Full Basements

Recommended configurations and R-values of 30 years). Although the results listed are from the
basement insulation are given below and on the 1991 Builder’s Foundation Handbook, optimum
facing page for exterior and interior, as well as rigid insulation R-value depends on only real dollar
foam and blanket insulations. Recommended means (adjusted for inflation) costs, so the results remain
the configurations possessing the lowest estimated nearly constant over time. For those wishing to do
30-year life-cycle cost (cost to install insulation their own calculations, Chapter 5 of the Handbook
plus cost of heat loss through the insulation over offers a handy worksheet and detailed instructions.

Basement Insulation Configurations

Concrete wall with 4' Masonry wall with 8' Concrete wall with 8'
exterior insulation exterior insulation interior insulation

Masonry wall with 8' All-weather wood foundation Concrete wall with
interior insulation with blanket insulation ceiling insulation

82 FOUNDATIONS
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Recommended Insulation for Basements

Conditioned3–Full Conditioned–Half Unconditioned
Location HDD651 CDD752 Masonry4 Wood Masonry Wood Masonry Wood Ceiling

Minneapolis 8,007 98 8’ R15 R19 R19/15 R19 4' R5 R19 R30

Chicago 6,177 181 8’ R10 R19 R19/10 R19 4' R5 R11 R30

Denver 6,014 83 8’ R10 R19 R19/15 R19 4' R5 R11 R30

Boston 5,593 74 8’ R10 R19 R19/10 R19 4' R5 R11 R30

Washington 4,122 299 8’ R10 R19 R19/10 R19 none R11 R11

Atlanta 3,021 415 8’ R5 R19 R19/10 R19 none none none

Fort Worth 2,407 1,139 8’ R10 R19 R19/10 R19 none none none

Phoenix 1,442 1,856 8’ R10 R19 R19/5 R19 none none none

Los Angeles 1,595 36 none none R19/0 R11 none none none

Miami 199 1,257 none none R19/0 R11 none none none

1
Heating degree-days, base 65ºF, the accumulated difference between the average daily temperature and 65ºF for the
heating season.
2
Cooling degree-days, base 75ºF, the accumulated difference between the average daily temperature and 75ºF for the
cooling season.

Conditioned means heated to 65ºF and cooled to 75ºF.

3

4
Masonry here means masonry block or poured concrete below grade (bg) and wood above grade (ag). Insulation val-
ues are presented as R(ag)/R(bg).

Full Basements 83

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 Concrete Basement Wall with 4-Foot Exterior Insulation

Exterior siding Wall finish

Vapor retarder
Cavity insulation
Rigid insulation sheathing Gasket under sill plate
Optional reinforcing

Rim joist Gaskets or caulking

Protective coating Treated sill plate

Gasket under sill plate

Slope away from
wall at 6" in 10' Optional reinforcing
8" min
Low-permeability soil

/ " anchor bolts @ 6' oc

1 2
6" min

Granular
backfill

Rigid insulation

Dampproofing or waterproofing Sealant if required

for radon control

4" slab with optional

Filter fabric welded-wire mesh
Vapor retarder
Coarse gravel
Alternative drainpipe

4" perforated
drainpipe

2" weep holes @ 8' oc

#4 reinforcing rod

84 FOUNDATIONS
 Masonry Basement Wall with 8-Foot Exterior Insulation

Exterior siding
Wall finish
Vapor retarder
Sheathing and air barrier
Cavity insulation
Gasket under sill plate

Flashing laps over top

of insulation and coating

Rim joist Gaskets or caulking

Protective coating Treated sill plate

Gasket under sill plate

Slope away from
wall at 6" in 10'
8" min Filled block cores
Low-permeability soil or bond beam

6" min
/ " anchor bolts
1 2
@ 6' oc maximum
embedded 7" to 15"

Granular
backfill

Rigid drainage board insulation

Isolation joint
Dampproofing or waterproofing
4" slab with optional
welded-wire mesh

Filter fabric around gravel Vapor retarder

Rigid insulation
(optional)
Coarse gravel

4" gravel drainage layer

(recommended for radon)

4" perforated
drainpipe

2" weep holes @ 8' oc #4 reinforcing rod

Full Basements 85
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Concrete Basement Wall with Interior Insulation

Wall finish
Vapor retarder
Cavity insulation
Gasket under sill plate
Exterior siding

Sheathing and air barrier

Rigid insulation with

all edges caulked

Slope away from

wall at 6" in 10' 7" min.
8" min
Low-permeability soil

6" min / " anchor bolts @ 6' oc

1 2

Wall finish
Vapor retarder
Cavity insulation
Granular
backfill

Dampproofing or waterproofing
Pressure-treated sill

4" slab with optional

welded-wire mesh
Filter fabric Vapor retarder

Coarse gravel Alternative drainpipe

4" perforated
drainpipe

2" weep holes @ 8' oc

#4 reinforcing rod

86 FOUNDATIONS

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 Masonry Basement Wall with Interior Insulation

Wall finish
Vapor retarder
Cavity insulation
Gasket under sill plate
Exterior siding

