Hello all,
I've tried searching here, there and everywhere, and I keep finding conflicting information, so I figured I'd throw my specific situation out there and see what you have to say on the subject.
I have a basement in need of updating. I've torn into the first room to repair a few foundation cracks, and now I have the dilemma of how best to frame and more importantly insulate the space.
The entire lower floor of the house is bi-level, by which I mean the lower ~3-4ft of each room is below grade with concrete foundation, above which point it is wood framing for the remaining height. The first room I've started on had no insulation at all in the concrete lower section, and was framed up 2x4 on flats. There is insulation in the upper framed portion built on top of the foundation, but presently no vapour barrier.
What is the best way to approach tieing this all together? I'm likely pulling down all the drywall at this point anyways, so if the best approach involves a barrier, I can put it top to bottom.
I should also note, the wall will not be straight vertical. The foundation wall is the narrowest portion, and the framing on top if it pushes out. Prior to tearing it open, there was a 5" ledge all the way around the room, actually all of the exterior walls in the lower level.
Anyways... Do I rigid insulate and then 1x3 fur out and drywall, or rigid and then frame 2x4 proper and batting, or do I skip rigid and just offset the 2x4 with a gap to the foundation, or.... And then, the next question would be, do I attempt to vapour barrier the entire wall, and if so, which way? Everything I've taken in so far says to vapour barrier at the inside, so, right below the drywall layer. But then I've also read that rigid acts as a vapour barrier, so that would mean somehow transitioning from a external (foundation) barrier (rigid foam) to an internal barrier on the upper half.
Hoping some of you have some insight to offer. Every time I think I have a plan, I find a new piece of information or new opinion and start second-guessing everything.
I've tried searching here, there and everywhere, and I keep finding conflicting information, so I figured I'd throw my specific situation out there and see what you have to say on the subject.
I have a basement in need of updating. I've torn into the first room to repair a few foundation cracks, and now I have the dilemma of how best to frame and more importantly insulate the space.
The entire lower floor of the house is bi-level, by which I mean the lower ~3-4ft of each room is below grade with concrete foundation, above which point it is wood framing for the remaining height. The first room I've started on had no insulation at all in the concrete lower section, and was framed up 2x4 on flats. There is insulation in the upper framed portion built on top of the foundation, but presently no vapour barrier.
What is the best way to approach tieing this all together? I'm likely pulling down all the drywall at this point anyways, so if the best approach involves a barrier, I can put it top to bottom.
I should also note, the wall will not be straight vertical. The foundation wall is the narrowest portion, and the framing on top if it pushes out. Prior to tearing it open, there was a 5" ledge all the way around the room, actually all of the exterior walls in the lower level.
Anyways... Do I rigid insulate and then 1x3 fur out and drywall, or rigid and then frame 2x4 proper and batting, or do I skip rigid and just offset the 2x4 with a gap to the foundation, or.... And then, the next question would be, do I attempt to vapour barrier the entire wall, and if so, which way? Everything I've taken in so far says to vapour barrier at the inside, so, right below the drywall layer. But then I've also read that rigid acts as a vapour barrier, so that would mean somehow transitioning from a external (foundation) barrier (rigid foam) to an internal barrier on the upper half.
Hoping some of you have some insight to offer. Every time I think I have a plan, I find a new piece of information or new opinion and start second-guessing everything.