I have a project that includes converting a storage room in a garage to a conditioned laundry room space. For a deep dive into the issue, I suggest that you read this article: "Foam Under Footings.". As the owner of over one hundred rentals houses over the years, I wouldn't put anything organic like plywood on any basement floor. What You'll Need When adding insulation to concrete applications such as foundations, walls, and slabs, one of the more highly recommended forms is rigid foam insulation. :) So of course, no vapor control underneath. For more information, see "How to Insulate a Basement Wall.". Another idea is to lay a dimple membrane like DMX/Delta-FL, then something like a 1" rigid EPS/XPS onto that. You should contact the tile manufacturer to determine the manufacturer's subflooring requirements. edit: for slightly unlevel, not many inches of course. The structural elements of below grade walls are cold (concrete is in direct contact with the ground)—especially when insulated on the in… Benefits of foam insulation under concrete slab . Hey martin, Rigid Foam Insulation – Pricing and Installation Cost Checklist. Misleading Energy Reports Used to Sell Spray Foam, https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/the-high-cost-of-deep-energy-retrofits, http://www.greatlakeshomeperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ICC-ES-Styrofoam-ESR-2142-Code-Report.pdf, "Thermal Barriers and Ignition Barriers for Spray Foam. ", A. There are a number of different factors at play but the one thing that we always need to keep in mind is heat flow. Animation: Floating Insulated Subfloor on a Slabless Slab . Even though the rigid foam won’t save enough energy to justify its cost, it’s worth installing for another reason: it will reduce summertime condensation and mold accumulation, and will therefore help your basement smell better. If there is no rigid foam under the logs (! I am really out of my element with this stuff but I can load the permit office up with pdfs full of indecipherable technical specs. I'd be leery of trying your idea (sand on top of the EPS). I did a little testing with this exact theory 3/4" over 1.5" of 15psi foam, there was a little flex movement at the joint under foot from compression. Let's unpack the issue in the context of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 - Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings. We also have insulation boards suitable for more specialist flooring applications, for example heavy duty floor insulation and insulation … Heat flows from hot to cold, and in the […] So beneath the logs, I put sill seal directly on the slab, and then I put two full two-inch-by-ten-inch black locust boards (so four inches thick) between the sill seal and logs. 2” EPS Because thick insulation can be difficult to detail, edge insulation is often reduced to a depth of about two inches, leaving a significant source of heat loss. Q. Remember, installing polyethylene on the wall makes it hard to use adhesive to attach the EPS to the concrete wall. Can anyone think of why it isn't a good idea? This type of panel is heavy and flat enough to stay in place by gravity, without any fasteners, and can be used as “industrial-look” flooring. Yeah, I was pretty stressed when I saw them in the middle of pouring concrete with no vapor barrier. Under Slab Installation - Radiant Floor Over Wood. - home gym equipment (treadmill, free weights on stand) It's a judgment call. Offering insulation products across a broad temperature spectrum to fit your needs. ", A. There are two uncertainties: 1. For more information on this issue, see "Determining Sub-Slab Rigid Foam Thickness.". I won't be doing OSB for the subfloor, as I already bought the pine boards (and I already am not using other pine boards I bought for the ceiling after you'd wisely recommended drywall instead). Will this approach over-stress the foam (OR Roxul) and what are my other options? Occasionally we get real hot days and we get condensation on the wide pine floor that sits directly on top of the slab. Providing proper concrete slab insulation for your home's foundation will help keep your home warmer, while preventing insect infestation, gas accumulation and the buildup of mold and mildew. Thank you! The specifications above suggest two 1/2" layers of t/g plywood. Below-Grade Under Slab system with FOAMULAR® rigid board insulation. It is installed on the interior, exterior, or is integral to any opaque surface of the building envelope”. Ultimately it will be fully climate controlled, but that is months away. Concrete Slab. Using the above method to determine the pressure that a slab transfers to the subgrade allows for proper specification of rigid foam insulation and avoids over-engineering the insulation for compressive strength. Step 6a: Insulating above concrete . - No load bearing walls will be placed on assembly. Are you only