I am building a new house and am going to finish the basement immediately. It is almost completely underground except for 3 high windows and a walk up staircase.
Is it important to put insulation between the concrete and the studs on the concrete that is underground? The basement is heated and air conditioned.

Thanks,
Linda Hostetter

Habitable rooms in basements, by most building codes, require the dame natural light as rooms in the house above, and require a means of egress aside from the stairs to the upper floor.

The walls must also be insulated under most current codes, whether the space is finished or not. If stud walls are constructed up against the basement walls, the insulation may be placed in the stud walls. Check with your local building department about the level of insulation required.

Some also recommend sealing the basement walls before finishing the space, but more important is to be certain that a good dampproofing coating is applied to the foundation before backfilling. One thin spray coating does not, in my mind, constitute good dampproofing; two brush coats of bituminous dampproofing does, and a waterproof membrane is even better. Backfill with pea gravel is also desirable.