Basement walls are an important part of insulating your home. Many times, the basement walls are skipped because people have insulated basement ceilings, and this should be sufficient. The problem with that is that if the insulation is on the ceiling, it’s not doing a whole lot for the actual basement. Installing insulation to the walls of the basement include the basement as part of the insulated home.
As with any other insulation decision, it is important to select the right kind of insulation to put in your basement walls. Some might think fiberglass is a good decision, since that is what is typically used with basement ceilings and in older home’s walls, but fiberglass isn’t the best choice. It doesn’t do well in moist environments and has the tendency to slip out of place in the wall, both of which reduces the R-value of the fiberglass batts.
Rigid foam insulation boards are recommended for basement walls. They don’t absorb moisture, which eliminates the chances of mold. The boards are generally installed directly to the outer structure and thus they stay securely in place on the wall. The foam boards have a great R-value, and it will be a sustainable value.