Do I have to insulate my basement ceiling by Ontario code?

5/21/2017 at 6:18:08 PM

Good Afternoon John,

The simple answer is no, the exterior walls have to be insulated and should carry up to where the rim joist sits on the foundation. Sometimes people put safe and sound Roxul insulation in the ceiling joists to cut down on noise between floors.

5/21/2017 at 6:51:57 PM

Ceiling insulation is always optional!

5/21/2017 at 7:00:05 PM

I'm not in Ontario but i have to ask why unless your wanting to sound proof. But you do need to insulate at your rim joist :)

5/22/2017 at 3:52:56 PM

Insulating the ceiling is not required. You can put "safe and sound" insulation which is a fire break insulation and provides sound proofing so the sounds don't carry up to the floor above but this is not required.

You need to put 1x3 strapping across the joists that run across the ceiling. These go perpendicular to the joists and then you attach the drywall to the strapping. If you attach the drywall directly to the bottom of the joists the drywall will end up with cracks at all the seams.

If you plan to make the basement into an apartment at some point in the future you need to have a firewall to separate the two different habitable units. Using fire insulation now will save you from doing your ceiling again if this ever becomes your intention. Document the insulation with pictures so you can prove that it has a proper fire separation if you ever apply for a building permit to make a basement apartment. If you do make a fire separation you should also use 5/8" drywall for the ceiling instead of 1/2" drywall.

Good luck