basement question

[newservice]

Hi! Am wondering what is the best way to mount an outlet to a new home basement wall that is covered by the mandatory insulation blanket required on new homes up here in the north for some years now. This is a 6' blanket with a white vapor barrier that is usually secured to the wall randomly with power nails. A friend was wanting to have a work bench and some power outets on the wall. Any ideas? I know the best is to secure to the wall itself, believe this is code, but that means cutting this blanket. I see the first electrician simply mounted a 2x4 vertically over the blanket, sandwiching it behind the stud and on top of the cinder blocks, and secured his romex to it down to the single gang box for his 3 way light switch coming down the staircase. Thanks in advance and nice to be here!

 

[charlie]

Welcome to the Forum!

Syracuse doesn't seem that far north.

 

[Buck Parrish]

I'm not familiar with the blanket. I suppose if it is for moisture you would not want to penetrate it. How ever the power nails holding it up have done just that.
Down here we use 1 1/2" deep 4" sq. box. Power nailed to the wall then either raised cover or plaster rings. I use 3/8 one hole straps for my romex and poweer nail it to the wall to. If it is being covered up.
Obviously if it is exposed it will need physical pprotection . As you say staple it to a 2x4 or sleeve it in pvc.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

When I run into this I simply sleeve my romex in a piece of PVC and mount a 4" square box on top of the blanket. I use the proper length screws to fasten to the cinder block. I also install a strap where needed on the PVC. No harm will be done with that penetration esp. since the screws will plug the hole.

 

[480sparky]

Usually, the problem arises when someone doesn't get the wiring on the walls done during rough, and comes back for trim, and the walls are covered.

I always have my rough-in done before the insulators show up, so mounting anything on top of the blankets isn't a problem. I make the insulators cut their blanket around the boxes.

 

[newservice]

Usually, the problem arises when someone doesn't get the wiring on the walls done during rough, and comes back for trim, and the walls are covered.

I always have my rough-in done before the insulators show up, so mounting anything on top of the blankets isn't a problem. I make the insulators cut their blanket around the boxes.

Hey, thanks. Seems it comes down to a question of how to best cut and trim the insulation blanket. Im against anything other than mounting on the wall; I don't feel right screwing a box on top of the blanket. Besides being loose, it would look bad as well . Thanks for all the replies here!

 

[al hildenbrand]

Seems it comes down to a question of how to best cut and trim the insulation blanket. Im against anything other than mounting on the wall; I don't feel right screwing a box on top of the blanket.

Another thought, . . .

I'm assuming the basement wall is cement of some form.

Fasten the a metal 4" square (or whatever) to the cement with concrete screws, long ones, and use some PVC sleaves on the screws to stand the box off the cement so the insulation is not crushed. Just before one goes to set the screws, caulk the back of the box and around the PVC to seal the gaps to the vapor barrier.