How to Frame Basement Walls for Insulation

Here are the Layers of a Finished Basement Wall

The basement can be a huge source of heat loss in the winter. While it may seem like a simple idea to insulate your basement walls to stop the loss, if you do not know how to frame basement walls for insulation you could add to your worries. A cold damp basement that is improperly framed for insulation can lead to an additional problems with mold. By following a few basic steps, you can frame basement walls for insulation quickly and effectively.

Things You'll Need

• Polystyrene insulation boards
• Liquid nails
• Light duty construction epoxy
• Caulking gun
• Box cutter
• Tyvek sealing tape
• Drywall
• 2x4s
• Saw
• Hammer
• Nails
• Fiberglass insulation

Instructions

1. Cut your polystyrene insulation boards so they fit between the ceiling and the floor in your basement when you stand them upright. Use a small amount of Liquid Nails Epoxy between each sheet and the walls to hold it in place. Make sure the sheets of insulation butt against each other tightly.

2. Tape the seams between the insulation boards with Tyvek sealing tape. This tape will help block cold air from entering your basement through the gaps between the boards.

3. Cut a strip of insulation board four inches wide and epoxy it into position on the floor against the vertical sheets, this will be what the bottom 2x4 of your basement wall frame will sit on. Make sure you tape where it joins to the vertical insulation.

4. Make your wall framing by cutting a series of wall studs that will fit snugly between the ceiling and the floor (on top of the strip of insulation) when framed by a top and bottom 2x4 that is laid flat. Nail these together spacing the studs every 16 inches. Your frame then should be four inches wide.

5. Put a line of epoxy on the bottom of your frame and lift the frame into place pressing the epoxy side down onto the strip of insulation on the floor. If you need to further secure the frame, place some nails through the top of the frame into the floor joists of the floor above at the ceiling level.

6. Roll out your fiberglass insulation and cut it in strips to fit the height of your frame. Press the insulation into place with the paper vapor barrier toward the polystyrene sheets. Install your drywall and finish your walls as desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Build the frame for your basement walls in sections that are easily handled on the ground and lift them into place rather than trying to install the studs vertically. This will save time and make sure your framing is put together well.

• Repair any water leaks into your basement before you frame basement walls for insulation or you could create a situation where water is trapped, but unseen, behind the insulation, causing mold, rot and other damage that you will not notice until it is too late.

References

• Insulating Basement Walls

Resources

• Finished Basement Ideas