insulating walls in my 1978 home

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bsmith82

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Hello- last winter, my northwest bedroom walls were so cold, there was frost on the inside wall. some water running down etc... I could tell from the touch that perhaps one or several cavities were probably without insulation, yet when I removed the plug plate, I could not push a coathanger into the wall with out hitting insulation. Another was clearly without insulation.

I have to do something. Can I safely add blow in foam to the wall with fiberglass batts ? I am thinking of cutting a 6 " horizontal strip of drywall out to get a better picture of the interior cavity wall. I can repair the wall-I am sure- (wainscoating, beadboard etc)

Would it be ok to just blow the foam in, or should I remove any fiberglass that might be in there and has collapsed.?
Thank you for your help.:confused:
 
Welcome BSmith:
I would prefer to work on the surface of the wall by using styrofoam sheets, either on the inside or the outside. We recently used the 'fan-fold' 3/8" foam on our house covered with vinyl siding. It is amazing, how much difference we have noticed. I am in a more moderate temperature area than you though.
You could add 2" foam sheets to your inside walls and cover it with gypsum wallboard for a super barrier. Of course you would have to extend your outlets and door and window frames to the new surface.
Glenn
 
It might sound extreme but, drywall and mud is cheap enough. Also with the mention of moisture, I'd want to inspect the entire cavity for mold. I'd remove the drywall from the entire wall, remediate any mold issues, reinsulate, install new drywall and finish the surface. Collapsed fiberglass is not an effective insulator and should be removed, blow foam might be overkill and is expensive.
 
I completely agree that the wall should be ripped out and checked for mold, etc. Then you can properly insulate and even throw in a new outlet or two if you want. Don't forget the moisture barrier. Heck, you might find that the new wall is so nice that you'll end up going all the way around the exterior walls in your house. Also check for leaks from windows and along the top plate from the roofing coming down into the wall.
 
If you go that route, don't use fiberglass again, there are much better choices available.And with the others, you get what you pay for.....

Be safe, Gary
 
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