How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient With Thicker Walls

If you live in a typical home made of two by four construction your walls may only be R-13 which does not offer the best protection in either hot or cold climates. Here is how to double the insulation in your walls without a major exterior remodel.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. This renovation works best on straight walls with few protrusions. If you have a straight, simple interior wall with only a window or two, especially on the west or north facing side of your home you could see as substantial decrease in your heating and cooling bills. Start by removing any molding and trim from the wall that you are going to double. Turn off any electrical plugs and switches at the breaker. You may want to call an electrician after you have framed the wall, before you put in any insulation to extend any switches or plugs on out to the new wall.
2. You will leave the old wall intact and begin peeling back any carpeting. If you have vinyl flooring you can place your bottom two by four track on it or onto tile.
   If the bottom track is going onto tile I recommend wood glue and anchor bolts on two foot spacing or whatever your local code requires. The top track needs to be screwed or nailed to each rafter or subfloor joist.
   Once the bottom, top and side two by fours are in place an secure you can begin to fill in the studs on a sixteen or twenty four inch spacing.
   Once your electrician has relocated all switches and plugs you can fill the wall with insulation. You can fit batts of fiberglass insulation into the space between the studs with the kraft faced material toward the inside of the home.
3. Once the wall is insulated you can begin to install drywall over the studs. You will have thicker windowsills now but many consider that attractive.
   Apply texture to the taped and floated drywall, paint and replace the original moldings.
   You have successfully doubled the insulation in your wall and added attractive deep windowsills. In addition this helps with soundproofing especially if on the side facing the street and even adds some strength to your home.