Rim Joist Insulation
Rim Joist Insulation
Ecotelligent Homes offers basement rim joist insulation to help create a comfortable temperature throughout your home. Our rim joist insulation is paired with air sealing and additional insulation services, such as attic insulation.
Why do rim joists need to be insulated?
The basement rim joist, also known as band joist or sill plate, is an often-neglected area of the home. There are several joints that come together at the rim joist during the construction of your home, and most of the utilities like electrical and natural gas enter your home through large holes at the rim. Air sealing and insulating the basement rim joist with closed cell spray foam will keep drafts out to hold heat in your home in the winter or keep your home cool in the summer.
Why is basement rim joist insulation paired with air sealing and attic insulation?
It is important to air seal and insulate the band joist and attic together to help create a comfortable temperature for every level of your home. If you insulate the rim joist in the basement, but neglect to insulate and air seal the attic, air, especially the air you pay to heat in the winter, is forced up and can escape out through the attic. Air sealing is also paired with insulating the rim joists to prevent cold floors above the basement.
What type of insulation is used for the basement rim joist?
At Ecotelligent Homes, we solely use closed cell spray foam insulation for basement rim joists. The closed cell spray foam is a thermal barrier and air barrier so it will hold in the heat in the winter and keep the drafts out. Additionally, our closed cell spray foam insulation is waterproof making it the best choice for the ground level of your home, which is susceptible to rain and exterior damage.
Fiberglass insulation should not be used when insulating rim joists. The fiberglass insulation does not stop drafts that are common at the rim joist and sill plate. The fiberglass will act like a filter and let the cold air pass through and catch some of the outside dirt and dust. If you have dirty fiberglass insulation in your Michigan basement, you have air leaks that bring in drafts and allow bugs and spiders access to your home.
Do I need to insulate my basement rim joist?
At Ecotelligent Homes, we recommend starting with an energy audit to determine if you need to air seal and insulate your basement rim joist. During the energy audit, we will identify what is causing your home to have an uneven temperatures or drafts and then suggest the proper course of action to fix the issues we find.
Contact Ecotelligent Homes at 248-291-7815 or complete our contact form above to get started with a comprehensive home energy audit.
Blog Posts
Added Benefits of Spray Foaming Basement Rim Joists
If you are beginning to feel drafts along your floors, it might be time to look into properly insulating your basement rim joists. Typically, rim joists are left uninsulated especially if you live in an older Michigan home. By insulating these basement rim joists with closed cell spray foam, you can eliminate the unwanted drafts […]
The Most Common Places for Heat to Escape Your Home
As colder temperatures start in Michigan, the last thing you want to deal with are the same cold temperatures in your home. However, it is common for heat to escape your home from many different places if you do not have proper insulation or air sealing. This leads to an uncomfortable environment and cold floors […]
What You Should Look For When Hiring Spray Foam Contractors
Spray foam insulation is becoming increasingly popular in homes because of its many benefits. This type of insulation, however, is much different than conventional types of insulation. For spray foam insulation to work effectively, it must be done by a professional. Finding the right contractor to install your insulation can be a challenge but for […]
Case Studies
Allison P.
Overview Allison contacted Ecotelligent Homes to do an energy audit. Her goal for the audit was to find a solution to the constant dust she had settling throughout her house. Key Problems Abnormal amount of dust in the home Vermiculite insulation in the attic Mold in the attic space Approach The Ecotelligent Homes team wanted […]
The Werner Project
Overview Joseph recently purchased a home in Rochester. Before moving in, he wanted the Ecotelligent Homes team to ensure the home was energy efficient to make the family’s home comfortable. He was also concerned for his family’s health due to vermiculite insulation. Key Problems Attic insulation that was below ENERGY STAR recommendations Drafts felt throughout […]
The Godward Family
Overview With environmental impacts being the foundation of Ecotelligent Homes, it was the intent of the owner to create a company that provided clients with a quality contractor that could both improve the comfort of their homes and reduce energy consumption. After purchasing what is planned to be her forever home, it was time to […]
THE ECOTELLIGENT DIFFERENCE
Ecotelligent Homes is a home performance contractor, which means we are a one-stop-shop and we manage the project from start to finish. We follow a three-step process when assessing and improving the comfort and energy efficiency of your home.
We can identify the source of your comfort, health and efficiency issues and present you with a solution to resolve the problem at its root.
Our licensed and insured team will install your improvements to industry-leading standards.
Our quality assurance check confirms the quality of our work and its impact on your home’s energy efficiency, comfort and health.