Sheathing and air barrier

Rigid insulation with

all edges caulked

Slope away from

wall at 6" in 10'
8" min Filled block cores
Low-permeability soil or bond beam

/ " anchor bolts @ 6' oc

1 2

6" min max. embedded 7" to 15"

Wall finish
Vapor retarder
Granular Cavity insulation
backfill

Dampproofing or waterproofing
Pressure-treated sill

4" slab with optional

welded-wire mesh
Filter fabric Vapor retarder

Coarse gravel Alternative drainpipe

4" perforated
drainpipe

2" weep holes @ 8' oc

#4 reinforcing rod

Full Basements 87
 All-Weather Wood Foundation

Wall finish
Vapor retarder

Exterior siding Cavity insulation

Sheathing and air barrier

Batt insulation
Field-applied top plate
Rigid insulation caulked
Flashing over protective board at all edges forms

Protective board or coating

Slope away from Wall system top plate

wall at 6" in 10'
Insulation between studs

6" min Pressure-treated wood

frame foundation wall
Vapor retarder
Low-permeability soil
Interior finish

Coarse gravel
backfill on lower
half of wall

6-mil polyethylene membrane

Pressure-treated plywood 4" slab with optional

welded-wire mesh
2" air space at bottom of wall Vapor retarder
Optional 2" sand layer
Pressure-treated footing plate

Gravel footing pad

/ W
3 4

4" gravel layer

drains to sump
/ W
1 2 W / W
1 2

88 FOUNDATIONS
 Concrete Basement Wall with Ceiling Insulation

Wall finish
Vapor retarder
Cavity insulation
Exterior siding
Gasket under sill plate
Optional reinforcing
Sheathing and air barrier

Gaskets or caulking

Insulation between floor joists with

Slope away from vapor retarder on top side of insulation
wall at 6" in 10'
8" min Gasket under treated sill plate
Low-permeability soil
Optional reinforcing
/ " anchor bolts @ 6' oc
1 2
6" min

Drainage mat, insulating drainage

board, or granular backfill optional

Dampproofing or waterproofing Sealant if required

for radon control

4" slab with optional

Filter fabric welded-wire mesh
Vapor retarder
Coarse gravel
Alternative drainpipe

4" perforated
drainpipe

2" weep holes @ 8' oc

#4 reinforcing rod

Full Basements 89
 Crawl Spaces
Recommended configurations and R-values of
crawl space insulation are given below for exte-
rior and interior, as well as rigid foam and blanket
insulations. Recommended means the configurations
possessing the lowest estimated 30-year life-cycle
cost (cost to install insulation plus cost of heat loss
through the insulation over 30 years). Although the
results listed are from the 1991 Builder’s Foundation
Handbook, optimum insulation R-value depends
on only real dollar (adjusted for inflation) costs, so
the results remain nearly constant over time. For
those wishing to do their own calculations, Chapter
5 of the Handbook offers a handy worksheet and
detailed instructions.

Crawl Space Insulation Configurations

Unvented concrete with Unvented concrete with Unvented concrete with

rigid interior insulation blanket interior insulation rigid exterior insulation

Vented concrete with Open piers with

floor insulation floor insulation

Recommended Insulation for Crawl Spaces

Unvented 4ft Wall of Unvented 2ft Wall of Vented 2ft Wall of3
Location HDD651 CDD752 Masonry Wood Masonry Wood Masonry Wood
Minneapolis 8,007 98 4' R5 R19 2' R10 R19 R30 R30
Chicago 6,177 181 4' R5 R11 2' R10 R19 R19 R30
Denver 6,014 83 4' R5 R11 2' R10 R11 R19 R30
Boston 5,593 74 4' R5 R11 2' R10 R19 R19 R30
Washington 4,122 299 4' R5 none 2' R5 R11 R19 R30
Atlanta 3,021 415 4' R5 none 2' R5 none R11 R11
Fort Worth 2,407 1,139 4' R5 none 2' R5 none R11 R11
Phoenix 1,442 1,856 4' R5 none 2' R5 none R11 R11
Los Angeles 1,595 36 none none none none R11 R11
Miami 199 1,257 none none none none none none

1
Heating degree-days, base 65°F, the accumulated difference between the average daily temperature and 65°F for heating
season
2
Cooling degree-days, base 75°F, the accumulated difference between the average daily temperature and 75°F for cooling
season
3
R-values for ceiling insulation

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Unvented Concrete Crawl Space with Rigid Interior Insulation

Wall finish
Vapor retarder
Cavity insulation
Gasket under sill plate
Exterior siding

Sheathing and air barrier Note: code may require

/ " drywall covering
1 2

Rigid insulation with

all edges caulked
Pressure-treated sill
Slope away from
wall at 6" in 10'
8" min / " anchor bolts @ 6' oc
1 2

Low-permeability soil

6" min

Vapor retarder

Granular
backfill

Filter fabric

Coarse gravel

4" perforated
drainpipe

#4 reinforcing rod (optional)

Crawl Spaces 91

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