Insulating a concrete block building
ARServices
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
I’m wondering about ideas for insulating a concrete block building I own, to turn it into a small home. It’s a two story, 800 sg. ft. garage at this point. Should I be thinking about putting the insulation envelope on the outside of the block, to take advantage of all that mass of the blocks being on the inside of the insulation? The downside would be all the detailing needed to ensure a good design at the eaves, footer, windows, etc., plus the need to install some sort of siding. Or should I put the insulation envelope on the interior of the block? That option would be much easier, as well as less costly, with the downside being that thermal mass is on the exterior of the insulation.
Any ideas, comments?
Replies
What part of the country are you in?
Fill out your profile with your location. Best building practices vary WIDELY across the climates of this country - and all the other ones of the international poster here!
Tu stultus es
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Look, just send me to my drawer. This whole talking-to-you thing is like double punishment.
This building is located in upstate New York.
If you want to take advantage of the mass effect, then the insulation needs to be on the outside.
A block wall needs to be waterproofed, so some kind of weather barrier, whether siding or stucco, is necessary anyway.
Solar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
Over the span of a few years you'd probably make your money back by insulating both sides I would think...Foam and siding outside and a frame w/fiberglass, VB, & sheetrock on the inside...
All I ever wanted in life was an unfair advantage...
Over the span of a few years you'd probably make your money back by insulating both sides I would think...Foam and siding outside and a frame w/fiberglass, VB, & sheetrock on the inside...
Don't put a vapor barrier on the inside of an insulated framed wall interior to a block (or concrete) wall, particularly with foam exterior insulation. This will trap the moisture that wicks up the blocks (or that is already contained in the block) and cause mold and rot problems.
Riversong HouseWright
Design * * Build * * Renovate * * ConsultSolar & Super-Insulated Healthy Homes
EIFS - aka synthetic stucco.
This is what the product was originally developed for.
"Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive... then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman
ar....
cement block bldg ?does it have a concrete floor ? what are your plans for the floor ?
tell me dat and i'll tell you how i'd do itMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
It's a concrete floor. Removing it and redoing it with in-floor radiant heat seems appealing.
good answer...
jack hammer the slab.... excavate, grade, & compact to provide 4" of Performguard eps.... spec a density of 2 lb/cf
use a two inch thermal slab break against the wall
use a pt shoe and stud the interior wall... i'd denspak it w/ cells.... your choice.... 2x4 or 2x4 mooney
on the exterior i'd fasten 1x3 PT furring vertically use a bronze screen at the bottom to keep the bugs out,
and 3/4 pt trim blocking.... my trim would be Miratec and my siding would be Fc clapboards
reconfigure your rakes and cornices so you get nice overhangs
with all this work , i'd replace the windows too
depending on budget, either vinyl replacements, or say custom sized andersen Woodwrights
you can recut your rough openings if you have to
this would be a great opportunity for 1st floor rfh
and you could do staple-up rfh for the 2d floor
could be a great, energy efficient home..... good luckMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore