Basewrap foundation wall insulation and drainage

Claim 1

In a building construction having a one-piece molded insulating member for direct engagement with exterior foundation walls and adapted to be directed engaged by backfill earth, the improvement comprising; a panel constructed from expanded thermoplastics exhibiting low water vapor permeability and having opposite first and second faces with said first face engageable with backfill earth and said second face adapted to abut a foundation wall, said first and second panel faces respectively provided with a plurality of vertically disposed laterally spaced apart first and second drainage channels, said first channels having narrow exterior openings on said panel first face communicating with enlarged openings towards the interior of said panel, said second channels defining a substantially rectangular configuration in cross-section, said first channels defining a depth of at least 2/3 inch and said second channels defining a depth of at least 3/8 inch, said panel having opposite ends respectively provided with offset L-shaped grooves to allow the adjacent secure connection between a plurality of said panels, whereby said first channel exterior openings resist clogging from directly engaging surrounding earth while allowing passage of water into said first channel enlarged openings for drainage while said second channels freely allow drainage of any water reaching said panel second face abutting the foundation wall.