Replies

1. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Apr 12, 2017 12:36pm | #1

   Janine,
   I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "we were going to remove the siding and a couple sheathing boards to fish thru fiberglass on the first floor plaster walls." If you are thinking of inserting fiberglass batts from the exterior, that approach doesn't make much sense.

   The standard way to insulate empty stud bays in an older house like yours is with dense-packed cellulose. The insulation is installed through a hose. Installers drill one hole per stud bay. The work can be performed from the interior or the exterior; once the insulation work is complete, the holes are patched.

   Call up a few insulation contractors or weatherization contractors and ask if they are willing to install dense-packed cellulose in your walls.

   For more information, see How to Install Cellulose Insulation.

   -- Martin Holladay

2. 
   Jhorton1214 | Apr 12, 2017 12:40pm | #2

   Thank you for the reply - And that won't create too much trapped moisture?

3. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Apr 12, 2017 12:48pm | #3

   Janine,
   Whether your walls get wet depend on a variety of factors. The usual way water enters walls is from the exterior. (In other words, it's rain.) Wide roof overhangs and excellent flashing details prevent water entry.

   If your older house has skimpy roof overhangs and bad flashing details, it's certainly possible for your walls to get wet. It's hard for us to assess these details in a web-based advice column.

   Insulated walls dry more slowly than uninsulated walls, so good water management details are important.

   -- Martin Holladay

4. 
   Jhorton1214 | Apr 12, 2017 12:58pm | #4

   Last question - should insulation contractors or weatherization contractors now about water management - or who should I ask about that?

5. GBA Editor
   Martin Holladay | Apr 12, 2017 01:03pm | #5

   Janine,
   Certainly insulation contractors and weatherization contractors should know about moisture management. But not all of them do, which puts you in a tricky situation.

   I urge you to educate yourself as much as possible. Read articles on GBA. Use the GBA search box to find articles on topics you are interested in.

   The more you know, the easier it will be to separate the knowledgeable contractors from the charlatans.

   -- Martin Holladay

6. 
   Jhorton1214 | Apr 12, 2017 01:09pm | #6

   Greatly appreciate it.