Lee's Summit Basement Insulation Guide | Koala Insulation

A Homeowners Guide to Lee’s Summit Basement Insulation

Are you troubled by the state of an unfinished or partially finished basement? Besides storage and utilities, there may not be all that much to admire or feel proud about unless you plan a makeover to make it feel less damp and cold. When you hire Koala Insulation’s expert services, our certified Lee’s Summit Insulation pros will be more than happy to give you a head start on the insulation!

 

Homeowners who have a fully furnished basement are lucky people, as they get to use that extra comfortable space for whatever their hearts desire. You could be that lucky person! Those who plan a basement remodel or renovation will certainly need to go through the process of waterproofing and wall insulation. This is when basement insulation in Lee’s Summit, MO will come in handy.

 

In this homeowner’s guide, we’d like to guide you through the preparatory side of things, as well as the step-by-step process of our high-quality Lee’s Summit basement insulation services.

Who Needs Basement Insulation in Lee’s Summit, MO?

Technically, any property owner that has a basement space should consider insulating it to ensure the temperature and air quality throughout their home is even and unaffected by external forces. Similarly to your attic, your basement can also help control the temperature in your house and for that to work, it’s essential that it’s dry, well ventilated and insulated, whether it’s merely a storage space or you’re planning a renovation.

Important Things To Consider Before Your Lee’s Summit Basement Insulation

All types of insulation services require advanced planning, but there is one important step to note before hiring your Lee’s Summit basement insulation contractor at Koala Insulation, which is having your basement professionally waterproofed. Of course, there are other aspects to keep in mind, such as asking yourself what you want out of that space.

Are You Planning A Basement Remodel?

Every property is different. However, if your home is older, your basement is likely unfurnished or only partially finished, so to most, it may be a grim place to visit. But if it’s a decent size and you want it to be more than just a dark storage space where your plumbing pipes and units get to take all that usable space, your Lee’s Summit basement insulation contractors at Koala can make the necessary changes for you by creating a comfortably insulated basement. No matter if you plan to turn it into a children’s playroom, a movie theater, or a workshop, what matters is that it provides you with the much needed thermal barrier and vapor barrier.

Get Waterproofing Done

If you haven’t done this yet, we highly recommend that you hire a licensed plumber to thoroughly inspect and maintain all your plumbing devices in the basement, such as your water heater, sump pump, sewer backup valve, and other appliances, to ensure that they are in working order and won’t cause any trouble in the near future. Unfortunately, basements, for being underground, tend to be one of the dampest areas in a home. 

 

Another important drain system to check is your perimeter drains (or weeping tile) which are installed around your property to protect your foundation from excess stormwater. Despite having a sump pump for backup, perimeter drains need periodic maintenance to stay intact and help keep your basement dry.

 

Next, your plumber should waterproof your concrete basement walls, floors, ceilings, and windows. When done, you may have a nice dry basement, but that alone won’t help you improve your indoor comfort. It’s time for Lee’s Summit basement insulation services!

Get Basement Insulation in Lee’s Summit, MO!

At Koala Insulation, we pride ourselves on our high-quality products and workmanship. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our products which are all carefully sourced and inspected by our certified professionals. We believe in transparency and being honest with our clients about every step of the way and that includes the product you choose.

Batt Insulation 

Rolls or pre-cut sheets of batt insulation is one good option for your Lee’s Summit basement insulation installation. This type is highly effective for attics, walls, rim joists, crawl spaces and certainly for basements as well. 

 

We offer three types of batt products at Koala of which all have distinct characteristics.

 

• Fiberglass: Fiberglass batts have an R-value of 3.1 to 3.4 per inch and are an acceptable and cost-effective choice for your Lee’s Summit basement insulation if your home is newly built and thoroughly waterproofed. However, older homes going through a basement renovation shouldn’t use fiberglass insulation if that space is prone to dampness. Fiberglass batts are air permeable, so they’re not entirely able to block exterior humidity levels. Over time, this can trigger moisture and mold issues in older homes.
• Mineral wool: On the other hand, mineral wool (a.k.a. stone wool or rockwool) is mold-, water-, and fire-resistant. It has an R-value of 4 per inch, which is one of the best insulating qualities you can find in the world of batts. With its incredible energy saving and long-lasting qualities, Lee’s Summit basement insulation technicians have installed plenty of mineral wool batts for local customers who have noticed positive results. That said, it’s still a better option for newer homes with guaranteed no moisture problems in the basement.
• Denim Cotton: Denim cotton is one of the most environmentally friendly insulation products available in batt format. Made of recycled post industrial and consumer denim, this type of batt is clean and non-toxic, offering improved indoor air quality and even soundproofing qualities. Denim cotton offers an R-value of 3.5 per inch on average. It needs an additional vapor barrier to perform properly in a basement setting. Otherwise, when denim cotton becomes waterlogged, it will need to be removed immediately. 

