Insulating Walls- Part 6

Published Mar 13, 2007 10:15 am

• If possible, lay blanket-type insulating material between the studs in the wall. If you’re using insulation blankets without a vapor barrier, they should be forced into the area between the studs. Then, place a polyethylene vapor barrier on the inside face of the wall. Staple the vapor barrier into place.
• When building a new structure, insulate the full wall, including around the openings for doors and windows.
• Use drywall with a foil back as a vapor barrier instead of polyethylene if it is more practical.
• Blanket insulation material with a vapor barrier attached can be stapled into position.
• When the blanket has a vapor barrier, take the time to staple or tack all sides, bottoms and tops. This increases the efficiency of the insulation.
• Use scraps of insulation material to insulate all the cracks and crevices around doors and windows (see image). Then use scraps of vapor barrier to seal these areas. Staple the barrier in place.

TOOL AND MATERIAL CHECKLIST
Insulation Materials (Proper Type)	Heavy-Duty Shears
Staples	Tacks
Furring Strips	Hand Cleaner
Weather Stripping	Sharp Knife
Stapler	Hammer
Handsaw	Vapor Barrier
Face Mask ( if handling specific types of insulation material