Finished basements are the perfect option for families that are looking to expand their living space without the major cost of an addition. Most unfinished basements have wonderful potential for becoming a family room, home theater, game room, additional bedroom, or even a separate play area for the kids.
When it comes to insulating, basements tend to be ideal candidates for the use of spray foam insulation. That is because Closed-Cell spray foam insulation can be sprayed directly onto the concrete walls and into empty stud wall cavities to fill the entire space and form a vapor barrier. Closed-Cell spray foam insulation achieves a higher R-value with less thickness, which is why it is the best way to insulate a basement wall.
The key to successfully insulating basement walls is to stop moisture movement and prevent mold growth. The structural elements of below-grade walls are cold (concrete is in direct contact with the ground). Of particular concern are rim joist areas, which are cool and damp not only in the winter but also during the summer. Therefore, it is important that all basement insulation is installed as airtight as possible and has an effective vapor barrier.
Closed-cell spray foam is perfect for "locking out" water vapor that inherently wants to migrate from your damp basement walls to your finished basement rooms. Closed-cell spray foam offers many benefits: Additional structural stability, a great vapor barrier, easily covers pipes, wires, and other utilities, and it provides exceptional R-Values. Basement walls that are insulated with Closed-Cell spray foam are less susceptible to condensation and mold. This means that spray-foamed basements will stay drier and smell better than uninsulated basements.
A basement ceiling is another spot where insulation can be installed to provide both comfort and sound control. Owens Corning manufactures a sound-deadening product called "Quiet Zone." The quiet zone acoustic batts are designed to be installed in basement ceilings to limit noise transmission to other parts of the house and increase privacy.
Reduce perceived noise transmission between floors and ceilings
Increase acoustical privacy between upstairs and downstairs
Maintain original acoustic properties over time
Decrease noise from foot traffic, stereos, washing machines, etc.
Blown-in insulation is competing to bring improved performance per square inch and the least amount of settling over time to the insulation market. The "Net and Blow" process uses loose-fill fiberglass insulation that is blown into place using special equipment and held in place by lightweight mesh netting. This process works well for adding insulation to basement ceilings, which have irregularly shaped areas and obstructions, like wiring and plumbing, to work around.
The "Net and Blow" process helps reduce noise absorption to enhance the sound-deadening properties of the room. Technically, noise absorption is achieved by changing the characteristics of the noise by doing three things:
Stop it from echoing
Stop the reverberation
Stop the noise reflections
All these factors help provide effective sound deadening by minimizing the noise generated from within the room.
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