Basement ceiling insulation is fiberglass batts installed in between the joists of the basement ceiling. It helps keep the rest of the house insulated, but it doesn’t insulate the basement itself.
Basement ceiling insulation
Basement ceiling insulation use to be a very popular option when it came to insulating your home. It was easy to do: simply putting up fiberglass batts between the joists in the basement ceiling and that was it. Unfortunately, we have found that it’s not a very effective way to insulate your home.
The first problem is where the insulation is placed. If it is placed on the ceiling of the basement, it isn’t helping to insulate the basement itself at all. *The basement will be uncomfortably cold in the cold months than you want it.*
The second problem is that fiberglass batts aren’t a very efficient option for insulation. The batts don’t block leaks and the airflow that comes from those leaks. If your basement is freezing and there is a crack or a leak in the basement ceiling, the cold air will easily move up through the crack and into the rest of the living space.
A better option
Instead of basement ceiling insulation, consider insulating the walls of your basement. This is a great option that allows your entire house to be insulated, including the basement. *If the basement of your home is insulated, there is no need to insulate the ceiling of the basement, since the air in the basement is already insulated, and thus it doesn’t matter if it infiltrates to the rest of the house.*
When insulating basement walls, rigid foam boards are typically used. This is done along with sealing the perimeter of the basement, and focusing around any outside doors that might be in the basement. The rigid foam insulation has a great R-value and will help keep your entire home comfortable and your house will be more energy efficient.