Putting Insulation In Walls

Retrofit wall insulation is a debatable subject because there is no single right answer for all homes and homeowners.

Putting insulation in walls.

The advantages of insulating interior walls. Insulation in house exterior walls is one of the primary defenses against heat and energy loss. Only a cost benefit analysis in relation to your own situation can help you arrive at the right answer. Staple the flanges of faced insulation to the interior faces of the wall studs or stud edges.

The structural elements are usually exposed in these areas which makes it easy to see what type of insulation you have and to measure its depth or thickness inches. The r value of the batt measures the thermal resistance so the higher the r value the more effectively. There are various grades of insulating batting for different locations in the house so you ll need a different insulation for interior exterior attic or basement walls. Check the attic walls and floors adjacent to an unheated space like a garage or basement.

Tuck the snipped out plug of insulation behind the box. When stapling avoid stretching the facing too tightly overcompressing the insulation or creating gaps or puckers. Walls both exterior and interior are the next area to insulate in a home. In most wall applications you will use r 13 or r 15 kraft faced fiberglass insulation rolls for these two by four stud walls.

The grade of batting will vary depending on the wall that you re insulating. Most communities have building codes that require a minimum amount of insulation in a house s exterior walls and ceiling. The third area that needs proper insulation is the floors. That creates gaps and air convection routes around the box.

If installing unfaced insulation in unfinished walls such as an interior wall allow friction to hold the insulation in place. Don t wrap fiberglass batts around electrical boxes or stuff full batts behind them. All kraft faced insulation is easy to cut with a sharp utility knife or insulation knife. In some cases the cost of adding insulation may exceed the cost of energy needed to heat or cool it.

Rigid boards work best on exterior walls along with a vapor barrier. Insulating interior walls isn. Choose fiberglass insulation batting. While rated differently these two types of insulation are close enough in thickness that they can both fit into modern two by four wall systems.

Put the batt in place and use a scissors to snip around the box. Fiberglass batts foam or cellulose can be used to insulate the interior walls. Roll insulation is best for floors ceilings and roofs with a long joist or rafter bays and for tall walls. Unfortunately however builders didn t insulate the walls of most homes built before the 1980s.