insulation
We have these sheets of pink insulation with a light coat of concrete-paint-like stuff (?) wrapped all the way around the base of the house, and as can be seen, it is degrading in both appearance and effectiveness…
My question is a call for tips/suggestions, as I'm just not sure how to proceed… what would you do in this situation… Do I just begin replacing it sheet by sheet or examine different approaches altogether?
The nature of task will depend on the exact type of wall. It would be best to wait for the inspection report before deciding anything.
If you have a cavity (for example) then it might be best to hire a professional. If you don't have a cavity then you need to add some insulation to the inside walls. You can get plasterboard with integral insulation which you can attach directly to the existing wall, but if you need more insulation you'll have to use thicker battens to allow for this. This will reduce the internal dimensions of your rooms. This is a job you can do yourself - but it is a big job.
Attic insulation is something you can do yourself too. The inspection should recommend what level of insulation you need to install.
Yes, Rigid foam (XPS and ISO) boards are frequently used in exterior applications, and can be a great option for improving efficiency. There are a couple of issues with your proposed approach, though:
On a wood frame house, you'd want to use this order:
Here's a visual from Fine Homebuilding, which has a couple of good articles on this:
Note that adding foam on the exterior of your house complicates some things. You will likely need to redo the trim on your windows and doors, which will become more in-set. These inset areas will need to be flashed properly or you will have leaks, which have more potential to do damage when you've got multi-layered, thick walls that could trap moisture. If done well, you can get very good insulation. But make sure to work with someone who knows what they're doing!
Best Answer
Does that insulation go into the ground? In otherwords, is that exterior insulation for the basement foundation? If so, then it's pretty much useless at this point. It wasn't sealed properly and is likely waterlogged and providing minimal insulating value. In which case, you can just get rid of it.
If, on the other hand, it's insulation on our exterior walls of the house, I'd suggest trimming off a bit of the bottom (you don't want that stuff in direct contact with surface concrete or soil). I'd then probably consider some sort of cedar skirting to match the siding and glue it onto the insulation (again, making sure the skirting is not in contact with the ground).