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How to Insulate the Walls of an Old Brick House

If you have an old brick house that is allowing cold air to come right in during the winter, you may think the brick construction means you can't install blown-in insulation. However, you probably can. In most cases, brick houses have wood-stud and plaster --- or drywall --- walls inside, just behind the brick exterior. This means you'll have to blow the insulation in from the inside rather than the outside, which is more complicated to patch, but still easier than ripping open the walls.

Things You'll Need

  • Electronic stud finder
  • Insulation blower (with hose)
  • Pencil
  • Drill
  • Hole saw bit, ¼ inch wider than the width of the blower hose
  • Loose cellulose insulation
  • Drywall tape
  • Drywall knife
  • Plaster
  • Drywall sandpaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Find each stud in the wall, using an electronic stud finder. Draw a pencil mark at the halfway point between each pair of studs. Put the mark approximately 6 inches below the ceiling.

    • 2

      Use a drill and hole saw to cut out holes at each mark. Save the plaster or drywall cut-out circles and set them aside. You should now be able to see the brick of the exterior of the house through the hole, with a space in front of it.

    • 3

      Fill the insulation blower with loose cellulose insulation. Slide the blower hose into one of the holes, all the way to the bottom of the wall cavity.

    • 4

      Start the blower and let it fill the wall cavity with insulation while slowly withdrawing the hose until the space is filled. Repeat this step for each of the spaces between each set of studs.

    • 5

      Press one of the cut-out circles that you saved in Step 2 into one of the holes. Press drywall tape over the borders of the circle. Spread patching plaster over the tape with your drywall knife so it's flat. Repeat this step for each hole.

    • 6

      Let the plaster set for eight hours. Apply a second layer of plaster. Let it set for 12 hours.

    • 7

      Lightly sand the plaster to get it smooth and flat. Repaint the wall.

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Interior Home Repair
  1. How to Insulate the Underside of a Floor
  2. How to Repair Plaster in an Old House
  3. How to Repair the Plaster Ceiling in an Old House
  4. How to Add Attic Insulation to an Old House
  5. How to Remove Old Plaster From Brick
  6. How to Insulate the Walls & Floor in My Basement
  7. How to Stop the Walls From Sweating in an Old House
  8. How to Insulate Completed Basement Walls
  9. How to Insulate Old Farmhouse Walls
  10. How to Plaster Old Walls
  11. How to Insulate the Floors on an Old Pier & Beam
  12. How to Insulate the Walls in a Pole Barn

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