Insulating the basement ceiling top reduces noise and your basement will be turned into a quiet place where you can rest and take a coffee break.
Picking up the right insulation material becomes a tough task. But don’t worry this article works best for you in terms of insulation material and how to insulate that step by step.
Insulating the basement ceiling helps to reduce noise and provide temperature in the basement which takes less energy for heating and saves your electricity bill after using it.
That’s the reason I think it is best to insulate the basement ceiling. That sounds pretty good. Now which insulation material should you choose and why you should insulate the basement ceiling and downsides of the insulation and main point over here is how to insulate the basement ceiling. Hang tight with me in this guide I will walk you through everything in detail.
Why You Need Basement Insulation
There are many reasons which lead you to basement insulation but let’s discuss some of the main reasons that are to escape the hot air and climbing the cold air into the basement and the major reason is to reduce noise in the basement.
Most people don’t shed out money from their pocket and heat the basement but if you want that that’s OK!! But let me tell you if you have decided not to heat up the basement then you should insulate the basement ceiling. after if your concern is heating then that’s done by insulating the basement ceiling.
Although if you want to make a basement space a room to relax and party then insulating walls is enough you don’t need to insulate the complete ceiling but if your concern is making it soundproof then insulation of the basement ceiling is important.
If your concern is soundproofing the basement then the ceiling is the culprit in passing noise because of the room upstairs where your kids are playing and the noise of their footsteps reflects in the basement which will disturb you.
To reduce the noise insulation of the basement ceiling is important because it makes your basement soundproof and maintains heat and temperature in the basement without much hassle.
Are You In Hurry? Checkout Quick Recommendation
If you are in a hurry then check out our quick recommendation which will help you to get insulation that is best and effective.
Frost king is the best insulation material that will reduce the noise in the basement and also maintain temperature which is the good thing about frost king I have this insulation earlier in my guides because this is effective in reducing the noise of the footsteps and also the noise coming from outside.
Most of the insulation requires you to wear glasses and masks, gloves but this doesn’t require any of these things just cut and rip the insulation and fit it into the space you want to install insulation.
If you want more insulation material then read the guide further for more material for insulation basement ceiling.
5 Best Material For Insulation Of Basement Ceiling
Let’s dive into the basement ceiling insulation which is best and effective that are have listed below.
1. Owens Corning Insulation Roll
This insulation material is an ideal choice for basement ceilings and is easy to install which provides excellent acoustical and thermal control. Most of the fiberglass insulation creates dust but this doesn’t form any dust.
Eco touch pink fiberglass insulation has excellent stiffness that maintains the insulating properties on the ceiling when you insulate on the basement ceiling. It has also got excellent recovery characteristics.
This insulation material is effective and reduces the noise of the footstep in the basement also it reduces the noise outside when you insulate it on the walls.
On the other hand, it doesn’t have annoying gaps that are usually caused by the batt insulation because it’s blanket insulation that is in the form of a roll. You will be able to cut the exact size of the joist and this company also manufactures foam squares so that you can enhance your insulation.
Pros
- Pink fiberglass insulation roll
- It has excellent stiffness
- It has acoustic and thermal control
- It doesn’t cause any gaps
Cons
- Some complain that it’s good but expensive
2. Smart Shield Reflective Insulation Roll
This insulation material is extremely effective which reflects 97% of the radiant energy it is one of the perfect radiant barriers. If you’re looking for a reflective insulation material that this would be the right pick for you.
It prevents condensation and the important part is it’s unaffected by humidity and moisture. So if your concern is humidity and moisture then this works well for also it has sound-deadening properties that will reduce noise in the basement ceiling.
So it works for both the purpose of sound blocking and is unaffected by humidity and moisture. It has a supreme quality which has closed-cell polyethylene foam that doesn’t consist of cheap bubbles it’s sandwiched between pure aluminum on both sides.
This insulation material is easy to install you need to just cut the exact size of the joist and fit. It’s strong but lightweight which is the good thing about this insulation material. When you insulate on the basement ceiling it should be lightweight and effective.
Some of the insulation materials cause allergy but it’s non-toxic it doesn’t irritate skin, eye, or throat it’s safe and easy to install in the basement.
Pros
- It reflects 97% of the radiant energy
- It prevents condensation
- It’s unaffected by moisture and humidity
- It doesn’t irritate skin, eye, or throat
Cons
- It doesn’t prevent much condensation
3. Great Stuff Foam Insulation Spray
This foam insulation spray is effective and fills all the gaps and cracks on the basement ceiling also you can use this sealant spray for walls. It can be used to expand insulate and fill all the gaps.
Make sure to cover the complete surface wherever you want to apply this foam spray. Stick to small areas to get the job done if you want to cover the foam on the basement ceiling.
If you want to insulate it on the whole ceiling then you need to position it through the holes and cover the whole basement ceiling that will not drip the spray.
Pros
- It covers cracks and gaps
- It helps to insulate the space
- It can be expanded on the areas to fill the gaps
- This covers the ceiling
Cons
- Foam gets hardened in a few minutes
4. Geesic Ceramic Fiber Blanket Insulation
This ceramic fiber insulation is high-temperature resistant which is insulated and fireproof. This insulation blanket is high-quality good flexible and is tear-resistant. This fiber-resistant insulation is flexible and as well easy to cut and stamp.
This ceramic fiber insulation and has polar thermal conductivity and good sound insulation that reduces noise. this fiber blanket is easy to use that is easy to roll out and cut with a sharp knife or blade. It’s also easy to move and install
It can be used in various places such as wood stove baffle, fireplace and it can be insulated in the basement ceiling.
