How to Insulate a House With Cellulose

Insulating a wall during construction or remodeling is a simple matter of stapling fiberglass insulation in between the open studs before drywall is installed. Insulating a wall that's closed is a lot more complicated, but not impossible. If you have an old house that wasn't properly insulated during its construction, you don't need to rip out walls to do it. You can rent an insulation blower and loose cellulose insulation (generally, ground-up newspaper), and blow it in from holes near the ceiling. This is best done in conjunction with a repainting project.

Things You'll Need

• Electronic stud finder
• Pencil
• Power drill
• Hole saw bit, a little wider than the hose on your insulation blower
• Insulation blower with cellulose insulation
• Plaster
• Mesh drywall tape
• Drywall knife
• Sandpaper
• Paint and roller

Instructions

1. Locate each stud in the wall, using an electronic stud finder. Mark with a pencil at the center point between each pair of studs, putting the mark about 6 inches down from the ceiling.

2. Use a drill and a hole saw bit slightly larger than the hose on the insulation blower to put a hole at each pencil mark. Save the circles that come out and set them aside.

3. Load your insulation blower with cellulose insulation. Slide the blower hose into the first hole, pushing it down as far as it will go. Start the blower.

4. Pull the hose up out of the hole gradually as the insulation fills the wall section. You should feel resistance on the hose and hear a straining sound to the motor when it has to be pulled up further.

5. Continue until the whole section is filled and the hose is back out of the wall. Repeat for each hole along the wall.

6. Place the circular cutouts that you saved earlier back in their holes. Press mesh drywall tape over them and lay a layer of patching plaster on top with a drywall knife. Allow the plaster to dry overnight, then apply another thin coat. After it dries, sand it smooth and repaint the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear a dust mask and goggles when operating the insulation blower.

References

• Build It Solar: Loose Cellulose Insulation