New Home Construction.....Question

[jjwv_mu_rivals]

I've finally gotten the ball rolling and have our basement walls up. We went with poured walls instead of block walls (walkout basement). As I'm preparing to make my material orders, the question of insulation is already popping up in my mind. I've gotten a quote for open-cell spray foam insulation. It was reasonable. But I've also been told by many in my area that it's not necessary and doesn't really show that much difference when compared to the extra cost. So, I ask, what do you guys think of the following options:

1. Spray Foam; Open-cell

2. Regular R-15 and R-38 Batt insulation

3. Regular Batt insulation, with a 1" foam board on the exterior walls sealed with tape.

 

[boomerwv]

I've finally gotten the ball rolling and have our basement walls up. We went with poured walls instead of block walls (walkout basement). As I'm preparing to make my material orders, the question of insulation is already popping up in my mind. I've gotten a quote for open-cell spray foam insulation. It was reasonable. But I've also been told by many in my area that it's not necessary and doesn't really show that much difference when compared to the extra cost. So, I ask, what do you guys think of the following options:

1. Spray Foam; Open-cell

2. Regular R-15 and R-38 Batt insulation

3. Regular Batt insulation, with a 1" foam board on the exterior walls sealed with tape.

Where are you? The R-15 and R-38 should do fine. Spray is convenient I suppose.

 

[WVUCOOPER]

I've finally gotten the ball rolling and have our basement walls up. We went with poured walls instead of block walls (walkout basement). As I'm preparing to make my material orders, the question of insulation is already popping up in my mind. I've gotten a quote for open-cell spray foam insulation. It was reasonable. But I've also been told by many in my area that it's not necessary and doesn't really show that much difference when compared to the extra cost. So, I ask, what do you guys think of the following options:

1. Spray Foam; Open-cell

2. Regular R-15 and R-38 Batt insulation

3. Regular Batt insulation, with a 1" foam board on the exterior walls sealed with tape.

I'll be of no help, but I'm nosy. Where is house?

 

[jjwv_mu_rivals]

1. The house is located in Kentucky. Hate moving away from WV, but it's literally just across the border 8 miles. I'll still be flying the WV in my yard.

2. Everyone keeps saying "oh, that open-cell spray foam is awesome!". Yeah, I'm sure it is. But how long have houses been using R-15 and R-38 and been fine? I'm just trying to justify the extra added cost for spray foam insulation.

 

[WVUCOOPER]

1. The house is located in Kentucky. Hate moving away from WV, but it's literally just across the border 8 miles. I'll still be flying the WV in my yard.

2. Everyone keeps saying "oh, that open-cell spray foam is awesome!". Yeah, I'm sure it is. But how long have houses been using R-15 and R-38 and been fine? I'm just trying to justify the extra added cost for spray foam insulation.

I think you answered your own question.

Or you should go off grid and use straw bales

 

[dave]

I've finally gotten the ball rolling and have our basement walls up. We went with poured walls instead of block walls (walkout basement). As I'm preparing to make my material orders, the question of insulation is already popping up in my mind. I've gotten a quote for open-cell spray foam insulation. It was reasonable. But I've also been told by many in my area that it's not necessary and doesn't really show that much difference when compared to the extra cost. So, I ask, what do you guys think of the following options:

1. Spray Foam; Open-cell

2. Regular R-15 and R-38 Batt insulation

3. Regular Batt insulation, with a 1" foam board on the exterior walls sealed with tape.

For my walkout basement they used batt insulation and it is the warmest room in the winter and coolest room in the summer.

 

[jjwv_mu_rivals]

For my walkout basement they used batt insulation and it is the warmest room in the winter and coolest room in the summer.

What about the house? Regular Batt insulation? For the basement I plan on using the 2x4x8 foam board. Then frame studs over that.

