Properly sealed, moisture-protected, and insulated walls would definitely help you increase comfort in your home, reduce noise coming from outside, and make savings in your energy costs.
However, walls need special attention when insulation is considered as they make up to the majority of the building envelope facing the outer air.
There are somepoints to be considered for an effective wall insulation. They are:
Walls should be constructed in an airtight way.
If there are any air leaks in the wall that appeared during construction they should be blocked.
Air sealing reduces heat flow from air and prevents water vapor in the air from entering the wall.
In a 100-squarefoot wall, one cup of water can diffuse through drywall without a vapor barrier in a year, but 50 cups can enter through a ½-inch, round hole.
In fact, sealing air leaks is 10 to 100 times as important as installing a vapor barrier.
Walls should be completely covered with the insulation material.
To maximize insulation coverage and reduce heat transfer, no gaps or compressed insulation should be left, and the wall should be continuously insulated.
Walls should be moisture proof – as much as they can be.
To maintain this exterior rain drainage system, continuous air barrier, and vapor barrier located on the appropriate side of the wall can be used.
Air sealing and moisture control make insulation more effective.
It is a myth that installing vapour barriers is the most important step for controlling moisture in walls.
Vapour barriers only block moisture due to diffusion, while most moisture enters walls either through fluid capillary action or as water vapour through air leaks.
Causes of rain leaks through exterior walls include improper installation of siding materials; poor-quality flashing, weatherstripping, or caulking around joints in the building exterior (such as windows, doors, and bottom plates); and wind-driven rain that penetrates the exterior finish.
To enhance protection against rain penetration, your installer create a drainage plane within the wall system of the home.
The following steps should be followed for moisture control:
Type Of Insulation To Be Used
The wide variety of insulation materials often makes it difficult to determine the most cost-effective products and techniques.
Fiberglass and rock wool batts—Generally, batt insulation is the least expensive wall insulation material but requires careful installation for effective performance.
Cellulose insulation, made from recycled newsprint, comes primarily in loose-fill form.
It can be installed in walls using a dry-pack process or a moist-spray technique.
It generally costs more than batt insulation, but it offers reduced air leakage through the wall cavity plus improved sound deadening.
Fiberglass and rock wool loose-fill insulation provide full coverage with a “Blow-in Blanket” System (BIBS) that involves blowing insulation into open stud cavities behind a net.
Thanks the Techstore Team