Should Basement Floors Be Insulated

Foam insulation for instance is a common material for basement walls.

Should basement floors be insulated.

In most cases a basement with insulation installed on its exterior walls should be considered a conditioned space. The insulation may not save much money in energy bills due to moderate earth temperatures at that depth but it will warm the floor surface enough to reduce condensation. If your basement floods at all or has any water leaks experts say to address that before considering any insulation solutions. Insulating concrete floors if you live in a cold climate then you re no stranger to cold concrete floors in the winter.

Rarely do home builders insulate the foundation wall or sill plate. Whether your basement is finished or not proper insulation is important for temperature control and the prevention of moisture. A properly installed subfloor will create a flat insulated substrate for the finished floor of your choice ensuring more warmth underfoot. That s because any insulation you might install on say the walls would potentially get ruined with excessive moisture.

When insulation is installed it is most commonly found between the floor joists to prevent the crawl space air from entering through the floors above. If you do use your basement as a living space a home theater a playroom or a guest bedroom for example the answer is no. Basements require special subflooring that will not get moldy or deteriorate when exposed to moisture. Even in a house with an unconditioned basement the basement is more connected to other living spaces than to the outside which makes basement wall insulation preferable to ceiling insulation.

Even if they are insulated the insulation tends to sag droop and stop working. Ceiling insulation helps stop heat from leaking into the basement from the floors above which means it makes the basement colder significantly so. If you re planning on finishing a basement or portion of your home that has a concrete floor then it may be a good idea to insulate it before installing basement flooring. If you are planning to finish the basement space you should also consider adding a layer of foam insulation below the slab.