ᐅ Adding Insulation to an Existing House

Hello everyone,

I have a question: if you buy an existing house and want to add insulation afterward, how does that usually work? There is the option to do it yourself or to hire professionals. Does anyone have experience with the costs involved and how the process typically goes? (Opening walls, installing insulation, etc.)

Thanks in advance.

If it is an older building, insulation is usually added afterward. However, there are several important aspects to consider.
For example, the thickness of the insulation material: if it is too thin, the dew point can shift inside the wall, which can cause moisture problems.
If the insulation is too thick, you need to check how this affects the roof overhang, whether the gutters are still adequate, how the window sills are constructed, and so on.

Some of these tasks can be done by a skilled DIY enthusiast.

Of course, an older building can also be insulated afterwards. But as henry already mentioned, there are several factors to consider. I would recommend consulting a professional first, and then you can see what you can manage on your own.

You can manage quite a bit on your own, starting with gluing the insulation, fixing the insulation with anchors, and applying the reinforcing mesh with filler—everything is doable if you have some skill. It gets more difficult when it comes to extending the roof overhang or building up the fascia board (bargeboard); in these cases, hiring a roofer is a good choice.

I would hire a professional because adding insulation to an older building is not that simple. There are many factors to consider, and it needs to be done correctly and according to professional standards.

Well, I don’t think you necessarily need a professional for that. If needed, you can get advice and then do it yourself. The only thing I wouldn’t do is the plastering. It’s not a very pleasant task, you get dirty, and you have to work quickly, otherwise the scratch coat will dry out 🙂