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.

Check the attic walls and floors adjacent to an unheated space like a garage or basement. In some cases the cost of adding insulation may exceed the cost of energy needed to heat or cool it. Insulation in house exterior walls is one of the primary defenses against heat and energy loss. That creates gaps and air convection routes around the box.

So if your house was built before insulating walls became standard you can potentially save a great deal of energy by insulating. Tuck the snipped out plug of insulation behind the box. 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. Rigid boards work best on exterior walls along with a vapor barrier.

The third area that needs proper insulation is the floors. Most communities have building codes that require a minimum amount of insulation in a house s exterior walls and ceiling. Insulating interior walls isn. The r value of the batt measures the thermal resistance so the higher the r value the more effectively.

Only a cost benefit analysis in relation to your own situation can help you arrive at the right answer. Put the batt in place and use a scissors to snip around the box. Don t wrap fiberglass batts around electrical boxes or stuff full batts behind them. Find your zone on the map and then use the chart to determine the level of insulation you need to properly insulate your attic walls floors and crawlspaces.

Walls both exterior and interior are the next area to insulate in a home. 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 advantages of insulating interior walls. The grade of batting will vary depending on the wall that you re insulating.

In most wall applications you will use r 13 or r 15 kraft faced fiberglass insulation rolls for these two by four stud walls. Fiberglass batts foam or cellulose can be used to insulate the interior walls. Choose fiberglass insulation batting.