Basement insulation question

[Passionfru1t]

My parents have a second home in Nevada, and they're trying to figure out how to finish the basement there.

It's super dry, which is nice. It's got this frost blanket already on the top half of the walls, and the outside has a waterproofing system called Tuff N Dri.
I'm trying to figure out if we can just put metal studs and drywall right over the top of the blanket. Or should we just rip it all out and start fresh with foam board?

 

[sealthedeal]

I'd just put metal studs and drywall right on top of that frost blanket since it works as a vapor barrier. This is usually good, mostly if your basement isn't wet. But, if you want to keep things super insulated and dry, maybe think about sticking a layer of that stiff foam board between the blanket and the studs. It'll keep the heat in better and block even more moisture.

 

[slvr22_bd]

My parents have a second home in Nevada, and they're trying to figure out how to finish the basement there.

It's super dry, which is nice. It's got this frost blanket already on the top half of the walls, and the outside has a waterproofing system called Tuff N Dri.
I'm trying to figure out if we can just put metal studs and drywall right over the top of the blanket. Or should we just rip it all out and start fresh with foam board?

How's the build going? You don't need to rip out the existing frost blanket or the Tuff-N-Dri system, they are managing moisture.

Your best and most efficient option is to install rigid foam board insulation, like XPS or polyiso, directly over the concrete wall and the existing blanket. This creates a continuous thermal and vapor barrier. Then after sealing the foam board joints, build your metal stud wall in front of it. This prevents thermal bridging and keeps the structure away from the concrete, ensuring a bone-dry, energy-efficient finish.