I've got a half-concrete wall in my basement where my foundation is located, with the upper part already dry-walled. The floor is concrete too, and I'm looking to finish it off to provide better insulation and keep the space warmer during winter. My initial plan is to stick to this process:
- Attach 1-inch rigid foam insulation directly onto the concrete.
- Use furring strips on top of the foam for support.
- Drywall the furring strips to complete the finish.
- For the top of what I'm calling a "shelf", it would be foam, furring strips, and then wood on top.
- I plan to use construction adhesive for all attachment points.
Does this sound like a good plan? Am I missing something crucial, like a vapor barrier? I live in a pretty dry climate, so I'm not sure if that affects things. Also, I heard I should leave a half-inch gap above the concrete floor for the drywall—is that necessary? After finishing the wall, I'm thinking of installing engineered wood or something similar on the floor.
3 Answers
I faced a similar situation before! You're on the right track with the foam insulation. Just remember to use enough adhesive to allow a small gap between the foam and the wall—this helps any condensation to escape. I built my wall a bit higher than the concrete wall itself and used a double-wide top plate to attach everything, and it came out great! by the way, I used pressure-treated wood for better durability.
If you're open to it, reframing new walls right over the existing ones could be a better option for insulation. Keep in mind, it might take up about 3.5 inches of space on each side, but it allows for standard insulation framing, making the whole process easier.
Yes, leaving that half-inch gap above the concrete is a good call. It's a common practice to avoid moisture issues. Rigid foam and furring strips should work nicely in a dry environment, but definitely seal the foam seams with tape, and use treated wood near the concrete just as a precaution.