Wall Insulation

If not properly insulated, the walls of your home can account for as much as 35% of your home's lost energy. If you think about it, exterior walls probably have the biggest impact on your comfort—they're usually the largest total area of the house that can lose conditioned air.

If you have rooms that feel drafty, too cold, too hot, but never comfortable, then your wall insulation may be a big factor. Wisconsin Home Improvement can help to assess your home's wall insulation and recommend next steps for an efficient home.

High-Performance Wall Insulation Improves Comfort

In addition to the benefit of improved energy efficiency and money savings, a good layer of insulation in the walls of your home can help make it feel cozy and comfortable all year long. Our home performance audit can identify areas in walls where insulation is missing or lacking, as well as small gaps and cracks where heat exits and adds to heating costs.

How Much is Enough Wall Insulation?

For existing homes in our area of Wisconsin, the US Department of Energy recommends R-15 to R-30 in wall cavities. The code requirements for new home construction or additions specify a minimum of R-21 in wood framed walls to meet federal efficiency standards. R-values measure the material's resistance to heat transfer; the higher the number, the less heat is allowed to pass through.

What Kind of Insulation Is Used in Walls?

In existing homes, there are two common methods for adding insulation to walls without removing wall board:

Spray Foam Insulation

This type of insulation has the ability to expand into spaces between framing, pipes, studs, vents, wiring and other home elements hidden in the walls. Spray foam is an excellent overall air barrier that reduces noise and keeps pollutants and allergens out. It also provides superior comfort and energy efficiency. Wisconsin Home Improvement uses Icynene, a closed cell spray foam.

Dense Pack

Loose fiberglass or cellulose insulation can be blown in for dense pack wall insulation. The Owens Corning Fiberglass products WHI uses are non-combustible, non-corrosive, formaldehyde-free and resistant to moisture and mold. Also applied in a dense pack method, cellulose insulation is a natural, plant-based product. Cellulose is safe, dependable and cost-effective solution.

Where in the Walls Will I Need to Insulate?

When the Wisconsin Home Improvement team conducts a home performance audit, areas in the walls and other locations in the home will be highlighted using thermal infrared imaging while the blower door test fan is operating. The imaging will show where outside air is being drawn in through gaps, cracks and leaks in the exterior envelope of the home.

Pest Removal and Wall Insulation Upgrades

Pests in your walls are not only annoying to listen to, but they can also chew through and damage your wall insulation, leaving it less effective and creating comfort, energy efficiency, and even indoor air quality issues.

Wisconsin Home Improvement partners with a local pest removal company to make solving mice, rodent, and other critter problems in your home easy. First we remove any old insulation that’s been damaged by animals. Then the area is treated to remove animal waste and prevent pests from returning. Finally, new insulation is installed—like high quality spray foam—leaving your home more comfortable, affordable to heat and cool, and pest free!

How is Wall Insulation Applied?

Our team will assess the insertion ports that will be needed to achieve complete dense pack or spray foam coverage in the walls. Most homes will be accessed on the exterior of the home. Some homes with brick, stucco or Hardie Plank exteriors may need to be accessed from interior walls. Once the insulation process is completed, these small ports are sealed.

Increase your home's comfort by installing high-performance insulation in your walls. Wisconsin Home Improvement's experienced team can help you determine where and how much you'll need. Contact us to get started!