Tom Silva provides advice on insulating brick Colonials with concrete-block walls, highlighting the importance of insulation in improving energy efficiency and comfort. Insulating concrete walls can be done using spray foam insulation, injection foam insulation, polystyrene beads, foam boards, and loose-fill masonry insulation. Basement-wall insulation can be placed on the exterior side of the wall, interior side of the wall, or both sides of the wall.
There are several ways to achieve insulation, including decals or paint, installation inside the CMU block wall, and using rigid foam, spray foam, blow-in, or injection-type insulations. Spray foam insulation is the best type for concrete walls, providing a high R-value, excellent air-sealing, and moisture barrier.
To insulate a concrete wall, rigid foam boards should be used. To do this, remove all trim from the exterior walls, such as window and door casings, baseboards, crown molding, and drywall and studs. Frame the walls using 2-by-3s or 2-by-4s, creating an air gap of about 3/4-inch between the back of the wall studs and the foam insulation.
Installing insulation can be done on the interior or exterior face of the block wall, or by embedding the material within the wall. Some contractors choose spray foam, blow-in, or injection-type insulations for insulation.
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What do you put on interior concrete walls?
Concrete block walls are often used in construction, but their appearance can diminish curb appeal and resale value. Covering them can improve outdoor space appeal and prevent cracking, rot, mold, and structural failures due to moisture infiltration. Permeable concrete absorbs water, expanding pores, and damages the concrete. Oil settlement and hydrostatic pressure can lead to hairline cracks and leaks.
To protect the concrete block wall, contractors can use decorative stucco, vinyl siding, artificial stone panels, natural stone, and natural green coverings. Polyguard recommends using a quality sealant like Airlok Flex® VP to maximize moisture resistance.
How to make a concrete room warmer?
Spray foam insulation is a liquid applied to concrete walls to create an airtight atmosphere, blocking out heat loss. It is suitable for existing, basement, and unfinished walls, offering a high R-value range of R2. 2-7. However, it is expensive.
Rigid foam insulation is a solid foam board applied to existing walls, offering various thicknesses, reduced heat-transferred insulation, good moisture resistance, and easy installation. It comes in various thicknesses and is available in various types. Both methods are effective in reducing heat transfer and preventing heat loss in concrete walls.
How to make concrete walls warmer?
Spray foam insulation is a liquid applied to concrete walls to create an airtight atmosphere, blocking out heat loss. It is suitable for existing, basement, and unfinished walls, offering a high R-value range of R2. 2-7. However, it is expensive.
Rigid foam insulation is a solid foam board applied to existing walls, offering various thicknesses, reduced heat-transferred insulation, good moisture resistance, and easy installation. It comes in various thicknesses and is available in various types. Both methods are effective in reducing heat transfer and preventing heat loss in concrete walls.
How to insulate an interior concrete wall?
The application of foam board adhesive to the reverse side of the foam board should be carried out using either a utility knife or a caulk gun. The panel should then be placed on the block wall, with particular attention paid to ensuring that caulk is used on the seams in order to prevent air leaks. Incorrect sealing of seams around the foam board can result in air movement, condensation problems, mold and mildew growth, and condensation within the wall.
How to reduce heat from a concrete wall?
Heat proofing paint is a chemical solution that can be applied to concrete walls to reduce heat. It is easy to apply and comes in various forms, such as aluminum foil, PU foam spray insulation, water sprinklers, mineral rocks, metal shade, clean roof, and applying primer. In Pakistan, around 99 homes are made of concrete due to cheaper cement and concrete raw materials and expensive wood. However, concrete buildings can have defects, especially during heat waves.
Advances in science and technology have made it possible to find solutions to reduce heat from concrete over walls. One such solution is heat proofing paint, which is the easiest to apply and comes in a chemical form.
Do concrete walls need to be insulated?
Insulation is not necessarily necessary for concrete basement walls, but it depends on the specific use of the basement and the building codes. Wall and ceiling insulation can be used to meet building codes, but not both. The best product depends on the area and the basement’s use. Basement ceiling insulation offers more options as it is technically an above-grade space. The choice between wall and ceiling insulation depends on the specific needs of the basement and the intended use of the space.
What is the cheapest way to insulate concrete walls?
There are three main methods for insulating a basement wall: 1) using a roll-blanket power-nailed to the concrete wall, which offers energy savings without the need to finish the space; 2) using metal studs for finishing the space, which is more expensive but requires additional insulation to prevent thermal bridging. 3) using wood studs, which are more expensive but have a reasonable insulation value and can support a large TV without issue.
It is crucial to ensure that water pipes have insulation behind them when renovating a basement to prevent freezing. Regardless of the method chosen, it is essential to ensure that water pipes have insulation to prevent freezing.
Should you seal interior concrete walls?
To waterproof basement walls, apply a high-quality waterproof paint like DRYLOK White Extreme Waterproofer to the interior of the walls. This product comes premixed and is applied like a coat of paint, filling all surface holes and allowing it to dry completely before applying a second coat. A 5-gallon container covers about 500 square feet of wall.
Do not apply sealer over painted walls or efflorescence. If you or a previous owner painted the basement walls, remove the paint before applying sealer, which only adheres well to bare masonry. Effluence, or white deposits on concrete walls subject to constant moisture, should also be removed before applying sealer with muriatic acid.
To keep water away from your basement, remove foundation plantings and flowerbeds that require watering, inspect and repair gutters and downspouts, and grade your yard away from the foundation at a minimum of a 2 percent slope. Consider having an exterior drain tile system installed, which can cost $10, 000 or more and requires excavating soil around the outside of the basement to install a perforated drain at the footing level. A waterproof membrane is often installed on the outside of the basement wall, and a buried sump pump is pumped to the surface.
Additionally, consider installing a drainage channel beneath the floor inside the basement. This drain is similar to the exterior drain tile but located just inside the basement walls. New walls are built on the inside of the drain, preventing residual water from seeping through the old basement walls. This job is typically done by a foundation contractor and costs around $5, 000.
How to insulate a solid concrete wall?
Internal wall insulation is a cost-effective method of insulating walls, typically done by fitting rigid insulation boards or building a stud wall filled with insulation material like mineral wool fiber. It can reduce floor area, require removal and reattachment of skirting boards, door frames, and external fittings, and can be difficult to install heavy items. However, it is not recommended before addressing issues with penetrating or rising damp.
External wall insulation involves fixing a layer of insulation material to the wall and covering it with a special type of render or cladding. The finish can be smooth, textured, painted, tiled, panelled, pebble-dashed, or brick slips.
Does interior concrete need air?
Air-entrained concrete is produced using air-entraining portland cement or agents, and should be mixed under careful engineering supervision. The amount of entrained air typically ranges from 4 to 7 percent of the concrete volume. To reduce risk, workers should take proper precautions during mixing, handling, and finishing. These include wearing waterproof gloves, long-sleeved clothing, and long pants, rinsing clothing if moisture from fresh concrete soaks up, wearing high rubber boots for legs and feet, and using waterproof pads between knees, elbows, or hands and any fresh concrete surfaces during finishing tasks.
How to insulate a cold wall from the inside?
Insulating walls from the inside is a common practice, but it has its drawbacks and advantages. Insulating walls from the outside is more practical due to the different reactions that occur when insulating the structural wall. Insulating from the outside shifts the freezing point towards the colder side, such as the exterior, while insulating from the inside shifts it towards the warmer side, such as the interior. This is because when the wall is insulated from the inside, it lowers its temperature to nearly the same as the outside temperature, which is the opposite of the opposite effect.
Insulating from the inside can be a more cost-effective solution, as it requires less maintenance and can be done in a shorter time. However, it is important to consider the specific needs and preferences of the individual and the building’s structural needs when deciding whether to insulate from the inside or the outside.
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About Plasti-Fab: Plasti-Fab is a manufacturer of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) products in North America. With over 50 years of …
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