The #1 Guide On How To Retrofit Insulation

With winter just about here, the weather is getting a lot wilder. Melbourne has pretty unstable weather patterns as it is, but it seems like this year the winter season is going to be one of the coldest yet. Rugging up with coats and blankets is great, but it’s even better when your house is insulated and can help combat the intense elements from the outside in. But what if you don’t live in a house that is insulated with glasswool insulation? Luckily, that’s not a problem because it’s even easier now to retrofit insulation into your home then it ever was before. Today, we’re showing you how!

 

What is retrofitting?

Retrofitting is defined by the addition of new technology to old technology. In this case, it’s adding insulation to a home that never had it in the first place – after the house has already been built. This also refers to re-installing insulation if it was not installed properly the first time. Whilst it’s much more cost effective and quicker to insulate a home during the building process, it’s not impossible or unheard of to add it later.

 

Is it worth retrofitting?

Absolutely. Insulation is always worth the time and cost that goes into it – whether it’s before or after the house is built. If you become aware that your home does not have insulation, then it is strongly recommended that you consider retrofitting. This is especially the case if you can feel dramatic heat or cold in your own home. Insulation is all about thermal efficiency – which is the measure of a building’s ability to reduce the transfer of heat that comes from the sun. If you want a comfortable space then a high level of thermal efficiency is key, and in order to achieve that, then insulation is absolutely essential.

Once you have retrofitted insulation into your home, you’ll start to notice your gas and electricity bills will decrease in value as you won’t be needing them as much as you did previously. Now that your home is helped by insulation to maintain a comfortable climate, you’ll be using your heater or air conditioner to lesser extents. You’ll also be reducing your carbon footprint to some extent as well as adding a layer of soundproofing to your house. Of course, the level of soundproofing will depend on the type of insulation you purchase.

 

What’s the process?

Whilst it’s easiest to retrofit insulation if you’re currently going through renovations, it’s still possible to solely address insulation – though it can be a bit tricky and costly. For brick veneer walls, you’ll have to clear the areas of all furniture first. A specialised, high-performance blowing machine is then used to fill the wall cavities through a small access point. For inaccessible cavities, a 25mm holes will have to be drilled through the mortar joints where a special cone is used to pump the insulation t