Pros
- It is high temperature resistant
- This is good quality and flexibility
- Easy to install and cut
- It has a polar thermal conductivity
Cons
- It is a dense and flexible suitable package until needed
5. Morgan Ceramic Fiber Insulation
Morgan ceramic tough dense high-temperature insulation that works best for insulation basement ceiling. It has data sheets and safety instructions included in this.
This insulation includes a ceramic knife so don’t ruin your blade. It’s perfect for home and basement ceiling insulation. It’s effective and works best for insulating.
Simply cut the insulation and fit it on the ceiling for insulating that reduces noise in the basement.
Pros
- It’s a tough dense and high-temperature insulation
- It includes data sheets and safety instructions
- It includes a ceramic knife
- This reduces noise in the basement ceiling
Cons
- Some complain it is toxic and inhalation hazard
How To Insulate Basement Ceiling Insulation
Insulating the basement ceiling is not a tough task you need to follow some simple steps. So that you don’t face any problem while installing and you can do it by yourself.
1. Select The Insulation Material
Which insulation works better for you? Which one should choose? That will provide better soundproofing in your basement ceiling. There is three major insulation material that you can choose from fiberglass, spray, and blanket insulation.
Whether you choose your type of insulation material bear in mind the budget and the material you need to insulate the basement ceiling. How much insulation is needed for you to insulate the basement ceiling?
If you living in a cold and hot place then you need more insulation to block out the outer noise and maintain temperature. On the other hand, if you living in a moderate area then spray foam or blanket insulation is a better option to pick.
This is an effective and cheap solution to block out noise and maintain temperature and can fill any space to block out noise. so fiberglass insulation is mostly preferred by people.
2. Gather All The Things
Gathering all the tools that are required and making a roadmap of to execute your plan makes things quite easy. Which tools are required and what are the safety measures you need to take while insulating the basement ceiling.
Planning everything beforehand makes things quite easier and laying a roadmap makes things easier and saves a lot of time while executing because you have done the work on the paper you need to do physically.
Collect the insulation material and safety material as well a roadmap that is required to achieve I know this becomes difficult sometimes especially if your insulation the basement ceiling first time.
Now that you have a full-proof plan it’s time to proceed to the next step.
3. Measuring The Area Of Ceiling
Measuring the area of the basement ceiling for insulation material is important because it will help you get the exact insulation material that is needed to insulate according to measure.
Measure the ceiling with the measurement tape and note down the sizes and get the insulation material of that exact size that will help you to save a lot of money and sometimes you need less insulation material which will cost you again to bring that and insulate.
To avoid this problem take the precise measurement and get the insulation material because once you insulate it will be difficult to take off. So taking note of sizes also save you from getting extra and less insulation material.
4. Fill The Ceiling
Now you have landed on the main task do you have a large cavity in the ceiling or the smaller one? Because it will depend on the pieces of insulation material you need.
Fill all the cavities of the basement ceiling that will probably help you to reduce noise. pull the insulation on the cavity tightly that gets fixed on the ceiling.
Make sure to get a fluffy insulation material because that will provide better insulation and soundproofing . after compressing you need to cut off the extra material to fit in the cavity.
You need to follow the same strategy to fill the cavity of the basement ceiling so that you insulate the complete basement ceiling.
5. Cover The Space
It doesn’t matter which insulation you’re are installing if you’re not covering the space with the drywall otherwise it will not work effectively and as well doesn’t work for long and looks messy
So after installing the insulation in the basement ceiling you need to cover that with drywall to make it look attractive and reduce the noise in the basement.
Drywall will help to cover the basement ceiling. For installing drywall there are simple methods you need to follow same as installing insulation material on a basement ceiling.
6. Leave The Space For Light And Fan
Now you need to leave the place for light and fan so that you don’t face any difficulty after installing the insulation material on the basement ceiling. It’s always important to keep in mind for leaving the space of light and fan.
Because once you have installed then it becomes really tough to take off and install again so to avoid that make space while cutting the insulation material.
While cutting the insulation material measure the space of the fan and light and mark on the insulation and with that make space for fan and light which makes your task pretty easier and insulating basement ceiling will be systematic.
7. Finish Up All The Things
Finish all the things by putting back everything in its place than your basement ceiling is completely insulated for reducing the noise and maintaining the temperature and it can be turned into a living room or a chill area.
Once you’re done with the insulation of the basement ceiling cut all the extra material that it hanging to provide it smooth finishing and a good look.
Now you’re done with all the things to insulate the basement ceiling.
Final Thoughts On How To Insulate Basement Ceiling
Insulating your basement ceiling is not a difficult task once you have planned everything then things flow smoothly as you planned. It’s work that doesn’t even require a professional you can do it by yourself.
It requires 3-4 hours and you can insulate the basement ceiling completely for reducing noise and maintaining temperature. There are three major insulation materials that can be used as mentioned earlier.
I would recommend fiberglass insulation because that’s much good and effective when it comes to insulating the basement ceiling and most people use fiberglass insulation.
Hope that I have shed light on everything related to insulating the basement ceilings step-by-step to avoid confusion.
If You find this helpful let us know your thoughts we would love to hear from you also check out our blog on 9 cheap and effective ways to reduce noise in the basement.
FAQ
to soundproof the basement ceiling use insulation material like fiberglass insulation that will reduce the noise and cover the insulation with drywall to add appealing look to the ceiling.
if you have the ceiling than you don’t want to tear it off and start from scratch you can soundproof the existing ceiling even that is a good choice soundproofing the existing ceiling by adding layer than ripping off the ceiling.
Yes, it’s worth every penny you spend on the insulation of basement ceiling. insulating the basement will keep the basement soundproof and maintains temperature.