David Kepner writes from Quogue, New York: "In new construction, what's the preferred way to properly insulate a basement when it is to be finished as living space. Typically, in my high-end homes, I stud out the interior so there's room for plumbing and wiring, and I'm never sure whether to put the moisture/vapor barrier on the conditioned side of the studs or up against the concrete -- or should I even be using a moisture barrier such as poly?"

Good question! The short answer: Use kraft-faced or unfaced insulation with basement walls. If you use a kraft-faced product, install it so the kraft paper is on the interior side. The experts I checked with don't recommend poly as a vapor barrier with basement walls. More information: Basement walls can be tricky with vapor drive varying from top to bottom at the same time. For example, winter conditions in parts of North America can be frozen above grade and warmer below. Unperforated poly can trap condensation in the wall while kraft paper actually becomes more permeable when humidity increases. Finally, the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System is another option you might want to consider. Thanks for asking. Pink Panther