Wall Insulation 101

Adequate wall insulation prevents heating and cooling losses, thus conserving energy, and ensuring maximum utilization of the Furnace & Air-Conditioning system.  Good wall insulation also makes the interior space more comfortable and less noisy. 

Choosing between different insulation options

Adding wall insulation to existing walls, requires drilling holes into the wall to access the wall cavity, to fill it with insulation. Spray foam insulation is the best option when retrofitting existing home walls, as it can be sprayed inside the wall cavity with minimal intrusion/holes. Spray-foam insulation thus allows for fast, easy and effective (one of the highest R values/density) retrofitting options, while also automatically air-sealing any existing leakages. 

Spray foam is an effective and less intrusive wall insulation option 

Cellulose insulation is organic and can also be blown-in with minimum intrusion, but can absorb water in humid weather. For deeper (interior walls are torn down) retrofits, insulation boards/batts (rigid foam boards or fiberglass batts) can be used.

Getting the Insulation "R" Value

Insulation’s effectiveness is measured by its “R” value. R is the short form for Insulation’s Resistance against transfer of heat across it. Thus higher the R value of the Insulation, higher is its effectiveness. Our (SmartZeroHome.com) intelligent design software can specify the exact insulation R values that are the most cost-effective and the most impactful, for your home.

Also see our post on roof/attic insulation, and our pick of the best roof insulation products in the market.

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