Especially in colder climates, insulating your home’s interior walls can be a cost-effective way to increase comfort and energy efficiency. Your living spaces will stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter thanks to the thermal barrier that is created when insulation is added to the interior walls. For homes where installing external insulation is neither desirable nor practical, this method works well.
It’s important to determine the right materials and evaluate the state of your walls before starting the insulation process. You will need to choose insulation that either fits snugly between studs or can be applied directly to the wall surface, depending on the type of wall construction—whether it’s made of plaster, drywall, or another material. When measurements and preparation are done correctly, insulation can function well without sacrificing structural integrity.
Choosing the right insulation material is one of the most important factors in interior wall insulation. Spray foam, rigid foam boards, and fiberglass batts are typical options. Each material has advantages of its own: spray foam can effectively seal gaps and cracks while providing excellent coverage, while fiberglass batts are less expensive and easier to install between wall studs. High-quality rigid foam boards are the best choice for adding insulation without drastically decreasing interior space because of their high insulating value.
After selecting the insulation material, installation calls for cautious handling and accurate fitting. Make sure the fiberglass batts slide in between the studs tightly to avoid compressing them, which will lessen their insulating value. To achieve uniform coverage and adequate sealing around pipes, electrical outlets, and other penetrations, spray foam application requires skill. In order to stop air leaks, rigid foam boards need to be cut to size and fastened firmly to walls with sealed joints.
In addition to increasing energy efficiency, insulating interior walls also improves acoustic insulation, which lowers noise transfer between rooms. It’s a cost-effective investment that can result in long-term savings on cooling and heating expenses and improve indoor comfort all year round.
In what cases is it relevant
It is undoubtedly possible to raise the house’s thermotechnical indicators by adding wall insulation from the interior. However, this is an unusual technology, as most attempts are made to insulate external surfaces. There are, however, some circumstances in which there is no other option.
This option applies to apartment buildings as well. It not only makes homes more comfortable, but it also keeps problems like mildew and mold from growing.
Problems
This approach has several drawbacks. This explains why there are so many people who oppose the method. When walls are insulated "from the inside," the following issues may arise:
- The walls are not protected from the cold. The supporting structure of the building continues to contact with the outside air. This can lead to its gradual destruction. Cracks will begin to appear on the surface. This measure not only does not protect the outer wall from the cold, but also takes away some of the heat from it, because before insulation, part of the heat from the room heated the wall, and now this flow is blocked.
- Condensation. It forms on a cold surface upon contact with warm air. Heating engineers call the location of condensation the dew point. The main task of thermal insulation is to move the dew point outside the wall. Insulation “from the inside” ensures a shift of the dew point to the boundary between the wall and the insulation. This process is hidden, so home owners do not notice it. But humidity will be an excellent condition for the proliferation of various microorganisms.
- Reducing the area of premises. Modern types of insulation have good efficiency. But science has not yet come up with such a good material that its thickness is minimal. To insulate a house from the room side, you will need 5 to 10 cm of insulation. This eats up space quite a bit. This is not so noticeable to the eye, but if you calculate the losses for the entire building, the figure turns out to be significant.
Thus, we advise that you carefully consider the aforementioned issues before deciding to insulate the interior walls of your home. Since the effects of your inattention will become apparent in the initial years of operation, in this case, your ignorance does not absolve you of responsibility.
This post discusses doable methods for insulating your walls from the inside, which is an affordable way to raise the comfort and energy efficiency of your house. We’ll go over essential supplies and techniques that work with various wall types, with a focus on simple steps that homeowners can take on their own. This guide will assist you in managing the process efficiently, resulting in a more insulated and comfortable living area, regardless of your goal of lowering heating expenses or addressing cold spots. This sentence establishes the tone for the article by succinctly summarizing its advantages and extent.
Material selection
The technology makes it possible to use various kinds of insulation. Every one of them has unique qualities, benefits, and drawbacks. The following materials are most frequently used to insulate walls from the inside:
- Styrofoam;
- extruded polystyrene foam (Penoplex type);
- mineral wool;
- wood fiber boards.
Styrofoam
Polyfoam is reasonably priced and highly effective. For most situations, 5 cm will be sufficient to create a cozy microclimate. Without the need for extra tools or complicated processing, it enables you to finish tasks quickly.
However, this material has some serious drawbacks:
- low strength;
- flammability;
- poor vapor permeability – polystyrene foam can turn a house into a real greenhouse.
