Wall Retrofits-Process Of Upgrading Existing Insulation On Walls
This is the process of upgrading / renovating *existing insulation* on exterior or interior walls. This includes finishing an unfinished basement or upgrading (making more energy efficient) existing, finished basements.
Insulating unfinished, exterior walls
When insulating unfinished, exposed concrete walls - there are 2 methods to accomplish this:
Method #1
Quik Therm is a 4 in 1 system giving the user a vapour barrier, radiant barrier, air barrier, and thermal insulation in one application. The panels come in 24′ X 8′ panels.
The system has 2 components, 2″ thick E.P.S. panels and T-shaped studs which create a finished system with studs at 24″ O.C.
This product is quick and easy to install and produces an R-17 performance value.
Method #2
Glue (PL300) Thermal 3Ht 1″ or 2″ panels directly to the concrete and tape all the joints to ensure the integrity of the vapour barrier. The thermal value is determined by the thickness of the sheets applied. Thermal 3Ht is available in 4′ X 8′ sheets in thicknesses of 1/2′, 1″, and 2″.
Re-insulating exterior walls
Reinsulating exterior walls can be a very simple process depending on the existing exterior and if you are going to replace the siding anyway.
Existing wood, vinyl, or aluminum siding
If the existing exterior finish is wood siding, vinyl or aluminum, simply remove the siding and apply *Thermal 3Ht*. This is a very easy project which takes about 2 days for a 1000 sq.ft. bungalow. Northern Alberta Energy Savers Ltd. will supply you with the material to DYI or we will do the installation for you.
Existing stucco siding
If exterior finish is stucco the 3Ht can be applied directly over the stucco using nails long enough to penetrate the stucco into the sheeting. Ideally, the walls should be strapped with 1” x 4” of strapping to create an air space before applying the new exterior.
New Construction
The 3Ht, 4’x8’ sheets would simply be installed directly onto the sheeting before the exterior finish is installed.
The benefit of applying this insulation on the exterior of a building is that the insulation provides a thermal bridge or envelope over the entire exterior avoiding any weak spots in the insulation.
Wall Retrofit – Jobs
Re-insulating outside walls
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In this 1950′s-style home, the existing siding was removed revealing shiplap. |
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Seen here is tar-impregnated paperback rolled fiberglass insulation. Notice the void between the studs. Properly installed Blow-In-Blanket® System insulation provides 100% coverage. |
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Here we see existing wiring devoid of any insulation covering it. Notice the minimal amount of insulation between the studs. At this point all the old insulation was removed and discarded. |
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Next, nylon mesh was stapled over the studs creating full coverage. |
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Loose-fill Climate Pro® has been blown in, completely filling the empty wall cavity. |
4:57 pm
Lisa Brodeur says
My husband and I purchased a 100 year old brick home last fall & spent the coldest winter of our lives here in Edmonton. We found out that our attic had never been insulated, so we had that done in January. Now we would like to tackle the walls. We would like to insulate the walls from the exterior as our interior walls are mostly asbestos filled plaster, and we do not want to disturb them. I have heard that insulation can be done from the exterior by removing either some of the grout between the bricks, or by removing a brick every 16 inches or so & spraying insulation in that way. As our house is listed as a historical home, we cannot disturb the look of the bricks from the outside, so the patchwork afterward will have to be meticulous.
Please let me know if your company does this kind of work, or if you know of any company that will.
Thank you
3:08 am
Irene says
This is not going to be easy. You certainly don’t want to disturb the inside walls with asbestos.
Removing bricks is going to be a challenge. I suggest you contact a very experienced brick layer on that matter. If it is possible to remove bricks and replace them without changing the look, we would need 3″ to get a hose in and move it up and down to blow in the insulation. Most bricks are under three inches.
I suggest you get a qualified, experienced brick layer and if he/she thinks the brickwork is possible., have them remove and replace one brick as a sample of the work they do. If you are satisfied with the work, the easy part is blowing in the insulation. I must make it clear that you will need two trades to do the job correctly, Brick layers and insulators. Beware of insulation companies who might tell you that they can do both. Feel free to call me at 780-416-0026 if you have any other questions along the way. I will help you in any way I can. Also, are you aware that you would qualify for both provincial and federal government grants for upgrading your insulation.