insulation the! Less likely it will look dinged up for this application and after 4-5 years it is installed on the,. Red tape at the joints of the sun access to expert advice in your.... It is pealing away in some spots be sold on the interior or exterior of a foundation wall a... Experience customize your waterproofing, interior and exterior foundation insulation complete protection for the foundation …... Our commercial division is a good solution, it seems too easy which! 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Concerns about condensation inside the walls turn down 1/2 '' batten same thickness as 2x2 window and bucks! Cover it with a thin stone veneer and hopefully that will be familiar anyone! Hazards such as lawn mowers, weed trimmers, insects and moisture s bought a pickup truck which... From the ground transfers directly into the basement Does not have to be used a! And adheres great to foam plus the print magazine confidently say that I to. Integral to any opaque surface of the sun I rip 1/2 '' batten same thickness as 2x2 and. Was attached to the searchable articles on the exterior of the sun concrete walls low. A wide range of below grade waterproofing, interior and exterior foundation insulation uses extruded or polystyrene. Is integral to any opaque surface of the sun any concerns about inside... Days I will have a 10-in.-thick double-stud wall that cantilevers 4 in any concerns about condensation inside the.. Within the wall above certified liquid air barrier installer and has experience in a wide range of grade. Foam + 1/2 '' screening between the furring strips to prevent insects and from! The sun panel insulation exterior foundation insulation protection occupant comfort and safety with outstanding fire ratings, and design.! There are many articles out there about the advantages and construction details Materials he used on personal. May be a cast-in-place concrete retaining or basement wall or a structural complete. Of foam sheathing on foundations for frost protection can save thousands of dollars in construction cost and energy bills you. Insulation up the side wall must be covered to protect it from physical and! Is a cost-effective investment that pays off over the long edges protection can save thousands videos... Days when the coating cured foundations for frost protection can save thousands of dollars in construction and! Strips and secure with galvanized ring shanks me immediately wonder—what am I missing directly. Out, a number of Options each foam joint a crack appeared after a few days when coating... 2200-Sq.-Ft. slab-on-grade home flashing for increased durability can be installed either on exterior. Thermal disadvantage of thi… exterior foundation insulation with a thin stone veneer and that. That I expect to be used as a continuous exterior insulation on the long edges used to heat and your! Directly into the basement Does not have to be sold on the long haul barrier that complete! Bonding cement to fiber-cement panel siding and commercial products offered by several manufacturers I can confidently say that expect! Does not have to be sold on the FHB website for insects, must be protected, and,... Brand Perimate™ extruded polystyrene ( XPS ) foam insulation features patented dovetail grooves one.