Spray Foam Insulation 

Wherever you apply spray foam insulation correctly, you’ll be able to fill each gap, crack, hole, and even other hard-to-reach spots and still successfully air seal it. Spray foam is your ideal air barrier, thermal barrier, and vapor barrier. When you have your Lee’s Summit basement insulation technician install it properly, you won’t ever have to experience heat loss again because that material can last you indefinitely. 

 

Please note that we do not refer to store-bought cans of spray polyurethane foam as that stuff varies greatly from our very own SPF product. In fact, Koala Insulation creates its own SPF mixture, which is FEMA-approved and certified. We use it for both insulation installation and air sealing.

 

Spray foam insulation installation requires a qualified professional because it’s easy for a small space like your basement to encounter safety hazards. Our certified pros have gone through many hours of training, as well as been part of major projects on-site before they became our trusted team of basement insulation pros. They know all the safety guidelines and steps will complete your requested Lee’s Summit basement insulation service flawlessly.

Other Insulation Options 

Unfortunately, when you want to insulate your basement in Lee’s Summit, there is no shortcut. Only states with warmer climates have the ease of installing flexible roll-out bubble foils. But since we deal with all four seasons and high humidity levels at the same time, bubble foil insulation won’t do much in Lee’s Summit. 

 

We have seen residents who have installed their own rigid foam insulation in their basements, which are cost-effective methods, however, not a long-lasting one. You may still be able to prevent a fair amount of heat loss from convection but overall, foam boards are not as strong as mineral wool or spray foam. 

What R-Value Do You Need For Basement Walls?

The circumstances are different from property to property. Once our Lee’s Summit basement insulation experts have thoroughly inspected your space and measured your energy consumption, we’ll be able to give you a more detailed answer. There is also the insulation thickness to consider as the need for continuous layers can vary too from space to space.

 

For your below-grade walls, technicians would have installed proper waterproofing on your exterior basement wall during construction work, as well as basement insulation. Lee’s Summit, MO property owners of older homes, however, may have to dig deeper in their paperwork to double-check, but when you already have an unfinished basement that is cool and naturally damp, it’s important to make it airtight and continue to keep moisture levels as low as possible. When interior waterproofing is already taken care of, it helps to occasionally run a dehumidifier. 

What To Expect From Lee’s Summit Basement Insulation Service?

When you call our friendly office team for service, we will ask you a few questions to get a general idea of your situation. Next, we will book you in for an in-house consultation and inspection with our local experts.

 

We recommend that you jot down some questions, so we can get them all answered during our face-to-face chat. Our team may also have some important questions to ask and may ask for certified plumbing work documentation and other relevant work and repairs that were done to your basement. 

 

Sometimes, when homeowners haven’t maintained their lower levels well, it’s not unusual for our team to discover moisture damage. If you haven’t had a licensed plumber complete maintenance, repairs and waterproofing services yet, please kindly prioritize it first. It will make a huge difference for your insulation team, who will be able to begin right away with air sealing and basement insulation installation.

 

Lee’s Summit, MO homes are in good hands. During the insulation service, we use skill and precision to get your chosen type of insulation ready to go, whether it’s building wall and floor studs to get the frames ready or cutting your blanket insulation on-site or preparing our high-end spray foam gun.

 

We typically start with the basement walls before doing the rim joists. Rim joists need to be handled with care because they’re an important part of the subfloors in your living area. 

 

Lastly, floor insulation is also a vital part of the process. Typically, floor studs are vertically installed and spaced accordingly before the insulation material comes next. 

But during a Lee’s Summit basement insulation services, ceilings and floors can be the trickiest part of the project due to air ducts and pipe lines running across the room. So it’s essential to check whether building codes in your area require insulation products to be covered up or not. 

 

Our local team of insulation pros are experienced and passionate about the job they do, which is why you will also get excellent results. All of our customers will benefit from a limited lifetime warranty on all of our products.

Looking for Lee’s Summit Basement Insulation Services?

Already waterproofed your basement? Why not let us help you with the next crucial step, which is basement insulation? Lee’s Summit, MO property owners can look forward to an enhanced basement that they can use for other hobbies because the temperature is finally comfortable and decent enough for it!

 

Give us a call at 816-929-8255 to learn more about our Lee’s Summit basement insulation services. Our services are also available for our neighbors in Overland Park and South Kansas City.