Case study: Turning a chilly basement into a cozy rec room
“Would HIGHLY recommend this company.”
-Jerry H. in West Bloomfield, MI
That’s how Jerry H. summed up his experience with Ecotelligent Homes after transforming his cold, underused basement into a rec room that’s now the go-to spot for shooting pool and Michigan football.
Before the project, Jerry and his wife Karen avoided the basement during winter. “It was on the cooler side,” he said. “We wanted to turn it into a playroom with a pool table, but it just wasn’t comfortable down there.”
The problem: cold air creeping in at the rim joist
Like many homes in Michigan, the culprit was the rim joist - the gap where the home’s walls meet the foundation. It’s a notorious source of air leaks that let in drafts and drive up energy bills.
Jerry had seen another home with the rim joist professionally insulated and decided it was time to look into it for their own. That's when he reached out to Ecotelligent Homes.
“Everyone at Ecotelligent was great to work with,” Jerry said. “No sales pressure whatsoever. They discuss everything with you in detail.”
Got questions about your home in the Metro Detroit area? Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (248) 291-7815, or send us a message anytime.
What we found: zero insulation and wide-open air gaps
When we arrived at Karen and Jerry’s West Bloomfield home, we found exactly what we expected—no insulation at the rim joist and visible gaps where cold air entered.
It’s common in homes built before the 2000s, and it was a clear reason their basement felt uninviting in the winter.
Our tests, including a blower door test and infrared scan, showed significant air leakage concentrated in the basement. Because that cold air has nowhere to go but up, it affects the comfort of the entire home.
Blower door test results
Why this matters: comfort, efficiency, and the stack effect
Air leaks at the rim joist aren’t just a basement problem—they impact your whole house. Through a process known as the stack effect, cold air enters at the lowest level of your home (the basement or crawlspace), mixes with the warmer indoor air, and then rises up and escapes through the attic.
That steady stream of cold air means your HVAC system is constantly working to replace lost heat, which leads to:
- Higher energy bills
- Drafty rooms on every floor
- Less consistent indoor temperatures
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, sealing air leaks and insulating rim joists is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve comfort and energy efficiency.
ENERGY STAR also recommends rim joist insulation as a key upgrade in both new and existing homes to reduce air infiltration and control moisture.
Uninsulated rim joist cavities
Infrared camera image of uninsulated rim joist
The deep purple in the infrared image shows colder areas—clear evidence of where cold air was leaking into the home.
The solution: spray foam insulation and a job done right
After completing the audit, we got to work. The team removed old, ineffective material from the rim joist and applied an even 3 inches of closed-cell spray foam—bringing it up to R-21 and creating a tight air barrier that meets ENERGY STAR® standards.
The whole project was completed in one day. And when our Quality Assurance Check revealed a couple of minor gaps, the crew returned promptly to make it right.
“They came back a week later when they noticed some gaps,” Jerry said. “Really impressed—they just wanted to get it right.”
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The result: a finished basement that’s finally fun to use
With the insulation in place, Karen and Jerry took on the basement as a DIY project - removing the old drop ceiling, painting the walls, and setting up a pool table and TVs.
“It keeps a lot more heat now,” Jerry said. “It’s really comfortable. We’ve had friends over and our neighbors even ended up insulating their whole house after seeing ours.”
From freezing to football-ready
Thanks to one targeted upgrade, Karen and Jerry reclaimed their basement—and turned it into the best room in the house. No more chilly floors or wasted space, just a warm, comfortable rec room built for Michigan winters and football Saturdays.
If your basement feels drafty or underused, we’d love to help. Give us a call at (248) 291-7815 or send us a message anytime.
Ecotelligent Homes
Since 2009, more than 3,000 Michigan homeowners have trusted Ecotelligent Homes to make their homes comfortable and efficient. If you want an energy audit, insulation, HVAC, or abatement services, give us a call anytime: (248) 291-7815. Satisfaction guaranteed.
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