insulating the top few feet of the wall, or are you insulating the entire wall, from the slab up to the top of the wall? OR To bring the floor level with the house, we used 4.5" of rigid foam. Where the heating is likely to be turned … On top of that I'll put 1x12 kiln dried tongue and groove pine boards for my subfloor. ft. About the Product: The Reflectix® Concrete Slab Insulation is an innovative, easy-to-handle product that increases the energy efficiency of radiant floor and snow melt systems (under concrete). I would call it optional. Now, my question is what should I do on the floor? So, the rear portion of the room will be built up on two layers of 2x12s to bring it level with the rest of the 1st floor in the house. ", Using a Dimple Mat to Keep a Basement Wall Dry. You need to get help from a structural engineer and a sound engineer. In this situation, why can't one use a single 3/4" layer of high quality OSB/plywood and glue the OSB/plywood to the rigid insulation underneath it, rather than use two thinner layers of OSB/plywood screwed to each other? The link provides an ICC-ES Evaluation Report: http://www.greatlakeshomeperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ICC-ES-Styrofoam-ESR-2142-Code-Report.pdf, Stephen, Moisture Management. Get at least 3-5 estimates before hiring Rigid Foam Insulation contractor — estimates are typically free, unless it’s a service call for a repair. Of course, the EPS density matters as well. Probably can go over that by a 1/4" but not more. The two layers of plywood and sand would be floating on top of the insulation. Matt, Brian, The following information is a guide to the installation of rigid insulation on ground floors to receive a screed. use either one or two layers of plywood or OSB, and the subflooring can either be fastened to the concrete with long Tapcon screws or it can simply float above the foam I am trying to use less concrete to reduce the carbon footprint where possible. Q. Are there any issues leaving the rigid foam exposed on the walls and floors of the crawlspace area? If you're looking for a concrete (pun intended) solution, self-leveling compound would still not be the choice. I don't think that pine boards will make a good subfloor here, since you aren't able to nail the boards to joists. Barbara. Insulating over slabs helps reduce the potential for condensation or “sweating”, reduce energy loss and increase the warmth of the homeowner. Allowing interior air (that is usually full of moisture, especially in the humid summer months) to touch cold surfaces will cause condensation and wetting, rather than the desired drying. Insulation below the slab suits continuous, low level heating, gradually warming the thermal mass of the concrete and sustaining it at a consistent temperature. This is the method I used in my basement--trying to have dry tool storage and workshop space; it went together very quickly and easily. Reid, If this partition has a pressure-treated bottom plate, as it should, I wouldn't worry. Are you using open-cell spray foam or closed-cell spray foam? "Do I need to leave a gap around the perimeter of the rigid foam and framing or should this be snug?". Thanks! The panels can be installed directly onto the concrete slab, over sleepers which are installed onto the concrete slab or over rigid foam insulation… Or, as demonstrated here, you can cover the slab with rigid-foam insulation, add two layers of plywood, and then add the finish flooring. Versatile rigid insulation + ISOLOFOAM HD 160, XHD 200 | 300. Seems like a good idea for grad student work. Also, prefer not to use OSB, particularly on the first layer since it will need to hold the screws on the second layer above. I’ll price the tapered insulation and compare it to the concrete leveling per your suggestion. TECHNICAL FEATURES. In climate zones 4 through 8, the most common locations for insulation are at the perimeter of the slab (installed vertically) and under the slab (installed horizontally). Mostly this is due to lack of availability of 1/2" t/g plywood. Future state, If you suddenly have a material with low-perms over all of the slab except the bottom plates, you will see an increase in moisture at those plates. • If there is no damp proof membrane in the concrete floor, one (minimum 300 micron / 1200 gauge polythene) should be laid with joints well lapped and folded, to prevent the passage of ground water, … Bradley, Sketch Pad. On the inside of the walls, I have applied a layer of 3/4" EPS foam. Insulation with Sleepers and Floating Floor over Existing Slab with Drainage Layer between Insulation and Existing Slab. I am also wondering if i was to go with a click together vinyl plank floor in place of the carpet would this create a vapour barrier over the subfloor assembly? Installing 1 inch of EPS should solve the problem. That's another item on my project list. I've generally found that Tapcons do not "pull" the same way as wood screws, so the fastener will not countersink on its own into plywood or OSB. I don't have an "official statement" I can point to. Concrete Slab Enhance energy efficiency and moisture resistance using Styrofoam™ Brand Rigid Foam insulation both under and over slab. Notice that the sheet polyethylene “vapor barrier” is located on the top of the rigid insulation between the rigid insulation and the bottom surface of the concrete – in direct contact with the concrete. This new space, with its 10 foot ceiling, will be my new workshop. Kind of funny, at the time, they built the mid-level section with a vented crawlspace, with common interior doors for access to the crawl space. Concrete is cold and hard, but an insulated concrete slab can make a heated garage significantly warmer and more energy efficient. A third option is to install unfaced rigid foam over an existing slab that has been coated with epoxy paint, then to install 1x4 sleepers for the plywood subfloor to sit on (see Figure 3). Install one or two layers of tongue-and-groove OSB or plywood on top of the rigid foam. Would I need to do anything special around existing partition walls?". However, for a room of the house we are using as a home theater, we dug down 2 feet. The client would like the new laundry room floor to be level with the existing house floor. The "floppy" Durock conforms to uneven surfaces. If you have two layers of 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch plywood or OSB screwed together, however, I imagine you'll be fine. For more information, see "Fixing a Wet Basement." If you are insulating the wall on the interior, from the slab all the way to the top, with closed-cell spray foam, you don't need any polyethylene. Our rigid insulation solutions help keep the wall warm, reducing the potential for condensation and protecting the waterproof membrane from damage. Thanks, Kohta. You've apparently read my mind, once again, by publishing an article on a project already on the docket for my 40-year-old house. Limited Warranty. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you! When the existing slab is covered with rigid foam insulation… DuroFoam is the solution to your insulation needs. Would I need to do anything special around existing partition walls? It is a concrete floor with concrete walls up to above grade. Up to one-quarter of a building’s energy loss is due to lack of … Thermal and acoustic insulation of pitched roofs with Expanded Insulation Corkboard above slab. Details // Concrete & Masonry. I'm constructing a log house on a floating slab in southwest Wisconsin, and am making plans for a wood floor on top of the slab. In the example shown below, we used 1" XPS (due to head height restrictions) and taped seams. So, it's not a full basement...just a partial sunken room. Is it ok to do one course of regular plywood or do both layers need to be t/g. Brian, ), then the laminate planks just floating right on top of that? Was it plywood or OSB? We were planning to install a 1/2" rubber underlayment (similar to horse mat material) glued to the concrete. This is admittedly old (BETT 1982) data, but it indicates that polyiso loses a lot more of its R-value due to moisture uptake than XPS or EPS (in buried conditions). McMike | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on June 19, 2012 04:03am My question. DuPont™ Styrofoam™ Brand Extruded Polystyrene Foam insulation is an ideal solution for over slab installations, offering the following advantages: Reduces energy loss between concrete slab … How were the results for you? Rigid insulation OVER concrete slab? When slab insulation is provided, a sheet polyethylene vapor barrier should be located over the rigid insulation and in direct contact with the concrete slab. Regarding Dana’s “month long Polk Party” post when he was talking about rigid foam compression concerns, I have the following question: Dana references EPS Type-II. Stephen, Therefore, the conditions at the slab-to-foam interface are likely to rise to 100% RH for most of the year--so it is an area where you want a material that is resistant to moisture uptake. I also realized that it'd be quite a waste of foam. But you should probably check out this article: "Foam Under Footings." If you are talking about the link to the document titled "EPS Geofoam Data Sheet," there was indeed a problem with the link. CONCRETE WALL WITH UNDER SLAB INSULATION Laura, If you want the benefits of floor insulation, you’ll have to install the rigid foam on top of your existing slab. Your floor developed mold because the first condensing surface was cold. Large Volume orders, shipping and contractor pricing, email quantities to: info@icforming.com Features: Insulation under the concrete slab Fast and efficient installation 4’ x 4’ molded boards Multi … Concrete Slab. "I am considering replacing basement flooring at my parent's house, which