Should You Insulate Your Basement Walls?

All homeowners are familiar with how important attic insulation Denver is to home comfort, but few understand the importance of basement insulation. Leaving your basement without insulation is a huge risk. The biggest problem with uninsulated basements is Mold. Mold attacks uninsulated basements and can quickly spread to other portions of the house without knowing it's ever there. Another downside to an uninsulated basement is money loss. Without insulation the amount of heat lost through your floors is very high which in turn makes your energy bills very high.

Basements have evolved from dirt cellars used to store jellies and preserves to integral square footage used to house the home's furnace, water heater, laundry and other essentials. Some contemporary basements have been upgraded to finished rooms used for movie watching or office work. Whatever you are using your basement for, it is important to keep it insulated.

Most basements are located below ground and so by nature they are cool and damp. Foundations that make up the basements outer walls are porous and can allow cold air and water into the basement. Insulation helps to protect basements and make them more comfortable. Proper insulation will limit the amount of heat that can escape the outer walls and help keep moisture to a minimum.



There are three ways to insulate a basement. You can choose to insulate from the outside, from the middle of the foundation or from the inside of the structure. Both external and middle insulation are usualy done while the house in under construction, but external insulation can be done in conjunction with drainage projects to keep water away from the foundation. Unless you are still planning your home-build, insulation from the inside of the basement is typically the only way to go. Interior insulation is also the most cost-effective way to insulate.

The most common reason to insulate your basement walls is to cut energy spending. The savings you experience will depend on a few factors including local climate, fuel cost, lifestyle and type of heating system. The thermal performance of insulation or any combination of insulation depends upon proper insulation which is why many homeowners decide to hire Denver insulation companies to insulate their basement. Insulating with a combination of rigid foam insulation and an insulated frame wall is will result in the highest return on investment. In this method a true vapor barrier is used to block moisture from coming into the basement.

Insulating your basement is an important home improvement project that will save you money and make your home more comfortable.