How to Blow Insulation in a Metal Building

The easiest way to install insulation is during renovation or building.

Metal buildings are often filled with irregular spaces that make it difficult to install fiberglass; that's where blow-in insulation comes in handy. Blow-in insulation uses cellulose fiber which can easily fill these spaces with insulation and restrict the airflow of a building. Blow-in insulation can keep the hot air in and the cold air out, saving you lots of money in energy bills. In addition, it is relatively affordable and easy to self-install.

Things You'll Need

• Studfinder
• Drill
• Blower
• Expanding foam filler
• Scraper
• Paint
• Drywall compound
• Sandpaper

Instructions

1. Inspect the interior and exterior of the home to determine how to install the blow-in insulation. If you have vinyl siding, for example, these can easily be removed to access the wall cavity. From the inside, remove electrical appliances from the outlet and remove the electrical outlets with a screwdriver. Use a flashlight to inspect inside the outlet to see what is behind the wall.

2. Drill a 1 1/4-inch hole into each stud space in the wall. Use a stud finder and drag it along the walls to locate the studs. Mark the stud locations. Two or more holes must be drilled in each story of the home. Holes should be located about 5 feet apart vertically and must be positioned above and below windows and doors.

3. Set up the blower and run a hose through a window. Insert the hose nozzle into the hold and blow the insulation into the wall hole. The area will fill up with the insulation until the entire wall cavity is full. Fill each drilled hole with cellulose insulation.

4. Patch the wall holes by pushing the holes all the way inside the wall with your finger. Fill the holes with expanding foam filler. The filler forms a mushroom of foam around each hole.

5. Saw the foam mushroom with a bread knife when it has dried. Apply the knife to the surface of the wall to smooth it out as much as possible.

6. Apply a thin coat of drywall compound with a drywall scraper tool and wait for it to dry. Lightly sand the area with sandpaper to smooth the area.

7. Paint over the area completely and evenly and wait for it to dry.

References

• Home Tips: How to Blow Insulation Into a Wall
• Natural Resources: Blown-In Insulation