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Installing insulation board in basement to control moisture

Home Improvement Asked on June 6, 2021

I just had a basement waterproofing job done and it is doing an awesome job relieving pressure and keeping the basement flood-free (we just had a very large amount of rain here in central PA and it was dry as a bone down there). The problem is, it is still very moist. We are talkin’ 85% humidity. I used my moisture meter and the culprit is definitely the walls.

I am thinking of installing insulation board over the whole basement, as I have heard this will act as a moisture barrier. My concern is, there is still old drylok paint on the walls, and we just got the walls acid washed to get rid of the mold. Do I need to remove the paint before putting up the insulation board? Can I instead paint over it with a non-mold friendly paint first?? Will that be ok?

Also, I am open to hear other solutions for basement moisture issues.

One Answer

If the humidity in the basement is high, it will condense on the cold or cool basement walls causing them to feel damp or even sweat. You need to reduce the relative humidity in the basement and probably in the whole house. If you air-condition your house as I do, you need to find out the relative humidity in the house. If it is above 40% you should buy a dehumidifier, probably a 50 pint/day or larger, to reduce the humidity. You said that you live in central Pa. I live 30 miles north of Pittsburgh so I know your climate. I run my A/C at 75 degrees, have a finished basement, and run a dehumidifier in the basement. Hope this helps.

Answered by d.george on June 6, 2021

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