Wall Insulation for Older Homes in Oakland, CA

Wall insulation for older homes is often the missing piece in East Bay houses. Many homes built in the 1920s and earlier were framed with nothing in the exterior walls, and later remodels only filled the walls that were opened. If exterior walls feel cold to the touch on a winter morning, or outlets on those walls are drafty, the cavities are probably empty.

Dense-pack for closed walls

Dense-pack cellulose is blown into each stud bay at high density through small holes, drilled from inside or outside, until the cavity is full and firm. It fills around obstacles, resists settling, and slows air movement. HomeGuide lists dense-pack at about $1.60 to $4.20 per square foot. We patch the holes afterward; on shingle or wood siding, we can often drill behind removed shingles or boards and set them back.

Check the wiring first

Knob-and-tube wiring in walls should not be buried in insulation while it is live. Before we fill any wall, we check for it. If it is there, an electrician needs to confirm it is inactive or replace it first.

Spray foam in open walls

When walls are opened during a remodel, spray foam goes straight into the stud bays. Fixr lists foam in existing walls at $3.15 to $7.50 per square foot. Open-cell adds sound control; closed-cell gives more R-value in shallow framing. If the remodel needs a permit, the new walls must meet Title 24.

Stucco and shingle exteriors

Stucco houses are usually filled from inside, through drywall or plaster. Brown-shingle houses can often be filled from outside. We look at your siding and interior finish and recommend the least disruptive route.

Plaster walls

Plaster and lath can be drilled and patched carefully. We match patches as closely as practical.

Want to know what is in your walls? Get a free estimate