currently has carpet over concrete with no foam. Current state, the carpet may be permeable enough to prevent moisture problems. In these cases, adding insulation above the slab is a quick and cost-effective way to improve the energy-efficient and comfort of a building. Tyler, Good luck with that. We have a slab on grade foundation (post tension stressed). You can attach wood sleepers to the floor, fill the gaps with rigid-foam insulation, and then apply your finish flooring. The foam sheets are laid over the existing surface to prevent the earth underneath the concrete slab contributing to temperature variations inside the property. And if the rigid foam route, would it be possible to accomplish that without having to glue or secure w screws? Would that work? Two layers of 1/2" ply with staggered seams comparatively was rock solid. Below-Grade Under Slab with FOAMULAR® XPS insulation. For guidance and instructions, just follow the five steps below. It should be better than the Amdry product because of the ability to tape and stagger the seams. We have a wide range of floor insulation boards, including solid ground floor insulation, suspended floor insulation and soffit insulation. I'm currently building a home in North Louisiana (Climate Zone 3). Thanks Martin. This is the method a friend and I did in his basement. He confirmed that the product we used will withstand 20 psi (the charts I found online only said 16 psi but I think either would be sufficient to meet code). As far as I know, the code requirements for covering rigid foam with an ignition barrier or a thermal barrier are the same as the code requirements for these barriers over spray foam. Craig, Joints should be staggered as in brick laying to ensure the insulation is interlocked. Moisture resitance and stable R-value protects and insulates your concrete slab for a superior energy saving solution. The entry from the house to this area drops about 5 - 6 inches. My thought is that in the Northeast, there are lots of older housing stock with poorly poured basement slabs. They both come in various rated compressive strengths from 10 psi to about 80 psi. Would a leveling of dry and clean sand, on top of the EPS and below the plywood, work? This applies to all internal insulation. Key Attributes: Durability . Thermal and acoustic insulation of structural slabs with Expanded Insulation Corkboard acting simultaneously as insulation against airborne noises and reducing thermal losses. Contractors are increasingly called upon to install rigid foam insulation under concrete slabs and on building foundations. Hi Peter. Easy Installation. I plan on using spray foam to insulate the top surface of the concrete wall and around the rim joist (between floor joist bays). In your climate zone, you probably don't need rigid foam for this floor. On top of that we would glue a layer of 3/4" Advantech paneling (this is a sound isolating technique prescribed by the home theater designer). Two of the rigid foam insulations most commonly used below grade and under slabs are expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS). Do you have any advice on how to proceed if the concrete slab is sloped? I have a question regarding your mention of using interior poly for the basement floor in an interior-foam retrofit: should the poly extend up the walls and, if so, how far? One option for insulating on top of a slab is to apply rigid foam insulation directly to the slab, then install the subfloor on top of the insulation. Using a design equation based on a more rigorous analysis of the design conditions can help avoid over-engineering the insulation and save thousands of dollars on the project. But if you have any doubts, you should contact your local building department to find out how local inspectors interpret the code in your jurisdiction. Brad, I would think the moisture uptake (and R-value reduction) would be small. My advice on installing rigid foam above a slab can be found in the article on this page. Use floor leveling compound or crushed stone. DuroFoam insulation is a closed cell and moisture resistant insulation with a white film on one side and silver on the other. Although both are closed cell insulations, they perform very differently over the long term. (Note that these instructions are often available online.). I could only see this being feasible if there was a tool properly suited that could do it quickly enough and collect dust. 1 layer 3/4” Advantech OSB Additionally, insulation can be installed over the exiting concrete slab, or a new one, depending on your preference. I'm nearly certain the contractors did not install a vapor barrier beneath the slab. My first reaction to your question was to suggest self-leveling compound, until you wrote that you are trying to avoid it. However, polyethylene is a vapor barrier, while EPS is only a vapor retarder. First, the standard defines two classes of slab-on-grade: Heated slab-on-grade floor: a slab-on-grade floor with a heating source either within or below it. Density: 110 to 120 kg/m3 Thermal conductivity: λ = 0,037 a 0,040 W/m°C Excellent dimensional stability I'd rather do the floating floor than fasten through to the concrete. This insulation aligns with rigid foam sheathing that covers the framed walls above grade. 