How To Install Foam Insulation On Concrete Walls

Measure the entire wall area to figure out the amount of rigid foam to purchase.

How to install foam insulation on concrete walls.

Interior insulation refers to insulation applied to the interior side of the concrete masonry as shown in figure 1. Use 2 2 inch lumber for the studs and 2 3 inch lumber for the top and bottom plates. Consider 210 square feet to be the entire amount of rigid foam insulation to purchase. Apply liberal quantities of liquid nails or other suitable bonding agent to the back of the foam insulation boards and spread over the whole board.

Now as you glue the panels to the exposed concrete blocks leave a inch gap at the floor and ceiling and cut holes in the panels to fit around outlets and wall switches. If necessary address moisture problems and seal cracks before you begin. Firstly you can apply it directly onto the house s concrete walls with the help of a construction adhesive that will hold it in place. Move to next board and butt tight to previous board.

The concrete should be dry and free from cracks before installing foam insulation boards. Do not subtract studs. Lay a panel of polystyrene. Make sure it s in between the 2 joists right where the wall is going to go.

Press boards up against concrete wall and hold for a few minutes to allow bond to set. Secondly and this is the best way you can install a drywall to frame the wall before applying foam board insulation. Just install a block of 2 by lumber. For example the wall may be 30 feet long by 7 feet high.

The insulation may be rigid board extruded or expanded polystyrene or polyisocyanurate closed cell spray polyurethane foam cellular glass fibrous batt or fibrous blown in insulation note however that fibrous insulation is susceptible to moisture. That is between a floor joist and rim joist if this wall is backing the concrete wall. You need to install a few of these ideally every 16 18 or 24 inches. At each mark make a horizontal line using a carpenter s level.

After the adhesive cures add extension boxes to the outlets and switches and spray foam into every gap top bottom and around each box. When the entire surface is covered with the panels measure vertically down one panel so that a mark is made every 24 inches.