Insulating basement block walls and sheet rock wall

L

la Machine

Member
Hi a newbie here, looking for insight on building my first grow room in a basement 55' x 16' with open rafters ceilings. Whats the best way or suggestions to insulate the blocks or is mixing white mold resistance paint with germicides good enough for the block and whats good ideal for the sheet rock wall... also the floor is concrete, should I but a sealer or epoxy base down. thanks for any input.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
I would put foam board on the wall for insulation. Furring strips. Vapor barrier. Greenboard. Use in areas with moisture.

Yes to epoxy paint. You'll have to etch the existing concrete floor with a muriatic acid wash before doing it. The kit will inform you. I would recommend buying the traction particles. Do this before doing the walls. If you don't have a sump you might consider making one before starting anything.

Edit add: consider painting the block with waterproof paint.
 
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R

rmax

Well-Known Member
I'm in the same boat.... basement.

I foamed all the air leaks in the basement. This helped out a lot.

Then I bought a space heater for my tent. If you don't have a tent you might want to just cut to the chase and build a room down there..
 
L

la Machine

Member
rmax said:
I'm in the same boat.... basement.

I foamed all the air leaks in the basement. This helped out a lot.

Then I bought a space heater for my tent. If you don't have a tent you might want to just cut to the chase and build a room down there..
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did you use regular foam out the can or commercial foam
 
C

ComfortCreator

Well-Known Member
hotrodharley said:
I would put foam board on the wall for insulation. Furring strips. Vapor barrier. Greenboard. Use in areas with moisture.

Yes to epoxy paint. You'll have to etch the existing concrete floor with a muriatic acid wash before doing it. The kit will inform you. I would recommend buying the traction particles. Do this before doing the walls. If you don't have a sump you might consider making one before starting anything.

Edit add: consider painting the block with waterproof paint.
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Very helpful.

I have noticed one corner in my room that meets the outside and is not well insulated. It causes some moisture where the cold outside meets the warm wall inside. I have been wondering how to fix this when it warms up a bit. I can pull the drywall but have no idea what is behind it...sounds like foam and vapor barrier will help?
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
C

ComfortCreator

Well-Known Member
hotrodharley said:
Drylok

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I believe in my case it is only the really cold air behind that corner. Where I had painted and sealed it originally, I could see a few small holes that had reformed where the baseboards meet. It was never sealed properly before and nobody cared because it was just a storage room and not getting hot or humid.

Very cold air seeps in and was mixing with the hot humid air in veg and condensing in the corner along the wall and floor. I sealed the holes and it has helped a lot...but on really cold days it still has this issue and I can see the moisture on the wall itself as it forms. .I think something needs to go behind the drywall....insulation or something? Thx in advance for any tips! I know I will have to cut out the corner to find out.
 
hotrodharley

hotrodharley

Well-Known Member
ComfortCreator said:
I believe in my case it is only the really cold air behind that corner. Where I had painted and sealed it originally, I could see a few small holes that had reformed where the baseboards meet. It was never sealed properly before and nobody cared because it was just a storage room and not getting hot or humid.

Very cold air seeps in and was mixing with the hot humid air in veg and condensing in the corner along the wall and floor. I sealed the holes and it has helped a lot...but on really cold days it still has this issue and I can see the moisture on the wall itself as it forms. .I think something needs to go behind the drywall....insulation or something? Thx in advance for any tips! I know I will have to cut out the corner to find out.
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I would make sure to paint. Whatever the cause or source any moisture building behind an insulated wall is going to cause either mold or structural damage over the long run. Just my 2 cents worth having fought black mold before and lost.
 
thumper60

thumper60

Well-Known Member
ComfortCreator said:
Very helpful.

I have noticed one corner in my room that meets the outside and is not well insulated. It causes some moisture where the cold outside meets the warm wall inside. I have been wondering how to fix this when it warms up a bit. I can pull the drywall but have no idea what is behind it...sounds like foam and vapor barrier will help?
Click to expand...
Air flow will dry up that condensation
 
Go go n chill

Go go n chill

Well-Known Member
Yeah man a leaky basement can lead to all kinds of problems. Throwing up foam insulation is a bad idea. You could have mold behind the insulation and you’ll never know it and you’ll never smell it. You’ll just get sick and wonder why in the hell am I sick! Black mold is nothing to mess with.
 
L

la Machine

Member
Thanks, as this is my first build, I not looking to create any problems to fix later. All advice and Ideals are greatly appreciated.

And the walls in the basement, are all dry with not sweat or dampness that shows. So, I should insulate block wall sides, vapor barrier and green board if possible and mold resistance white paint. What would be a solution if I cant use green board.
I'm gonna see If I can get some pictures of the walls.
 
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Go go n chill

Go go n chill

Well-Known Member
The
ComfortCreator said:
I believe in my case it is only the really cold air behind that corner. Where I had painted and sealed it originally, I could see a few small holes that had reformed where the baseboards meet. It was never sealed properly before and nobody cared because it was just a storage room and not getting hot or humid.

Very cold air seeps in and was mixing with the hot humid air in veg and condensing in the corner along the wall and floor. I sealed the holes and it has helped a lot...but on really cold days it still has this issue and I can see the moisture on the wall itself as it forms. .I think something needs to go behind the drywall....insulation or something? Thx in advance for any tips! I know I will have to cut out the corner to find out.
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yeah I would stop that infiltration first. If I’m reading it correctly there is drywall there? I will take all of it out and just have bare walls that way I can see what’s going on. I had paneling in my basement and I tore ALL of it out so I could see. I mean what we are doing is a drastic change of environment compared to most living spaces. All the air in my grow room passes through a uv light. Take you time, spend money wisely
 
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