There are two basic mechanisms which can cause a basement to move because of freezing temperatures -- ice-block formation and ad-freezing.Frost heaving: a form of ice-block formation occurs when moist soil lies under the foundation footings and the frost line or freezing-point penetration reac...
Any of the following five factors can make matters worse:-- Thermally conductive soils: Dense soils that hold water fairly well, in contact with the basement wall are asking for trouble. Clay soils are even worse in that they allow migration upward of water through capillary action, the prim...
The three fundamental cures for basement problems are: removing the water from the outside, using granular back fill or a drainage layer against the foundation wall and insulating on the outside of the basement. Any one could stop or prevent a problem, all three of them together is the bes...
You must make five decisions before insulating your basement or crawl space:-- Heated space, warmed space, or cold space?-- Interior or exterior insulation?-- Full height or partial height insulation?-- Fiberglass or rigid foam board?-- What R value?I discuss each of these decisions separately in...
It is not a good idea to leave a basement completely cold, as this subjects the walls to freezing. A crawl space under the house can be left cold by insulating the floor above, but less insulation is required to simply insulate the perimeter of the crawl space (although you will have higher ...
This is the most controversial question about basement insulation. Everyone, however, agrees on two points:-- Outside the wall, go as far down as you can afford to. -- Concrete block walls have large continuous air cavities that run the height of the wall. (The code now requires that this air ...
For detailed R value recommendations, search keyword "R-Value" for the title "WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDED INSULATION LEVELS?".Note that in the previous answer, some of the common options for basement insulation does not even meet the minimum recommendation of RSI - 2.1 (R-12). Manufactures of all...
"Waterproofing" is an expensive and touchy process, because "waterproofing" means making it absolutely leak proof. In fact we rarely waterproof a basement, we generally "Damp proof" it. This means that we make it water resistant.Damp proofing is best done on the outside with specific bitumen...
Wood in contact with slightly humid concrete can easily develop dry rot. (search keyword "rot" for the title "WHAT IS DRY ROT?") This often happens to studs laid on the basement floor or standing up against basement walls. A perfectly dry basement will present no problem -- but how many ba...
The joist space is commonly insulated with fiberglass batts jammed up into the cavity. The header should have been well sealed with caulking first. (search keyword "sealing" for the title " WHERE SHOULD I SEAL AND HOW?") The batts should be covered with simple paper (an acceptable vapour barrie...
