PROPERLY INSTALLING WALL INSULATION

Proper installation of wall insulation is a key apsect of an energy efficient home. For this DIY article about installing wall insulation, we will go through the basics of wall insulation and the move into a checklist which you can use when building your own home to check and ensure that wall insulation has been properly installed. Before beginning wall insulation it is important to confirm that all trades have passed the appropriate city inspections. The last thing you want to do is insulate and drywall your home only to realize that the city is going to require you to remove the drywall and/or insulation to complete the inspection. Insulation energy efficiency is defined by its R value which measures the insulations ability to prevent heat transfer. The higher the R value the more it insulates. Therefore, R-13 is not as energy efficient as an R-30 insulation is. R-13 would be typical of an insulation found in an exterior wall; and R-38+ would be the R-value typically found in an attic/ceiling. Different areas are going to recommend different levels of R-value to provide the most energy efficient home. The Energy Star website provides a great resources for those looking to learn more about R-Value and creating an energy efficient home. This website also provides information for the recommended R-value for specific regions within the United States based upon the typical climates.

When checking your subcontractors work you can easily review the wall insulation by confirming the following checklist:

- Confirm that the polycel insulation has been complete prior to proceeding.

- That all exterior walls are insulated completely. Typicall with R-13 value insulation

- Paper side of insulation (if applicable) is to be facing toward conditioned area.

- Ensure that insulation is placed between pipes that are in the wall and the exterior sheathing.

- Insulation has been stapled to the framing members to prevent sagging

- Ensure that insulation has been cut to fit and that not voids are present

- Check in small cavities and under tubs to ensure that present

- Confirm that sloped ceilings have recieved batt insulation. These areas are difficult if not impossible to insulate with blown in insulation and you do not want to risk the voids.

- Pony walls, sloped ceilings, and cathedral ceilings should recieve batts insulation. Typically R-22 to R-30+

- Insulate the ceiling of garages that contain occupiable space above.

- Ensure insulation has been placed around all windows as well as under windows.

- Packing insulation in does not mean that it provides better energy efficiency. Packing insulation will decrease its insulation value. Efficient insulation is a result of the void spaces between the fibers. If compressed you decrease the voids.

- Baffles are installed on the bottom side of the roof decking in every other rafter bay to allow the soffitt to breathe with the attic

- Confirm that exterior walls inside of duct chases and fireplaces chases are insulated. Also, these areas are considered hot walls under new energy star guidelines and will require sealing off with plywood on all areas. You should confirm insulation prior to sealing with plywood.

- Water service pipes coming from the exterior should be insulated on both sides. Split the batts to wrap around

- It is also a best practice to install insulation around the attic staircase openings so to prevent the blown insulation from constantly falling inside the house when you open the attic.

- Batts to be used to insulate pony walls which change the ceiling heights of the building. When pony walls are used to change ceiling heights and the wall is then exposed to attic space, do not rely on batts insulation to properly insulate this area from thermal transfer.

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