Advice For Insulating an Outside Concrete Wall

[colebrookman]

This web site has a good example of insulating concrete and wing insulation. TheNaturalHome.com
Ed

 

[Wet1]

Hey Todd...

I would get http://www.styro.net/FoundationInsulationPanel.htm if possible, they even got installation videos.

Thanks for posting this link. These foam insulation panels look like a nice product. The tough part about using foam on the exterior is covering it and making it look nice, all while trying to keep the panel as thin as possible, but this product seems to solve all of these problems.

 

[Rhone]

Hi again,

I just saw you got some info on stucco that can be applied direct to roughed up foam. I would really look at getting those pre-finished panels, it is really easy to lower the value of your house you certainly don't want to have something looking afterward like mine does

At a minimum you can add the foam yourself, and then get in a mason to rought and cover it with the stucco/cement. It's so hard to do walls you have to get quick drying stuff. The first coat I did was to cover the lathe & bolts giving me a somewhat level base. Then, applying the 2nd coat I'd get wet patches that would drip after applying and have to fix that while the other areas were somewhat dry and be practically dry before I had time to attempt to spread/even it out. It was just crazy and I couldn't get it look good (like I said, looks like a bunch of kids did it). I tried mixing future batches longer but having to use quick drying stuff the longer you wait the less time you have to spread... nothing seemed to work.

So, if it were a floor, no problems doing it yourself or those pre-done panels sound good but I recommend if you decide to do stucco direct to foam route after doing the foam, I'd call in the pros to do the actual stucco/cement. Good luck!

 

[mikeathens]

Glad you all had this thread going!! I'm getting ready to do the same thing. I have a 4' tall block wall with 2x4 framing on top around the entire rear of my house. I'm getting ready to add 2x6 framing on top, and it will over hang the bottom by 2" so that I can apply 2" think foam on the outside to cover the block and existing 2x4 part. I am placing oak board and batton siding on it, and couldn't figure out how to protect/dress up the exposed foam near the ground and below grade...these foundation insulation panels are the answer!

 

[keyman923]

4' block wall on 3 sides here on a slab, 12' vaulted ceiling , 3 skylights, 1400sq. built into a hill,,I'm collecting 3" foam from various building projects scraps around town and thinking of a p.t. 2x4 furred wall on 32"-48" centers with 1/2" sheetrock. Thank god for my englanders, This house sucks in the winter, great in the summer.

A furred wall with spray foam would be nice. I don't thinking you can use fiberglass against block ,,wish you could I have alot of that, even with drylock I think you asking for mold,, 1" foam then fiberglass would probally be ok