Insulation fits in the space between studs.
The main purpose for insulation behind a wall is to provide a barrier between the outside and inside air in your home. If you have heating and cooling problems in your home, a lack of insulation may be driving up your gas or electric bills. You can remedy this problem to some extent by adding extra insulation behind the drywall in your home.
Getting Started
One of the most efficient ways to add extra insulation behind drywall is to remove the drywall. Since the seams where drywall panels meet on the wall are generally hidden behind seam filler such as spackle, and layers of paint or wallpaper, it can be difficult to remove the drywall panels without damage. The most effective method of removing drywall is to tear it down in pieces and replace it with new sheets.
Adding Insulation
You can only add as much extra insulation behind drywall as you have space, so if the wall cavity behind drywall is already full of insulation, replacing the old insulation is one option. Although, you also have the option of extending the wall further into the room to accommodate more insulation, which may be a necessary choice in houses or apartments that are difficult to heat and cool. If you extend the wall into the room to add insulation, some square footage is lost.
High-Performance Insulation
An alternative to adding extra insulation behind drywall is to switch out the insulation that is already installed with a more effective type. Standard insulation comes in a range from R-13 to R-19 batts, but higher batts, such as R-21, provide more effective coverage.The drawback is that you can expect a significant increase in price for high-performance insulation.
Other Options
If you don't want to take on the expense and work of tearing down the drywall in your home, or lose the space to extend a wall, you may want to consider adding the extra insulation in front of the wall instead of behind it. Heavy curtains, such as velvet or wool, provide some insulation when hung over a wall surface. Another option is to install insulated wall panels directly in front of an existing wall to provide interior insulation.
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