Dricore wall panels vs closed cell
We’ve gutted our basement to the studs after discovering it was finished incorrectly by prior owners, which resulted in mold behind drywall (paper-backed insulation, drywall run all the way to concrete floor).
It’s a daylight walkout with 1.5 walls being full concrete (other half being a half-tall concrete wall as wall transition to full daylight). One wall is the walk-out, and the last is interior since half of basement was unfinished. We are in Kansas so every kind of extreme weather.
It was professionally remediated and treated, but the wood wall studs are still there, which makes me nervous. Mold company says they are safe now, but this mama still worries since some of the studs were visibly affected.
Contractor wants to use sprayed closer cell insulation using current studs as we put it back together, but I want to rip out the studs and use Dricore wall panels to start fresh. Third option is to remove wood studs and go back with metal and use closed cell.
One thing I like about closed cell is we could also hit the ceiling. Otherwise, I’m struggling to figure out the ceiling if we use Dricore walls. I don’t like open painted joists.
Thoughts?
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If the framing is solid, the contractor could spray it with a mold inhibitor primer (Kilz, for example). If the bottom plate is untreated lumber, you might want to replace those pieces (or at least try to insert some type of capillary break).
At least that's my 2 cents. Maybe one of the pros will chime in.
Closed cell would seal it airtight, which cuts off the oxygen mold needs to grow.
I was wondering the same thing on changing just bottom plates!
Not sure exactly when basement was framed, but the house was built in 1968. The plaid wallpaper with hints of harvest gold and avocado green we found under the trim suggests it was framed when home was built or not much later. I don’t think pressure treated lumber was commonly used at that time.
I really don't like Dricore products. I feel they use deceptive marketing tactics and lead people to cover up problems rather than solve them.
If the problem really has been solved -- there is no more liquid water coming in anywhere -- then closed cell spray foam is an excellent choice. Leaving the studs simplifies running mechanicals and hanging drywall.
There’s no water coming from the walls. We’ve had heavy rain the last week so we’ve been able to monitor. Plus, one concrete wall is next to garage slab, and the other is next to front porch, which is 6’ deep with good drainage away. I suspect prior water intrusion was from when the sump failed. It’s on battery back up now, and we plan to add another pump that runs off the city water pressure to have double back up.