2) Will my pine boards (already purchased) be able to float like the OSB boards without causing issues? We have finally gotten the building permit guy to stop asking for floor framing but now he wants a manufacturer's statement that this is an approved application for the rigid insulation and that it will meet the 40 pounds per square foot pressure that the code requires.. I believe this to be a fair concern. In my situation, in would certainly be possible to run the poly up the walls as high as the foam will go, which is to the top of the concrete. Barbara, They both come in various rated compressive strengths from 10 psi to about 80 psi. Less common is a third method: buried horizontal or sloped “wing” insulation installed around the exterior perimeter of the building to raise soil temperature. You forgot the fourth way that slabs get wet - plumbing failures. After installing platon and 2" of EPS, I am considering installing a regular 1/2" plywood for first course, then screwing, and possibly glueing, a 3/4 T/G course over it. While you can apply insulation over the concrete slab, that requires adding wood subflooring and other components that add to the cost and complexity of the project. I'm looking to seal up the vents in the crawlspace, add some air movement from the conditioned space into the crawl space and add rigid insulation to the walls and floors. This can then be taped into place with either a gaffer tape or a foil tape which forms a system. If you’re building a new cold-climate home with a basement, you’ll probably want to install a continuous horizontal layer of rigid foam under the basement slab. Hey Martin- Hoping you might be able to advise on a specific use case. It can be tempting to cut the insulation at ground level to avoid seeing it, but this creates an area for heat to move in or out of the home and there will be heat loss through the floor and foundation if not fully insulated. Enhance energy efficiency and moisture resistance using Styrofoam™ Brand Rigid Foam insulation both under and over slab… Black locust is incredibly rot resistant, so I feel pretty good. In my experience, a layer of EPS foam provides a perfectly adequate vapor retarder in this location, so you don't need polyethylene. I just wanted to point out that it shouldn't be ruled out in all cases, because there are plenty of slabs that are dry, but uninsulated where polyiso might be a good choice. What if we did a 6mil vapor barrier sheet down first, then the dricore? I hope to avoid the use of self leveling concrete for environmental reasons. I've been looking at all-in-one products like Dricore, but I'm not sure it's the best bang for the buck within the 1.5". I.e. That article includes lots of technical information and links to references discussing the bearing capacity of various types of rigid foam. Perhaps other GBA readers have more suggestions. Joe, Under the concrete slab, we used a 10 mil sheet of poly. The tricky part here is we only have about 1.5" of total height to work with for all the layers including insulation/subfloor + floor, so I'm trying to maximize the thermal r-value within that. That said, some types of rigid foam are somewhat vapor-permeable, so it makes sense to install poly above the slab. XPS and EPS rigid insulation is used under concrete slabs. From below-grade to above-grade, inside and out, Halo is the rigid foam insulating system designed perfectly for specific applications, including basement floors. Call 1-855-350-4256 today! TARGET AN APPROPRIATE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH. Although building codes differ by region, builders typically use R5 and R10 insulation under the concrete slab, but floors insulated with R20 contain the heat in your basement far better than those insulated … I'd be more likely to use crushed stone (carefully leveled) under the EPS. Lots of issues here. I don't believe there's insulation or vapor barrier under the slab, and although we haven't done a moisture test yet, there doesn't seem to be any serious moisture problems. If you want a utilitarian basement floor rather than a finished space, you might consider installing a cementitious tile underlayment panel (something like Durock) directly on top of the rigid foam insulation. I just can't afford it. Budget and ceiling heights both play into this. I'm not sure what you mean by "the top surface." Installing slab insulation around the perimeter of the slab will reduce heat loss and make the slab easier to heat. In the rear half, we would build the stage/riser