Basement insulation in Abilene TX - a basement that holds its temperature
If your basement runs cold, damp or never matches the rest of the house, we find out why and insulate the walls so the room stays comfortable.
I look at your basement myself
I usually come out myself to look at the job, so the person reading your walls is the one answering for the plan. If I can't tell something until a wall is open, I'll say that plainly.
Working on Abilene houses since 2017
I started this business in Abilene in 2017, and we work here and in the cities around it. We're best known for tracking down air leaks in older houses, and a cold basement is usually the same kind of puzzle.
Licensed and insured on every job
We're licensed and insured. I'd rather tell you a basement job isn't worth doing than sell you one that won't help. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job. Call (325) 266-6064 to set up a visit.
Basement insulation in Abilene, done in order
Basement insulation in Abilene means adding a layer, usually rigid foam board or spray foam, to the foundation walls so the room below ground stops pulling heat out of the house in winter. It helps when a basement feels cold, damp or costly to keep comfortable.
Most calls start with cold floors downstairs, a musty smell, or a power bill that climbs every time the weather turns. Before we talk about material, I want to know what the walls are doing, because a damp or cracked wall has to be dealt with before anything covers it. After that, the choices are which side of the wall gets the insulation and which material suits the room.
The price mostly moves with how many square feet of wall you have, whether a water repair has to come first, the material we use, and the wallboard that covers foam. The schedule turns on the same things, plus how easy the basement is to clear out and reach. My written estimate lays out what I'd do and why, so you can see the reasons behind the number.
How we handle basement insulation
Water and the foundation come first
Before anything covers the walls, we look for water coming in and check the foundation. A damp wall gets its water problem fixed first, and rain or runoff should be steered away from the foundation, because insulation over a wet wall just hides the trouble. A cracked or shifting wall is the same story, since covering it can hide the problem or make it worse. Abilene's code calls for a city foundation design because our soils swell and shrink so much, so I take that check seriously.
Foam that sits tight to the wall
Rigid foam board is the usual basement material, and spray foam works too, especially closed-cell foam insulation, a dense foam that blocks moisture as it insulates. Open-cell foam insulation is lighter and softer, so it's worth talking through for walls that stay dry. Foam boards have to sit fully against the wall with no air gaps behind them and every edge and seam sealed, because damp air that slips behind a board condenses on the cool concrete.
Wallboard over the foam is included
Building codes require gypsum wallboard over foam on basement walls, because the board acts as a protective layer between the foam and the room. When we use foam, the wallboard that goes over it is part of our price, so the number on the estimate covers a finished wall and not bare foam. It's worth checking that any quote you compare includes it, since a foam job isn't done without it. You end up with a wall you can paint.
Get a written plan for your basement walls
We reply within one business day to set up a free estimate at your home, with no obligation. I come out, look the walls over and explain what I found before I write up a number.
(325) 266-6064What happens after you reach out
Call or send the form
Call (325) 266-6064 or use the form, and we'll set a time for me to come out. It helps to have the rough wall size in square feet, any signs of water coming in, and whether you're inside Abilene city limits.
I look and write it up
I look at the basement walls, ask how the house feels and what burns fuel inside, then put what I'd do and why into a written estimate. If part of the job would be wasted money, I'll tell you.
Permit, work and walk-through
When the job calls for a permit, we take care of it with Building Inspections before we start. Our installers do the work, and I walk through the finished basement with you before we call it done.
Basement insulation questions from Abilene
Should basement insulation go on the inside or outside of the walls?
Inside is the most common choice, because we can reach the walls without digging up the yard. Energy guidance also says outside foundation insulation shouldn't be used where termites are a problem. Outside foam can work, but it has to be kept dry while it goes in, and I'll tell you which side fits once I've seen your walls.
Can I put fiberglass batts and plastic sheeting on basement walls?
You can use the batts, but energy guidance says to leave the plastic off. When fiberglass batts, blown cellulose or mineral wool line the inside of basement walls, it says to keep tight moisture barriers like polyethylene sheeting, foil or vinyl wallpaper off the room side, since they can hold moisture in the wall.
How much does basement insulation cost per square foot?
Insulating a basement across the US usually costs about $4.50 to $6.40 per square foot. That's a national figure, not our price, and your own number moves with the things above, like water repair and material. I'll give you a written figure for your basement after I've looked at the walls.
Who issues building permits for basement work in Abilene?
The City of Abilene's Building Inspections office issues building permits, and the city says they have to be in hand before you make improvements or alterations to a property. If you're not sure whether your basement job needs one, the office asks you to call it at (325) 676-6273.