Posted: 11/3/2007 5:20:32 AM EDT
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I recently purchased a split entry house and ended up ripping the basement apart due to some water/mold/rodent issues in the insulation. I'm down to the 4' high block foundation and the 4' load baring 2x4 wall on top of it. Previously they framed an 8' non-load baring wall inside the foundation, put up fiberglass bats, vapor barrier, and sheetrock. How would you guys re-do this, and why? I'm thinking of framing a 4' wall just inside the foundation and finishing the exterior walls with a nice Oak ledge rather than framing a whole new 8' wall. In the spaces between the joists against the rim joist I was going to cut rigid foam insulation to fit and use the "Great Stuff" foam around the edges to make a perfect seal. I would insulate the 2x4 load baring wall with standard high density fiberglass and the lower 4' wall with rigid foam. I'd like to keep the fiberglass off the block foundation. it just doesn't seem like the best bet if I get a little moisture in the future. And of course, everything gets a 6 mil vapor barrier over it sealed at the top and bottom. Before I do any of this I'm going to take an angle grinder with a stiff wire brush and prep all the block and then put on 2-3 coats of Dry-Loc paint to seal the blocks up and keep moisture out. Some of the blocks were crumbling on the outside due to poor drainage in the landscaping. In these areas, and in areas with cracking, I filled the block wall with Quick-Crete and 4' pieces of re-bar. (can you say "bomb shelter") Am I missing anything? Any ideas, suggestions, comments? |