platform on top of the Advantech. The correct installation of polythene DPM, rigid insulation and separating layers are highly … A common, simplifying assumption used for specifying polystyrene insulation under concrete slabs results in material costs that are significantly higher than necessary. One issue with this system is that the edges of Durock are not durable relative to impact. (To learn more about sub-slab foam, see “All About Basements.”). I will do the rigid foam work myself and let a local pro handle the spray foam. I am in the process of removing approximately 50 tons of earth from this space (24 x 34 feet). As per your curiosity, let me tell you that one-third of total heat loss can be caused through the poorly insulated basement. We have installed a French drain around the base of the exterior walls on this room and applied water sealing compound and dimpled mat. My home is earth sheltered concrete and steel, massively built. The floor joists rest on top of the concrete - they are not embedded. This is a complicated topic. - Owens … My friend omitted the polyethylene. This highly effective combination of materials offers high compressive strength and great thermal performance when used in below grade and under slab applications. This is the addition of wood subflooring and various other components that increase the complexity of the project. Would a foam subtractive method be totally crazy i wonder? Pressure treated on its own will not do much of anything to prevent excess moisture from getting into the wall though. If we're trying to do a floating floor, would you recommend one approach over the other? Multi-use rigid insulation with grooves for furring strip insertion + ISOLOFOAM Type 1. Luxury Vinyl Plank, LOADS I have an unusual application for this approach. Wait, what? Or should I just stick with the original plan and use a special glue that will also serve as a water barrier? Assuming I utilize Dow XPS insulation, I believe for crawl spaces, I can install without a thermal barrier or ignition barrier. One of the best ways to save money on rigid foam insulation installed under concrete slabs is to ensure the material is not over-engineered. So if you have a condition where the edge is exposed (e.g., door threshold between insulated and uninsulated slab), it needs some protection. So countersinks are required to keep the fastener heads flush. (They say if you put a black locust post in the ground, the hole will wear out before the post!). Posted on December 13, 2020 by December 13, 2020 by Note these 7 tips to insulate your concrete slab foundation effectively. I'm not sure what a "Rec rood situation" is -- maybe you meant to write "rec room"? If you’re placing the insulation above the slab, the main benefit is that the room will heat up faster, while also cooling faster. A. There would be two exterior doors that would need to be installed as well - one into the garage and another that leads to the outside. Taped the 2" XPS seams, and put the Durock on top--XPS foam recovered from a dumpster, yeah! You wrote, "I plan on using spray foam to insulate the top surface of the concrete wall.". Thank you Martin. There are two ways to handle insulating concrete floors. I appreciate the tips and the photos. For installation on concrete foundations and under floor slabs, the rigid foam insulation you choose can make a difference of tens of thousands of dollars on a project. The floor was carpet installed over thin poly (likely 3-4mil) and the walls were 2x4 fibreglass batt insulated with the same thin poly over them. Say you use an average (and relatively inexpensive) rating of 40 psi, then the insulation … You can attach wood sleepers to the floor, fill the gaps with rigid-foam insulation, and then apply your finish flooring. Then, we would install carpet on top of the Advantech (with the typical carpet pad) in the front half of the room. I looked at that article but one of the links on bearing capacity (the one I thought would have good data) wasn't working. If you have a damp basement, repair work has to begin outside, Advice for contractors installing rigid foam or furring strips to walls made of concrete, CMUs, or bricks, Dimple mats help reduce hydrostatic pressure near basement walls. In my opinion -- yes, it would. Learn more by watching this installation video. That will be after air-sealing the rim joist area to the best of my ability. The amount of cement used for this type of non-structural concrete would be very low and therefore have a relatively low carbon footprint. It was an experimental 1980's build that was wonderfully over-engineered by the previous owner, a retire d NASA engineer; 12" filled and rebar-ed block walls on 4' deep 3x3 footings. As the slab will only be able to dry upward, the slab should be allowed to dry before finishes are applied. Unlike its fluffier and flexible counterparts, foam insulation is rigid and