How to Insulate Your Basement Walls – From Your Vancouver Mortgage Broker

How to Insulate Your Basement Walls – From Your Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Older Vancouver homes often come with unfinished basements. Many people like to use their basements more efficiently by adding some rooms for additional family use. Even if your basement is small and you use it for utility purposes only, it’s a good idea to insulate the basement in either case. You can take it from your Vancouver mortgage broker that your basement will have more appeal to buyers if you take the time and fix it up.

Another advantage in insulating the basement walls is that it will keep the winter chill and dampness out more effectively. By keeping your basement warmer with insulation, you will keep the upper portion of the house warmer as well which will help lower those dreaded winter hydro bills. Either way, it’s a project that will add both value to your home and save you money in the long run.

 First Step

 Your first step is to repair any leaks or cracks in your basements wall and get this prep work done before you start your project. Next, you’re going have to do is to buy somewall studs and build the walls as you need something to hold the insulation in place. You should know right off that if you add insulation you are also going to have to add drywallor paneling afterwards because many fire regulations require that you do so.

Second Step

Once you have the walls built you have several choices of insulating material which are available. A good many insulation projects use what is called ‘blanket insulation’ and italso referred to as ‘unfaced batt insulation’.This type of insulation is usually manufactured with fibreglass and comes in rolls. Another type of insulation material is called ‘faced batt’ which is made from foil, vinyl or Kraft paper. Both of these types of insulation come in widths which are designed to fit between the required widths between studs.

Remember that when working with fibreglass that you want to take the appropriate safety precautions as fibreglass can be very irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory system. You should wear a long sleeved shirt and a hat along with using gloves, safety glasses and a mask or respirator.  

 Your final choice of insulating material is a rigid foam board and comes in the shape of panels. This material is usually made from polystyrene, polysio or polyurethane. Foam boards are the most efficient form of insulation material because it lessens condensation and tends to keep water vapour as a gas which reduces moisture. However, foam board is also more expensive.

You should also understand which ‘R’ factor to buy so you have the most efficient form of insulation. Many experts recommend using insulation material with an R factor of 15 for a northern climate.

Step 3

Once you’ve installed your insulation, you will want to cover the insulation with a sheet of plastic such as a 4 millimetre polyethylene sheeting which should be stapled to the wall studs. Your final step will involve adding on the drywall or some other form of covering such as wall panel. If you are adding gypsum drywall, then you will have to paper the seals and finish with a sanding. Then, all that’s left is to add some primer and whatever colour scheme you have in mind.

 

You can take it from this Vancouver mortgage broker that a finished and insulated basement has a good ROI and will be much more appealing to potential buyers when you go to sell your home.