How to Install Styrofoam Insulation With Glue in Basements

Rigid sheets of Styrofoam insulation applied directly to basement walls improve the insulation quality of a home. Apply the insulation to the exterior of the basement walls in new construction, or to the interior of existing basements, renovations or crawl spaces. Styrofoam insulation with built-in grooves that accommodate wood strips to serve as supports for paneling or drywall is available. Styrofoam insulation projects fall within the capabilities of do-it-yourselfers who have basic carpentry skills.

Things You'll Need

• Utility knife
• Construction adhesive

Instructions

1. Install any electrical wiring planned for behind the wall. You can secure the wires in place against the basement walls with dabs of construction adhesive.

2. Cut rigid Styrofoam wall insulation to the height of the basement walls using a sharp utility knife. The standard size of Wallmate Styrofoam insulation is 2 feet by 8 feet, with available thicknesses of 1.5 to 2.4 inches. Select the thickness best suited for your climate and situation. Thicker insulations offer better insulating abilities.

3. Place the Styrofoam insulation against the wall beginning in one corner of the basement to ensure it fits precisely. Cut a groove in the back of the insulation to accommodate any wires placed in Step 1. After test-fitting the insulation sheet, apply a continuous bead of about 1/4 inch of construction adhesive around the perimeter of the insulation. Add a 1/2-inch dab of adhesive about every foot in the interior of the sheet. Press the insulation to the wall.

4. Place the next insulation sheet adjacent to the first. The slots or grooves on the edge of the sheeting abut each other to form a 1-inch-deep and 3-inch-wide channel for the placement of a wood nailing strip to accommodate paneling or drywall.

5. Continue adding insulation panels around the basement, following the steps above, until the project is finished.

Tips & Warnings

• If you won't be finishing the walls of the basement with paneling or drywall, a solid sheet of Styrofoam without channels for the nailing strips works best. The slots of the nailing strips reduce the insulation value of that portion of the insulation sheet. The other installation processes are identical.

References

• Dow Chemical: Add Value with Styrofoam Insulation
• Home-Improvement-and-Financing.com: Basement Insulation