Anyone have experiance with insluating existing walls?

[tojan19]

I need to get the walls in my garage insulated but they are already drywalled. It's not an option to replace the drywall so I'm going to have to blow it in. I've read about using the insulation blowers to fill walls but would like some more input from some one with experience. I've got 2 walls 11' high x 22' and each has 2 windows. I've also got the garage door wall but with the 2 garage doors and the entry door on that wall that accounts for 80% of the space.

 

[dipper]

what kind of siding do you have on the exterior?
After easily installing siding on my garage and replacing a bunch of damaged pieces on my house this summer; i realized that it would be easy to remove a row of siding around the house and drill holes through the original siding and blow in insulation. Aftewards you'd just have to plug up the holes and re-install the siding. Doing it from the inside you'd have to patch up drywall holes every 16" or so. My house was built in 1932 and has very little insulation in the walls. I may do the insulation next summer.

 

[tojan19]

Brick. Don't think I'll be doing it from the outside.
I just finished patching a ton of drywall where I put in wiring. I'm not scared of that.

 

[lametec]

You can also get expanding polyurethane foam injected into the walls. Makes a smaller footprint than "blown" insulation, I would think. Just a small hole on bottom and top.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I've blown in insulation in the first two houses I've owned from the outside. One by removing a row of siding and one by just drilling and plugging.

My current house is brick and I will be blowing the walls from the inside and patching the drywall. Alot of extra work from doing it from the outside under the siding but my only option.

Whole House Project:
1 Day Prep work -drilling holes - locating studs and cavities
1 Day blowing insullation (More than likely cellulose)
1 Day Cleaning up & taping holes
Weeks fixing drywall and painting (not my favorite job but I'm capable)

Years for my wife to get over having to re-paint the inside of the whole house.

Good luck

 

[kells44]

Do you need a vapor barrier (sheet of plastic) if you are blowing in cellulose insulation behind existing drywall?

 

[mulepackin]

Do you need a vapor barrier (sheet of plastic) if you are blowing in cellulose insulation behind existing drywall?

I would think that would be a concern, although not so great a concern as "living space". Its different if you are in a house where you are cooking, bathing, etc. as well as spending more time (or not), and generating more potential moisture.