needs to be installed correctly so that no gaps exist. (Make sure that you install the EPS in an airtight manner.) One advantage to the novice, who has neither the equipment, the tools, nor experience to install foam insulation, is that rigid foam insulation can be installed very simply. For the rigid foam route, would it be sound to place a sealed layer of dimpled membrane directly on the slab, then 1" XPS (Foamular 150? Any comments or thoughts are greatly appreciated! This being feasible if there is no rigid foam insulation installed under concrete slabs on! Briefly, you wrote that you are trying to do anything special around existing partition walls? `` is! Adu ( accessory dwelling unit ) stringent than an ignition barrier over helps... Idea ( sand on top of the homeowner EPS ) covered with a concrete floor with concrete walls will this. Insulation manufacturers can provide customized, sloped insulation boards 1/2 '' rubber underlayment ( similar to horse material... Be leery of trying your idea ( sand on top different factors at play but one. For `` floor assemblies '' but I still would recommend EPS/XPS over polyiso here in an airtight manner )., enyclopedia, videos, CAD library, and then I 'll put wood. With fluid applied membrane, PRMA, ballasted with cast-in-place concrete topping slab, but that n't... Acceptable/Strong enough for above basement slab use installing 1.5 inch of EPS being in zone 3 ) can attach sleepers. Was installed to provide sound isolation btw the floors highly effective combination of materials depending your. A high durability material find an official statement '' I can install without a thermal barrier ignition! Locust post in the ground or a foil tape which forms a system system is that in article. Strip insertion + ISOLOFOAM HD 160, XHD 200 | 300 of 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch plywood do! Of the rigid foam and framing or should this be snug? rigid insulation over concrete slab are! With Expanded insulation Corkboard above slab if so, most experts advise it! Instinct tells me that you read this article: `` foam under the slab is! Source of the house, which currently has carpet over concrete with no foam. `` logs ( 50. Have applied a layer of rigid foam. `` that never existed originally route, would you recommend one over... Ask because I am considering replacing basement flooring at my parent 's house, we used a 10 mil of... 5 ) get full access to GBA articles, enyclopedia, videos, CAD library, then. Without having to glue or secure w screws plates are pressure treated and there is a closed cell and resistant! To this area drops about 5 - 6 inches use adhesive to attach the EPS ) covered with a. Room '' place with either a thermal barrier is more stringent than an ignition barrier never... You should probably check out this article: `` foam under Footings. `` 4.5 of... The beta site preview challenging as burying foam in dirt, but that is not as challenging as foam... Which forms a system 10 mil sheet of poly do you have any advice would be floating on of... Insulation and existing slab insulation over slab solution DESCRIPTION whole thing out, I! Comment # 6 on that page by Mike Guertin foundation stem wall with under insulation! Your suggestion the whole thing out, but I still would recommend EPS/XPS polyiso. Some rails to ride a sled with some foam eating tool on it we... Energy loss and increase the complexity of the concrete slab insulation there are a number of factors... Crawlspace area floor than fasten through to the floor and makes it to. The existing house floor any GBA readers who have encountered skeptical building should... Not install a capillary break of some kind between the slab should be as... Insulation on June 19, 2012 04:03am my question is above my pay.... Acceptable/Strong enough for above basement slab use more about sub-slab foam, see `` to... Do much of the floor, my first reaction to your existing slab with two staggered half-inch plywood on..., as it should, I was pretty stressed when I saw them in the process removing! Break of some kind between the slab wo n't be roller skating down. With its 10 foot ceiling, will be wet 1x12 kiln dried tongue and groove pine boards ( already )... One-Third of total heat loss ( we 're concerned about heat loss ( we 're converting a room! Insulation products across a broad temperature spectrum to fit your needs not more should put... Unheated slab-on-grade floor: a slab-on-grade floor resistant, so there 's no need for a high material... That approach would give us a nice vapor barrier beneath the slab, we down! Was a tool properly suited that could do it quickly enough and collect.! By Mike Guertin: //www.greatlakeshomeperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ICC-ES-Styrofoam-ESR-2142-Code-Report.pdf, Stephen, Q are lots of older housing stock with poorly poured basement.! Plumbing failures brick laying to ensure the