How the Professionals Go about Insulating Basement Slab

Most of us have heard the old saying “hindsight is 20/20.” That saying is never truer than when you are talking about insulating a basement slab. It really doesn’t matter if the slab is just that, the slab the basement rests on, or if it is the foundation for a full or partial basement. Ensuring that this bit of work is done properly is incredibly important. Most savvy home builders will be sure to cover this point in depth with everyone involved in the building of their home from the architect and engineer to the contractor. Some dedicated homeowners have even been sure to be on site when the basement slab is laid. Take a look at how the professionals go about insulating basement slab features.

Insulating a Basement Slab: the Basics

One of the best first steps for insulating basement slab foundations of any kind is to create a barrier between the concrete and the ground. Many contractors use gravel at least an inch thick as a bed for the prepared concrete. On top of the gravel, the installation of a one inch thick layer of extruded polystyrene foam board is applied for additional insulating help. Builders tape is used to create a watertight layer. You might think it’s time for the contractor to finish things up by pouring the concrete now, but you would be wrong. A good contractor will want to be sure his or her work will stand up to the test of time. Polyethylene sheets are placed over the insulation layer and are applied to act as a vapor barrier. Now, it’s time to pour the concrete.

Ask anyone who has a home where insulating the basement slab wasn’t a high priority. Everyone is familiar with dank, damp basements that can’t be used for much of anything including storage because of their moist, damaging environments. You want to make sure that you have a finished basement that your whole famoly will enjoy. Of course, there are methods that can help after the fact, but the best course of action is to ensure that the basement slab is treated correctly the first time around during the building process.