Had a similar denim insulation mishap myself—lesson learned the hard way. If you're dealing with flood-prone areas, here's what I've found works best:
1. Spray foam (like you mentioned) is great because it's closed-cell and doesn't absorb water easily. Pricier upfront, but saves headaches later.
2. Rigid foam boards are another solid option—easy to install, moisture-resistant, and pretty affordable.
3. If you're set on eco-friendly, mineral wool can handle moisture better than denim or fiberglass.
Honestly, sometimes going green means knowing when to compromise... mold remediation isn't exactly eco-friendly either, lol.
Totally agree on the spray foam—saved me big time after a basement flood. Curious though, have you tried combining rigid foam boards with a waterproof membrane? Did that in my crawlspace and it's been bone-dry ever since... might be worth considering.
Haven't tried rigid foam boards myself yet, but your method sounds pretty solid. Curious—did you install the membrane first, then the foam boards, or vice versa? Might give this a shot on my next flip... thanks for sharing your experience.
I went foam boards first, then membrane—figured it'd seal things up better. Worked pretty well during last spring's heavy rains... basement stayed bone dry for once. Good luck with your flip, it's worth the effort.
That's interesting, foam boards first then membrane... I actually did the opposite on my first reno—membrane first, then foam boards. My logic was that the membrane would act as a primary barrier, and the foam would add insulation afterward. Honestly, it worked pretty well too, but now you've got me wondering if your way might've been better.
We had some pretty intense storms last fall, and while my basement stayed mostly dry, there were a couple of damp spots near the corners. Nothing major, but enough to make me second-guess my approach. Maybe flipping the order would've sealed things up tighter? Hmm...
Did you find any tricky spots or challenges when installing the foam boards first? I'm curious if it made the membrane installation easier or harder. Also, did you use any special adhesives or fasteners to keep everything snug? I'm still learning as I go, so hearing about different experiences really helps.
Anyway, glad your basement stayed dry—that's always such a relief after heavy rains. Makes all the hard work feel worth it.
