Basement & Rim Joist Insulation in Lincoln, NE

Basement and rim joist insulation fixes a leak most Lincoln homeowners never see. The rim joist is the band of lumber that sits on top of the foundation wall and holds up the floor framing. It runs around the whole perimeter of the house, it is often uninsulated or stuffed with loose batts, and it is full of small gaps where the sill plate meets the concrete and where pipes and wires pass through. Cold air pulls in there all winter, which is why floors near outside walls feel cold and basements stay chilly.

Why closed-cell foam

Closed-cell spray foam is the usual fix because it sticks to wood and concrete, seals every gap in one pass and does not hold moisture. Fiberglass batts pushed into the rim leave air paths around them and can trap condensation against the wood. HomeGuide puts rim joist spray foam at about $2,000 to $2,500 for a typical house.

Foundation walls

Nebraska's 2018 IECC lists R-19 cavity or R-15 continuous insulation for basement walls in new construction. If you are finishing a basement, foam on the concrete ahead of the stud wall provides that continuous layer, keeps humid air off the cold concrete and avoids the musty wall cavities that form when batts sit against a foundation. In an unfinished basement, foam on the upper walls and rim alone often makes a noticeable difference.

Crawl spaces

Some Lincoln houses, especially older homes and additions, sit partly over a crawl space. The same code lists R-19 cavity or R-15 continuous for crawl space walls. We can foam the walls and rim, seal vents, and lay a ground vapor barrier so the crawl space stops feeding cold, damp air into the floor above.

Water first

Foam is not waterproofing. If a basement wall leaks, or the grading and gutters send water toward the house, that needs to be fixed before insulation goes on. We look for efflorescence, staining and damp spots and tell you what we see.

Get a free estimate or call (402) 795-8689.