The Importance of Insulating Foundation Walls

June 14, 2016

In short, insulating basement foundation walls will provide thermal protection, moisture control, better air circulation, and even mold protection. In most climate zones (especially across Canada) insulating the foundation is well worthwhile - it's a cost-effective home improvement with a very good return-on-investment. In fact, across the country, researchers and industry professionals are in agreement that for all sizes of basements, insulating the foundation makes economic sense. The best news is that basement insulation saves money. Depending on the quality of insulation product, and the installed R-Value, annual energy savings on natural gas and/or electricity can be substantial enough to offset the original cost of installing the insulation. For basement insulation in general, building codes vary according to climate zone, but even today, contractors will debate about whether its best to insulate the foundation from the inside or from the outside of the home. Whether it's exterior basement insulation, or interior, there are viable advantages to both. Here, a professional contractor would be able to recommend the best approach, based on the particular circumstances of the home. The important thing is to create an effective thermal envelope, a good air barrier, and an effective system that blocks moisture. For new construction, retrofitting, or renovations, it's essential to choose an insulation product that delivers maximum performance. For the professionals in the business, insulating foundation walls is best accomplished with Spray Foam Insulation. In the basement, it's the ultimate for energy efficiency. SFI performs better than comparable insulation products, and requires only a single application. It's an application that creates airtightness; blocks air leakage; prevents moisture form accumulating; and installs a very high R-Value rating. In the basement, SFI has more benefits/advantages than any other product. Great Northern Insulation specializes in Spray Foam Insulation. Considered the best product on the market, it offers the ultimate in performance, with superior results that are hard to match. But it's a premium product and application, and could be costly for some homeowner budgets. As such, GNI offers homeowners another option for insulating basement foundation walls - it's the "hybrid" installation, which combines SFI with another product in a fully integrated application. The idea behind the "hybrid" installation is that the two products (one being the Spray Foam Insulation) work together. Professionally installed, the best characteristics of each product are maintained, and the project retains a cost effective component for the homeowner. The "hybrid" install provides excellent results, particularly in the basement area, where controlling the air and moisture is critical to energy efficiency. The result: energy savings and comfort at one time. In any residential home, insulating the basement foundation walls is key to making the structure energy efficient. Beyond being important for the building envelope, it's an investment that has a fairly quick "payback" period. Indeed, in many cases, the savings on winter heating and summer cooling can substantially offset the original cost of the project. This is truly a home project that is worthwhile for the short-term benefits inside the home, and the longer-term dollar savings.