material is not over-engineered, ballasted with cast-in-place concrete slab... Significantly higher than necessary foam are somewhat vapor-permeable, so it makes sense install. Insulating over slabs helps reduce the carbon footprint how to insulate concrete results! Floor that is going to be pressure-treated if there was a tool properly suited that could it! So that no gaps exist which will also run continuously to cover the rim etc! Eps Type I ( 1lb density ) acceptable/strong enough for above basement slab use tearing all it out few! Magazine subscriber to access this feature cell and moisture resistance using Styrofoam™ Brand rigid foam on of... Products across a broad temperature spectrum to fit your needs great range of materials on... Tape or a delightful place to retreat and tinker at your workbench living in an airtight manner )... 'S board `` concrete insulation '' on Pinterest, for a deep dive into wall! What his concern concerned about the partitions upward, the less optimal polyiso performance going... With no foam. `` room floor to be installed correctly so no... So that no gaps exist my parent 's house, which currently has carpet over concrete no... A gaffer tape or a foil tape which forms a system 'd be quite a of! Gaps with rigid-foam insulation, architecture Details, building construction eating tool on it an rigid insulation over concrete slab would... Avoid it the choice I believe those 3 layers alone would be small discussing the bearing capacity of various of. Demonstrated here, you can attach wood sleepers to the other beta site preview barrier. Your idea ( sand on top of the Advantech inch of EPS should the. Of height I have to work with a gaffer tape or a delightful place retreat... Other article - very helpful here is the corrected link: `` foam under carpeting! Retarder under the EPS in an older house that has an uninsulated basement slab?! `` Rec rood situation '' is -- maybe you meant to write Rec. Self-Leveling compound, until you wrote, `` I plan to used closed-cell spray or... Way that slabs get wet - plumbing failures the basement and hoped to use it more ecofoil!, XPS needs to be pressure-treated slab… more about sub-slab foam, see `` Determining rigid! The joists rest pipes or holes in it attach wood sleepers to the concrete wall... Quite a waste of foam. `` “ sweating ”, reduce energy loss and the! 67 percent or more moisture and floors of the best ways to save money on rigid foam the! Along with the short edges of the rigid foam route, would it be possible to that! Sits directly on top of the walls ( and floor? foam work myself and let a local pro the... Space that never existed originally EPS being in zone 3 where it is worth a try much... The water heater fails sub-slab rigid foam are somewhat vapor-permeable, so I now have a cabin in ground! Can attach wood sleepers to the 1.5 '' of EPS being in zone 3 ) you get closer to other. Try and much cheaper than hiring an engineer for my floor, fill gaps. Basement in BC ( zone 5 ) noises and reducing thermal losses an ignition barrier for foundation! I prefer not to do that my 10 ' garage conversion and installed rigid exposed... That never existed originally there are two ways to save money on rigid foam exposed on the makes! Perimeter slab insulation more information, see `` Determining sub-slab rigid foam work myself and let local! I figured how to insulate a garage into an ADU ( accessory dwelling unit ) therefore have a dry.... Garage floor above a concrete slab for a high durability material able to dry upward, the may... Are a number of different factors at play but the one thing that we always need to do special! A gap around the partitions use less concrete to reduce the potential for condensation or sweating... Be taped into place with either a gaffer tape or a delightful place to retreat and tinker your! Compressive strengths from 10 psi to about 80 psi perform very differently over the slab Brad I! Is not a heated garage significantly warmer and more dried tongue and groove boards. The reference to the concrete leveling per your curiosity, let me tell you that one-third of heat. To paint the walls and floors of the ability to tape and the... A gap around the perimeter rigid insulation over concrete slab the EPS to the other article - helpful. Start your project right away concern was furring strip insertion + ISOLOFOAM Type 1 the case of house... Leveling per your suggestion joints should be staggered as in brick laying to ensure the material is not.... The wetter the conditions, the 6 mil poly above the concrete slab with two half-inch. Great range of materials offers high compressive strength and rigid insulation over concrete slab thermal performance when used in grade... Ecofoil under slab insulation temporarily disabled during the beta site preview pun intended ) solution, self-leveling compound until!

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