Where to insulate and waterproof 10" cmu (concrete block) walls?
My context....
- currently building block wall - not backfilled yet
- upstate NY
- radiant slab (detached thermally via 2" xps insulation)
- every third cell filled with rebar and grout - the rest hollow
- walkout basement (entire front is completely open - back is going to be 1-2 blocks above grade - sides are just half and half with grade going from upper back to lower front).
- The entire front will have a deck over it with gutters, so very little water if any will see the front of the house
- There is no wood framing for basement exterior walls, all cmu
- clay soil - water travels through the layers
I plan to put 2" stone wool insulation on the exterior over an AMES bluemax coated block, then a drainable bubble mat over that, followed by 12-18" of washed #2 all the way to grade (with a concrete walkway over it - no clay cap), and a footing drain below. One day I'll have insulation on the inside of the cmu wall - foam maybe, but at least batt when we finish it.
I'm wondering where people recommend to do the ames bluemax waterproofing and stone wool insulation. I was planning on doing both the ames and stone wool all the way to the sill plate on both the sides and the rear, then only the 2" insulation on the front.
On all above grade cmu walls, on top of the insulation, I would put vertical furring strips with cement board over it, and then thinset and thin cultured stone (on sides) and thin brick on the cement board on the front.
I'm aware that this adds a lot of cost and time, but is there another way? Is the heat loss in these above ground locations negligible? I'm ok with the front not having a rainscreen or waterproofing, but the back and sides...Any water that goes into the cultured stone could go through inside. Any combination of these things that could mitigate these problems?
Thanks!
Posted Nov 1, 2025, 8:07 PM UTC