[Greenbuilding] Block Wall Insulation

[Keith Winston]

I thought Speireg's approach was pretty clever (though maybe I'm 
mangling it, and I hope he doesn't mind me sharing): insulate the 
outside to bring your thermal mass inside, build on a rubble trench 
foundation, and fill the cavities full of 2 liter water-filled soda 
bottles. Big thermal mass, leaks drain harmlessly, continuous foam 
exterior insulation bridges band joists and other troublesome areas. 
Water control strategies become crucial.

Keith


Eli wrote:
> I am wondering if there is a new better way to insulate the inside of block
> walls.  I have a brick veneer block wall building that I am renovating into
> apartment.  I would like to achieve a high standard of thermal performance.
>
> Conventional wisdom seems to be in flux.  The foam insulation companies are
> claiming higher thermal performance with lower R values because they avoid
> some of the infiltration inherent with fiberglass batts.  Also, if they can
> be installed without thermal bridges this improves average performance of
> the surface.  The closed cell foam boards offer resistant to mold problems
> by sealing insulation from moisture penetration from both direction of heat
> flow.  Is there a new neat system to install closed cell foam boards without
> thermal bridges and fasten interior paneling. In most cases this would be
> sheetrock.
>
> In my past projects I have insulated block or concrete walls in 2 ways.
> Usually these were basement walls where a substantial part of foundation was
> exposed above ground.  I would install furring strips and install 1.5"
> isocyanate (with foil face for high R value) or frame 2x4 wall 6" inside
> interior side of block to install R19 Fiberglass Batts. This leaves a gap
> for ventilation in case moisture is a problem.  So far I have not gotten any
> feedback of problems.
>
> B. Eli Fishpaw
> Architect in Lexington Virginia
>
>
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