Putting Insulation In Walls

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.

Putting insulation in walls. Kraft faced or paper faced insulation comes in batts and long rolls. The batts are precut to fit into cavities on standard 8 foot high walls. Most communities have building codes that require a minimum amount of insulation in a house s exterior walls and ceiling. Only a cost benefit analysis in relation to your own situation can help you arrive at the right answer.

So if your house was built before insulating walls became standard you can potentially save a great deal of energy by insulating. Staple the flanges of faced insulation to the interior faces of the wall studs or stud edges. Retrofit wall insulation is a debatable subject because there is no single right answer for all homes and homeowners. Check the attic walls and floors adjacent to an unheated space like a garage or basement.

Roll insulation is best for floors ceilings and roofs with a long joist or rafter bays and for tall walls. Don t wrap fiberglass batts around electrical boxes or stuff full batts behind them. Walls both exterior and interior are the next area to insulate in a home. Rigid boards work best on exterior walls along with a vapor barrier.

The advantages of insulating interior walls. 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. When stapling avoid stretching the facing too tightly overcompressing the insulation or creating gaps or puckers.

Insulating interior walls isn. In some cases the cost of adding insulation may exceed the cost of energy needed to heat or cool it. Tuck the snipped out plug of insulation behind the box. Choose fiberglass insulation batting.

The r value of the batt measures the thermal resistance so the higher the r value the more effectively. Unfortunately however builders didn t insulate the walls of most homes built before the 1980s. All kraft faced insulation is easy to cut with a sharp utility knife or insulation knife. Insulation in house exterior walls is one of the primary defenses against heat and energy loss.

Put the batt in place and use a scissors to snip around the box. If installing unfaced insulation in unfinished walls such as an interior wall allow friction to hold the insulation in place. 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. That creates gaps and air convection routes around the box.