Adding Insulation To Walls

Fiberglass does have one weakness however.

Adding insulation to walls.

If you were looking to add insulation inside the walls there are a few ways to go about this. This type of insulation typically fiberglass or cellulose insulation can be added over existing insulation provided it s installed perpendicular to joists. Seal the gap between the bottom plate of the wall and the floor with acoustical sealant or caulk. Fiberglass is a great way to insulate an existing wall.

Pull out a small amount of insulation if needed to help. Blowing in insulation step by step 1 use a stud finder to locate studs in the wall. Buy unfaced friction fit batts and seal the walls with a 4 mil poly vapor retarder. Press the poly into the sealant.

Use special airtight electrical boxes see photo tip 5 or seal the poly to the electrical box with acoustical sealant. It either goes in from the interior walls which requires patching holes or from the exterior which requires prying up siding and drilling through the sheathing adding to the cost of professional installation. Repeat this step between each pair of studs. On open walls a fabric sheath is attached to studs providing a type of cage that contains blown in fiberglass not cellulose insulation in pellets and other forms.

Do not tack down roll or batt insulation because compacting reduces its effectiveness or r value. Turn off the power to the outlet. Roll or batt insulation. Adding extra insulation to the exterior walls of an older home when renovating or remodeling is a great way of improving a home s walls thermal performance and reducing energy use while reducing heating bills carbon footprint and improving a building s comfort level.

With a hole saw cut a small hole between 2 and 3 inches wide between two studs and near the top of the wall and place the cut portion aside you will reattach this later. While fiberglass often comes in batts it does come in loose fill form as well making it easy to install without tearing open any walls. Insulating interior walls isn. Inspect the exterior walls by using an electrical outlet.

You can remove the drywall or whatever interior sheathing you have and stuff the wall cavity with batten insulation pink fiberglass rock sol etc or you could do a spray foam. Remove the outlet cover and shine a flashlight into the crack around the outlet box. Most communities have building codes that require a minimum amount of insulation in a house s exterior walls and ceiling. With a small hole and a pump you can insulate your existing walls with minimum fuss.

The advantages of insulating interior walls.