Last Updated: Jun 8, 2021
Did you know that more than four out of ten homes in the United States have a full or partial basement? When fully finished, a basement can add usable square footage to your home for extra bedrooms, storage spaces, playrooms, and more. Unfortunately, many basements are unpleasantly cool and damp due to improper construction and insufficient insulation. The earth itself does provide some insulating capacity as the soil can maintain a relatively stable temperature throughout the year. However, nobody would want to spend time in a humid, cave-like atmosphere.
According to The Model Energy Code, most basement walls should have at least an R-11 insulating value for basement walls. Homeowners in the frigid northernmost states should increase that to at least R-15 for their basement walls. Upgrading your basement insulation isn't just a matter of getting the correct R-value, though that is undoubtedly important. Instead, finding the best material that offers thermal, vapor, and moisture protection is the key to creating a comfortable space that doesn't suck the heat from your home in the winter months. Finding an insulating option that is environmentally friendly and will not leach harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your home should also be high on your list of priorities.
Below, Rise offers a complete guide on finding and sourcing the best insulation material to make your basement renovation a success!
When thinking about any home renovation project, the first thought on many people's minds is: "How much is this going to cost me?" Proper budgeting is essential to make sure that you do not get in over your head. However, energy-efficiency home renovations should be seen as an investment instead of a simple expense. That new $2,000 leather couch might make your home more comfortable when lounging on a cold winter day. However, unless that couch has gold buried in the cushions, there won't be a payback period. Investing in improving your basement's insulation, however, will not only make your home more comfortable to live in but will also eventually pay for itself through monthly savings on your heating and cooling bills.
When your basement is under-insulated, heat transfer will occur eagerly throughout the walls and foundation of your basement. This lack of insulation will cause your HVAC system to be overworked to maintain a stable and comfortable interior temperature.
Proper basement insulation will effectively prevent the transfer of heat between basement walls and foundations and the outdoors. This insulation capacity means that your basement will not be at the whim of frigid winter temperatures or the hot and humid summers. When your basement temperatures are stabilized with high-performance insulation and a sealed building envelope, your entire home will also benefit from steadier, constant interior temperatures.
Quality basement insulation will help reduce the "cold floor" effect throughout the house. It can also help stop the "stack effect" in your home. This effect occurs when warm air rises into your ceiling or attic, and cold air enters to replace it (usually through the basement).
The answer will depend entirely on several variables, including:
However, improving the insulation in your basement can be surprisingly affordable, with the total price for labor and materials per square foot costing between $2.80 to $4.50. For 500 square feet, this correlates to between $1,500 and $2,200 for batt insulation, with northern locations and more expensive products costing more.
Spending around $2,000 to improve your basement insulation might seem like a steep cost for homeowners in a tight financial situation. However, consider the following: About 90 percent of homes in the United States are under-insulated. This lack of insulation leads to houses wasting at least 20 percent of the heat they generate to stay warm during the winter. The American Gas Association estimates that the average American household spends around $661 per year on natural gas for heating their home. For all-electric homes, you will most likely be paying even more for home heating costs every year.
Suppose 20 percent of the heat generated by your central furnace, baseboard heaters, heat pump, or other heating device is lost due to insufficient insulation. In that case, you might be essentially wasting around $130 per year. Homes located in colder regions will most likely see even more economic losses due to the increased heating demand.
Based on the figures above ($661 average heating cost for natural gas-powered homes and an average of 20 percent wasted heat), improving your basement insulation could save you at least $130 per year. If you want to maximize your savings, consider also insulating other parts of your home, like walls and attics. Even if you just start with the basement, it is worth noting that basements are often the most under-insulated part of the home. SO, this job can get you started on your way to a super-efficient home.
A more ambitious insulation retrofit that improves the insulation in your attic, crawl spaces, and basement could save you 15 percent on your heating and cooling costs (EPA estimates). For many homeowners, that adds up to a savings of more than $200 per year.
Let's do the math. A 700 square foot basement with an insulation overhaul at an average cost of $3.00 per square foot would cost $2,100 for materials and labor. Suppose you are paying an average of $700 per year for home heating and are losing about 20 percent of that heat due to lousy basement insulation. In that case, you are losing $140 each year in wasted energy costs. Given these two figures, your estimated payback period for a basement insulation retrofit is about fifteen years. This estimate is probably lower, in actuality, given the reduced AC costs that you can achieve. Improved basement insulation will also lower the demand for cooling during the summertime. A 10-15 year payback period for improved basement insulation isn't bad, especially given that properly-cared-for insulation can last between 20 years for fiberglass batts to over 100 years for closed-cell polyurethane spray foam.
The benefits of this home retrofit go beyond economic considerations. A well-insulated basement will reduce the carbon footprint of your home by lowering your heating and cooling load. A well-insulated basement can also limit excess humidity in your home, thus improving indoor air quality. Mold spores are one of the most common indoor allergens and pollutants, and moist or damp basements are primary places for mold spores to grow in a home. An insulated basement will add comfortable living space to your home. Instead of merely using your basement as a makeshift storage room, high-performance insulation can allow you to turn your basement into a beautiful and practical space for bedrooms, living rooms, playrooms, and more.
So how do you know what type of basement insulation is right for your home? If your basement is not properly sealed and moisture or vapor issues might become a problem, you should most certainly opt for closed-cell polyurethane spray foam. This option is more expensive than other insulation types such as fiberglass or cellulose. However, spray foam can be applied directly to the concrete walls, offering both a thermal and moisture barrier for your basement. The cost of adding a high-performance moisture barrier and framing your walls would most likely offset any savings related to opting for cheaper fiberglass insulation.
Suppose your existing basement already has a high-performance moisture barrier and is already framed or studded. Then you can opt for any type of insulation. Check out this Rise guide for the best types of insulation.
Unfortunately, many spray foam insulation products on the market today use blowing agents. These blowing agents are necessary to create the tiny bubbles that give foam its insulating capability. Many of these cause an enormous amount of damage to the environment. These blowing agents release hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have a global warming potential that can be 3,000 times higher than carbon dioxide.
When sourcing the most environmentally friendly spray foam insulation products, make sure to look for products that advertise the use of HFOs instead of HFCs as primary blowing agents. Rise has detailed many of these great options in our In-Depth Guide to Spray Foam Insulation.
Upgrading your insulation is one of the most basic energy efficiency renovations for your home. Insufficient insulation, especially in your basement, is one of the primary areas of unwanted heat loss or heat gains. It most likely costs you hundreds of dollars every year in extra heating and cooling costs. Not only can an insulation retrofit save you money, but it will also most likely make your home a more comfortable place to live and improve the indoor air quality in your space. The basement insulation options outlined above should give you an idea about designing a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly way to improve your basement's energy efficiency and thermal performance.
Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.