 

[Mntneer]

I've finally gotten the ball rolling and have our basement walls up. We went with poured walls instead of block walls (walkout basement). As I'm preparing to make my material orders, the question of insulation is already popping up in my mind. I've gotten a quote for open-cell spray foam insulation. It was reasonable. But I've also been told by many in my area that it's not necessary and doesn't really show that much difference when compared to the extra cost. So, I ask, what do you guys think of the following options:

1. Spray Foam; Open-cell

2. Regular R-15 and R-38 Batt insulation

3. Regular Batt insulation, with a 1" foam board on the exterior walls sealed with tape.

1) Spray is nice, but more expensive. Limits work that can be performed after walls are done, so don't think about fishing any wire through them after the fact.
2) Regular batt is fine and will more than do the trick.
3) I'm started to see the use of 1" foam on the exterior. I don't like it. It impacts window placement and installation and impacts exterior siding, etc.

I'd stick with regular batt myself, at least did in my house.

 

[Mntneer]

What about the house? Regular Batt insulation? For the basement I plan on using the 2x4x8 foam board. Then frame studs over that.

In the basement I'd go with a Foil Faced Batt. Frame your basement studs off of those and just drywall over. Unless you plan on building a home theater, then it's a whole other discussion I'd have with you.

 

[dave]

What about the house? Regular Batt insulation? For the basement I plan on using the 2x4x8 foam board. Then frame studs over that.

Batt everywhere but there are so many windows on the top floors it is hard to say how good it works.

 

[boomerwv]

1) Spray is nice, but more expensive. Limits work that can be performed after walls are done, so don't think about fishing any wire through them after the fact.
2) Regular batt is fine and will more than do the trick.
3) I'm started to see the use of 1" foam on the exterior. I don't like it. It impacts window placement and installation and impacts exterior siding, etc.

I'd stick with regular batt myself, at least did in my house.

That's a great point on finishing work with spray.

All of this stuff... spray in, outside foam.... it's all trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist. Plain old insulation works great.

Save your money, OP. Use it to upgrade your windows or something.

 

[Mntneer]

That's a great point on finishing work with spray.

All of this stuff... spray in, outside foam.... it's all trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist. Plain old insulation works great.

Save your money, OP. Use it to upgrade your windows or something.

And it can create problems as well. There have been horror stories where people had subpar spary foam jobs done that led roofs having to be removed.

Houses have to breath, and in some ways they're making that tougher and tougher.

 

[dave]

That's a great point on finishing work with spray.

All of this stuff... spray in, outside foam.... it's all trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist. Plain old insulation works great.

Save your money, OP. Use it to upgrade your windows or something.

Spray is great if you have an area around a stack to insulate.

 

[eerdoc]

I've finally gotten the ball rolling and have our basement walls up. We went with poured walls instead of block walls (walkout basement). As I'm preparing to make my material orders, the question of insulation is already popping up in my mind. I've gotten a quote for open-cell spray foam insulation. It was reasonable. But I've also been told by many in my area that it's not necessary and doesn't really show that much difference when compared to the extra cost. So, I ask, what do you guys think of the following options:

1. Spray Foam; Open-cell

2. Regular R-15 and R-38 Batt insulation

3. Regular Batt insulation, with a 1" foam board on the exterior walls sealed with tape.

The spray foam is very convenient and may carry a superior “R” factor to other conventional insulations (e.g. fiber glass).
The original material used in this application was poly urethane. This May still be the case. The base material for urethane is a chemical called tolidene diisocyanate. (It was at a Union Carbide plant in Bo Pall (sp?) India where this product was manufactured that an explosion killed a large number of workers and town folks).
One of the dangers is that a major product of combustion of urethane is hydrogen cyanide gas (YES- the same gas used for executions.)
A fire in a residence is always of major concern. Adding the creation of HCN gas to the usual risks warrants deep consideration.
PLEASE—Before deciding to use foam over fiber glass batts inquire as to the associated hazards, especially in case of fire. I sincerely doubt that smoke detector technology includes detection of HCN gas and lethal amounts could be within the house long before any fire warning occurs.
Thorough inquiry and study of the materials to be used is suggested and highly warranted.