Home Expert Recommends Spray Foam for Basement Renovations

If you have a home that you like but you're looking for additional living space, it's a prudent idea to consider renovating a part of the home that is currently not used, like an unfinished basement or attic. When performing such remodeling tasks, it's important to ensure the rooms are insulated properly, as temperatures in the highest and lowest parts of a house fluctuate. 

For those considering finishing a basement, you should be wary of contractors who quote low prices for the work, according to Mike Holmes, a home expert. Holmes asserts that finishing off a basement should not be cheap and that it's always a bad sign when a basement renovation is priced too low.

Many people looking to fix up their homes hope to have the work performed for a fair price, and that can be achieved. If your budget falls just under the price you've been quoted for a basement renovation, Holmes advises spending money on the most important parts of the work - specifically, "what's behind the walls."

If the insulation is not properly taken care of, you'll just end up ripping through all of the work to fix a leaky wall or similar problem, he contends. In many new homes, insulation can be an after thought, but it is important to make sure your walls can withstand the changes in temperature as the seasons change.

Ultimately, insulation is there to create a thermal barrier that prevents heat from moving in or out of the space. Often, contractors will use a cheap choice that still allows for air movement and leakage and can cost money in the medium- and long-term. Holmes recommends using spray foam insulation to ensure that air and water leaks do not occur.

To ensure your basement is properly insulated, you'll "need to do better than a thermal barrier," Holmes asserts. "You need a thermal break to stop hot from meeting cold." He advises using spray foam to provide a thermal break that won't trap any moisture. According to Holmes, by using spray foam on all corners and joints, you'll create a 100 percent seal a perfect thermal break.

Holmes, who hosts the show "Holmes Inspection" on HGTV, affirms that he always advises homeowners to spend a little extra money on spray foam when performing renovations because it saves lots of money over time. If you do it the cheap way, he says, you'll only end up spending a lot more money to fix problems that arise.