How to Insulate a Double Plank Wall

Cavities

• 1

  Remove the top two rows of wood or metal planks from the wall by prying the nails lose with a hammer to see the materials behind the planks. If you cannot get a hold on the nails with the claw of a hammer, use a pry bar to get between the planks and pry the planks away from the wall. Remove both layers of planks in this manner.

• 2

  Fill an insulation blower with loose-fill insulation by following the directions provided with the specific blower. Direct the hose of the blower into the first cavity in the wall if the wall has studs with cavities between them behind the planks. Turn the blower on and blow insulation into the cavity until the insulation reaches the top of the cavity.

• 3

  Turn the blower off once you fill the first cavity. Move the blower hose to the next cavity and turn the machine on. Fill the next cavity to the top and continue across the top of the wall, filling all of the cavities behind the planks.

No Cavities

• 4

  Remove the remainder of the wood or metal planks from the wall surface if you find that the wall sits on a flat surface and has no cavities when you remove the first few planks. Check the wall surface for any loose nails left in the surface and remove them with the claw of a hammer if you find any.

• 5

  Install a waterproof liner over the wall’s flat surface. Cut enough liner strips to cover the entire wall surface, remove the backing from the liner strips and press the liner into place.

• 6

  Hold a rigid insulation panel to one end of the wall from which you removed the wood or metal planks. Lay a 3-inch-wide piece of wood the same depth as the insulation and length of the wall alongside the rigid insulation strip. Secure the wood piece to the wall with concrete or wood screws, depending on the wall surface.

• 7

  Hold a piece of rigid insulation up on the other side of the 3-inch wood piece. Install another 3-inch strip in this position. Continue across the wall in this manner, installing 3-inch wood strips all the way across.

• 8

  Place all of the insulation panels into the spaces between the wood strips. Secure the wood planks back to the wall in front of the insulation by nailing the planks back into the wood strips on the wall.