It will be necessary to use a forced ventilation device to avoid the previous forecast. These kinds of activities will cost more money and labor. Check out a thorough article about interior foam insulation.
Extruded polystyrene foam
Extruded polystyrene foam, specifically of the Penoplex type, was the closest relative of polystyrene foam. Though it is orange rather than white, the appearance is remarkably similar. It is also important to note that it is more resilient and strong. However, drawbacks like poor vapor permeability and flammability still exist. Such wall insulation prevents the wall from breathing, necessitating the use of additional ventilation.
Is it feasible to use polystyrene foam for interior insulation? Indeed, you can. However, you must be ready for unfavorable outcomes and take prompt action to avoid them. For lightweight concrete or brick, this option works better. Typically, wall wood is selected specifically for its breathing capacity. Air flow can be readily blocked by polystyrene foam, negating all of the advantages of wood.
Mineral wool
Insulation of this kind is now widely used. Although it costs a little more, its vapor permeability is high. Selecting basalt mineral wool—which is made in stiff slabs—is advised. It has a fairly high strength, doesn’t burn, and is simple to install.
However, exercise caution when adding the insulating layer to the interior of the space. The resistance to moisture in this material is low. Cotton wool practically stops doing its direct functions once it has fully absorbed water. Waterproofing on the cold air side and a vapor barrier on the warm air side are necessary for dependable moisture protection.
Films and membranes are the two conventional forms in which vapor barrier and waterproofing materials are manufactured. The former’s permeability to vapor is low. Typical polyethylene film is the least expensive example. It is advised to use contemporary membranes so as not to obstruct the airflow within the walls. Check out the detailed instructions for using mineral wool to insulate walls from the inside.
Fiberboard
Soft fiberboard boards can be used to insulate a house’s walls from the inside. Although the following benefits are not guaranteed, the option does have an advantage over the previously listed difficulties in the future:
- good thermal insulation and noise absorption;
- unattractive to insects and rodents;
- good resistance to moisture and temperature changes;
- ease of processing, you can use any tools;
- easy installation;
- ease of wiring.
Material selection criteria
A home’s interior wall insulation needs to fulfill the following requirements:
- environmental friendliness;
- safety;
- fire resistance (for materials that are not resistant to high temperatures, select the appropriate finish);
- durability;
- efficiency, low thermal conductivity;
- good resistance to moisture (or the presence of additional protection against it).
It is worthwhile to examine the vapor permeability as well. How can a house be long-term insulated? Proper ventilation must be taken into account. The building will experience high humidity and microclimate disruptions in the absence of this. It is possible to solve the issue, but you must consider it first.
| Step 1: Assess Wall Condition | Check for moisture, cracks, and existing insulation. |
| Step 2: Choose Insulation Material | Select suitable insulation like foam boards, mineral wool, or reflective foil. |
| Step 3: Prepare Surface | Clean walls thoroughly and repair any defects. |
| Step 4: Apply Insulation | Install chosen material securely, ensuring even coverage. |
| Step 5: Seal Gaps | Use caulking or foam to seal gaps around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. |
| Step 6: Finish Surface | Cover insulation with drywall or paneling as desired. |
Of course! This is a brief summary of your article "Instructions for wall insulation from the inside":
Your home’s comfort and energy efficiency can be greatly increased by insulating the interior of your walls. You can improve indoor air quality without sacrificing warmth or sustainability in your living space by selecting the appropriate materials and installation techniques.
Moisture control is an important factor to take into account when insulating from the inside. Over time, problems like mold and structural damage can be avoided by properly managing moisture. Materials that permit moisture to escape while still functioning as effective insulation, like vapor-permeable membranes or breathable insulation boards, can help achieve this.
It’s also critical to comprehend how well your insulation performs thermally. Different materials provide different degrees of insulation, so it’s important to choose the right kind and thickness for your climate and heating requirements. This guarantees that you save as much energy as possible without incurring extra costs.
Finally, for your insulation to work properly, installation must be done correctly. You can optimize the performance of insulation by making sure it fits snugly, caulking joints and gaps, and, for complex areas, thinking about hiring a professional installer. By doing these things, you can reduce your heating expenses over time while also improving thermal comfort.
To sum up, insulating walls from the inside out is a workable way to raise the comfort and energy efficiency of your house. You can establish a more sustainable and healthful living space for years to come by giving moisture control top priority, choosing the appropriate insulation materials, and making sure installation is done correctly.
