Insulating the Basement Ceiling

One of the bigger behind-the-scenes updates we’ve made recently at Pauline Manor was adding 3 inches of spray foam insulation to the ceiling of the basement. It’s not the most glamorous project, but it’s one that’s already made a noticeable difference.

When we bought the house, the basement ceiling was completely open. You could see all the floor joists, wiring, and plumbing from underneath. While that made it easy for contractors to do work, it also meant there was zero insulation between the basement and the main level of the house.

Because of the way the previous owners set up the HVAC system, the basement is fully heated and cooled, which technically makes it part of the home’s livable space—even though it’s still unfinished. It’s been incredibly useful to have that extra square footage. We use it for temperature-controlled storage, all of my home gym equipment lives down there, and it’s the perfect spot to start seedlings in the cooler months without worrying about frost or heat stress.

We went with open-cell spray foam for this job. It’s a great option for sound dampening, and it also gives us some insulation between floors without being as rigid as closed-cell. The open-cell material expands into all the little gaps and cracks, which helps with airflow and temperature regulation.

We’ve already noticed the difference in sound. With hardwood floors upstairs, even regular foot traffic used to echo down into the basement. Now, it’s much quieter—especially helpful since we use the basement regularly and want it to feel like a more comfortable, usable space.

The process itself was fast but intense. We had to clear out the basement completely, and once the spraying started, the whole space was sealed off for a couple of days to let it cure and air out. Definitely not a DIY-friendly project, and 100% worth hiring a pro who knew exactly what he was doing.

This isn’t the kind of update that comes with pretty “after” photos, but it’s a huge step forward in making the house more comfortable and functional. Energy efficiency, better soundproofing, and just feeling like the whole place is more solid—those little things add up, especially in an old house like this one.

Shout out to Prestige Insulation Solutions for taking such great care of us always!