What Kind Of Insulation Do I Need For Exterior Walls

How to select insulation.

What kind of insulation do i need for exterior walls.

Check behind knee walls which are walls between living spaces and the garage or attic. 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. A vapor retarder is a material used to prevent water vapor from diffusing into the wall ceiling or floor during the cold winter. Best for floors foundation and basement walls interior and exterior wall sheathing and low sloped ceilings.

Calculate the quantity of insulation you should buy. Do this in conjunction with fixing exterior wall problems that caused the dampness in the first place. Turn off the electricity then remove an electrical outlet cover for a view of exterior insulation. If the walls and ceiling will remain open not covered with drywall or plywood it s a good idea to use paper faced or encapsulated fiberglass bats that are wrapped in a plastic film.

How to insulate house walls from the outside. These will give the walls a slightly more finished look and you won t have the itchy fibers of the insulation exposed and ready to catch dust at all times. Determine where you need to add insulation. Remove and dispose of that old insulation and install new insulation.

Achieving greater r values in attics the higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. Foam board insulation is easy to use and is a great diy way to add some insulation. Determine how much additional insulation r value you need. To add soundproofing weave a continuous roll of fiberglass insulation between staggered studs using insulation designed for 2x4 walls.

After the insulation is in place you will want to add a vapor retarder sometimes called a vapor barrier if you need one. Often you may have insulation in the walls but the insulation has become moldy and damp over the years greatly reducing its effectiveness. 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. Exterior walls and floors.

When you reach the end of the wall cut off the insulation. Check garage walls and ceilings that are adjacent to conditioned spaces. Because they have a high r value and can be used nearly anywhere in your home foam boards are one of the most common types of insulation. Determine the type of insulation you need.

Some types of thicker foam board insulation are available but they may need to be special ordered. It comes in standard size 4 8 sheets and smaller sizes in many different thicknesses from 1 4 inch to 2 inches. Not every wall does. Weave loosely to fill the cavity but tightly enough so you won t have to compress the insulation when you install drywall.