Many homeowners are looking for ways to lower their energy consumption. It’s not surprising considering today’s high energy bills.
One of the best ways to save energy is by installing insulation. It’s an efficient and effective way of managing your home’s temperature. The right insulation can also bring down your electric consumption. Data shows that you can save as much as 20% on heating and cooling.
Installing insulation is a straightforward process. You can do it yourself and take only a day to finish the job. It’s always better to work with an insulation contractor though. You can be sure they will do the job to the highest standard.
It only takes a few steps to add insulation, regardless of who does the job. This article will break down how to install insulation in walls.
Estimate How Much Insulation You’ll Need
You don’t want to waste money when buying insulation. You also don’t want to have rolls of material left and nowhere to place them. It’s why you should calculate how much insulation you’ll need. Walls are often 7-1/2 to 8 feet high. The wall cavities are around 15 inches from side to side. One roll of fiberglass insulation is 32 inches by 15 inches. A roll is enough for four wall cavities. So compute how many linear feet of wall you have. Then divide the wall lineage with the length of the insulation. This will tell you how many rolls you’ll need.
Choose the Best Insulation Material
There are different insulation materials in the market today. The insulation you need for a wall is sometimes different from what’s used in the ceiling. There are also various factors to consider when choosing insulation. Professional insulators know what’s best for your wall.
Prepare the Walls
Insulation companies will always prepare the wall before they start the installation. You should do the same if you’re doing the job on your own. Make sure you clean out the wall cavities. Remove nails and screws. Get rid of unused wires, debris, and dust.
Ready the Insulation Material
The job will go faster if you unroll the insulation first. Make sure the floor is clean before you start unrolling. Insulation rolls are often compressed tight. Unrolling them will help the material expand before use. Insulation contractors will use this time to check the wall. They’ll look for areas where air might enter from outside. They will then add caulk to these spots.
An insulation company will trim the insulation before they install it. There are two ways to do this. You can trim it to the correct length while it’s laid out on the floor. The other way is to push the insulation into the wall. Roll it down to the bottom of the wall. You can then trim off the excess with a knife.
Push Inside the Wall
Insulators will start pressing the insulation into the wall after trimming it. They’ll press the insulation between the wall studs. They’ll put enough pressure to ensure the material is now flushed against the wall. They will trim around the power outlets.
There must be a snug fit between the insulation and the wall cavity. It will ensure that the insulation will remain on the wall. But you can also staple it to the wall stud. Repeat the process in every wall cavity until you cover the entire wall area.
There might be narrow gaps between the insulation. Most insulation contractors will add foam to these areas. They can stuff the open spaces with the trimmings ripped off earlier. They can also fill the space with foam insulation since it expands. Some insulators will even add a vapor barrier. This is often done in areas with colder temperatures. The barrier prevents condensation from forming on the insulation. It also stops molds from growing.
A Final Word
Wall insulation can make it easier on your budget. That’s what A Affordable Insulators wants for you. We’re a family-owned and run company. We’re based in Houston, Texas, and have been in the business for years. We do residential and commercial fiberglass insulation. Our team is also trained to handle different types of insulation. We do spray foam insulation and loose-fill attic insulation. We also offer spray reflective coating and attic insulation removal. Give us a call at 832-243-7484 and get a free estimate. You can also send us a message at Insulationform@aaffordableinsulators.com.
