For What It’s Worth

Two products — Kwik-R and Fibre- Fast — offer an alternative to building a stud wall inside the foundation when insulation must be retrofitted. Kwik-R is a rigid foam panel laminated to drywall. The panels are attached to the foundation wall with a foam adhesive and special nylon screws. Standard 4×8-foot panels are constructed of 11/2-inch beadboard foam and 1/2-inch drywall to produce a fire-protected, R-6 to R-7 wall that is ready for mud. According to the manufacturer, the installed cost averages about 95¢ per square foot. (The R.S. Means estimate for installing strapping over concrete, comparable insulation, and drywall without tape or finish is $1.74 per square foot.) Other panel sizes or foam and drywall combinations are available on request.