Looking for some practical advice in Connecticut.
Cost is definitely a consideration.
I have about 30” of exposed 2” XPS against my poured concrete foundation for a length of about 50’ which used to be back-filled with dirt. I removed the raised bed and dirt and dug down to the footings, which were about 16” below true grade. I laid horizontal pieces of 2” XPS over the footings 24” out and along the entire 50’. Then I back-filled with about 14” dirt.
Now I need to protect the remaining 30” of XPS. I was thinking that I could run an 18“ strip of Ice and Water over the XPS, over the 2” lip of the XPS and onto the foundation a couple of inches. Then backfill over the whole deal, re-using the 6x6 PT lumber for the retaining wall/raised bed.
The foundation has already been waterproofed behind the XPS with what looks like a black tar, so all I am expecting from the Ice and Water is to help protect the XPS from some insect infiltration and some protection from small roots, and keep the soil from getting behind the XPS.
Will a 2” strip of Ice and Water adhere to the foundation well enough to stop soil from getting being the XPS?
Will the Ice and water adhere well enough to the XPS without causing some sort of chemical incompatibility?
I have no real basement but under the slab there is an insulated “reservoir” containing about 100 tons of fist-sized rocks, so don’t really know if that affects anything but thought it was worth mentioning.
I figure if dirt was back-filled against the XPS for 35 years with no problem that I could detect except some root and insect damage, then it wasn’t a bad system.
Any information is greatly appreciated and all suggestions are welcome.
Keith
Cost is definitely a consideration.
I have about 30” of exposed 2” XPS against my poured concrete foundation for a length of about 50’ which used to be back-filled with dirt. I removed the raised bed and dirt and dug down to the footings, which were about 16” below true grade. I laid horizontal pieces of 2” XPS over the footings 24” out and along the entire 50’. Then I back-filled with about 14” dirt.
Now I need to protect the remaining 30” of XPS. I was thinking that I could run an 18“ strip of Ice and Water over the XPS, over the 2” lip of the XPS and onto the foundation a couple of inches. Then backfill over the whole deal, re-using the 6x6 PT lumber for the retaining wall/raised bed.
The foundation has already been waterproofed behind the XPS with what looks like a black tar, so all I am expecting from the Ice and Water is to help protect the XPS from some insect infiltration and some protection from small roots, and keep the soil from getting behind the XPS.
Will a 2” strip of Ice and Water adhere to the foundation well enough to stop soil from getting being the XPS?
Will the Ice and water adhere well enough to the XPS without causing some sort of chemical incompatibility?
I have no real basement but under the slab there is an insulated “reservoir” containing about 100 tons of fist-sized rocks, so don’t really know if that affects anything but thought it was worth mentioning.
I figure if dirt was back-filled against the XPS for 35 years with no problem that I could detect except some root and insect damage, then it wasn’t a bad system.
Any information is greatly appreciated and all suggestions are welcome.
Keith
