How much insulation do I need in my basement walls?

You’ll want to add insulation to your basement walls anyway, but for a soundproofed basement, you’ll want to be sure to add more than the minimum amount of insulation required by your building codes. You’ll want to add so much insulation that you’ll need to fill in all the spaces between the studs and the drywall.

How much insulation do I need to insulate a basement wall?

When it comes to insulating a basement wall, you need to choose between cellulose or mineral wool batts. Cellulose batts are less expensive but lose their insulating properties more quickly than mineral wool batts. If you have a constant temperature in the basement, cellulose batts may be fine. If you have frequent temperature fluctuations, mineral wool is a better choice.

How much insulation do I need in a basement wall?

The minimum amount of insulation required by building codes is an R-value of 5.0 per inch of wall thickness. However, the current trend is to go up to 7.5 or even greater than 10. For example, you might want to add another layer of foam insulation on the ceiling and another on the floor, plus additional batts on the walls. This will provide you with the extra comfort and sound insulation that you want.

How much insulation do I need in my attic walls?

People don’t usually think about the attic, but it’s just as important as the basement. The attic is a good place to start when determining how much insulation you need in your home. An unfinished attic with a sloping ceiling can have lost air and provide poor insulation. Add insulation to unfinished attics with a roofer can stop the lost air and allow your attic to be more efficient.

How much insulation do I need in my crawl space walls?

Depending on the type of soil in your crawl space, you may need more insulation than you’ll need in your basement walls. Clay soils generally need more insulation than sandy soils, and earthy soils may also need more insulation than lighter soils. The best way to determine how much insulation you need in a crawl space is to have an independent professional evaluate the insulation in your crawl space.