An old house has all our memories, fun, emotions, and everything. And it looks antique and unique at the same time. But the problem with the old house is, it remains hot in summer and cold in the winter. That means there is a problem with insulation.
If you can use Energy Efficient Insulation, then you can solve the problem. But surely you do not want to invest a lot of money on your old house. Also, you do not want to increase your energy bills. That is why you need to know how to insulate an old house cheaply with Energy Efficient Insulation.
If you can insulate your old house with energy-saving insulation cheaply, you can save your money on energy bills, and you can keep your room warm and cold at a cheap rate. So, without any further delay, let’s get into the main part.
Energy Efficient Insulation make your home better
Contents
Types of insulation
Before going to know the types of insulation. There are different types of insulation you can use in your old house. But these five types of insulations are mostly used nowadays for home. Here are those.
Blanket Batts and Rolls
Blanket Batts and Rolls is a great inexpensive way to insulate your house. These batts and rolls are made of fiberglass, although some versions are made of mineral wool, cotton, and plastic fibers. And the best part about this type is that it can fit perfectly in wall studs, attic rafters, and even floor joists in width. However, you need to cut it for proper length.
These rolls and batts can keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. And at the same time, it can save your energy bills because it prevents air from come in and come out. When it comes to costing, it costs $0.64 – $1.19 per square foot. That means, it is less costly for sure.
Spray foam insulation
Spray foam insulation other types of insulation for insulating existing homes. The main task of spray foam insulation is sealing the leak between the walls. Maybe you do not know that there some leaks between your walls that we cannot see by naked eyes.
You need to spray liquid polyurethane is sprayed into the cavity of the wall. And then it expands as well as hardens into the solid foam. Though it is an inexpensive way of insulation, it costs more than Blanket Batts and Rolls. But it will get your job done for sure. It saves your energy bills and insulates your old home perfectly.
There are different types of spray foam insulation available in the market. Based on the type, the cost varies from $0.44 to $1.5 per board foot.
Blown-In Insulation
Blown-In Insulation is the best type of insulation for existing finished area or hard-to-reach spaces or irregularly shaped. A machine applies it. A machine blows paper-like materials into the area that need to be insulated. These materials are made of rock wool, fiberglass, or reclaimed cellulose material.
It is the easiest method of insulation in your old house. And it is an Energy Efficient Insulation as well. But you should hire a professional to get the best result. You know, you do not have the machine, and you do not want to screw it up.
Now the question comes how much it costs. Well, it depends on many things. But on average, it costs $1.5 per square feet/ it seems cheap to me.
Foam Board or Rigid Foam Panels
Unlike the previous one, the Foam Board or Rigid Foam Panels are suitable for the unfinished areas. And the best part about this one is that you can use it in almost every part of your room to make your home insulated. From a floor to an unvented low-slope roof, the foam boards or rigid foam panels can help you get your job done.
These provide excellent insulation and reduce the heat amount conducted through your room wall. As a result, your room remains cold during the summer and hot during the winter. A lot of homeowners rely on it for insulating their old house.
Just like other types of insulation, it is cheap as well. On average, it costs $0.75 to $1.65 based on the use and when are you using it.
Reflective or Radiant Barrier
And the last type of insulation we are going to discuss is Reflective or Radiant Barrier. And this type is unique and different from any other kind of insulation. Where most of the insulations work from inside and outside and protect the air from coming in and out, this one just protects the heat away from home by reflecting.
That is why it is suitable for hot climate only. The insulation is made of some reflective barriers placed over a substrate material that reflects the heat. People usually use it in the attic so that the direct sunlight cannot make the home hot during the summer.
And when it comes to costing, the material costs 10 and 25 cents for every square foot for single-side barriers. And the rest depends on how you install it. If you install it yourself, it costs only that. And if you hire experts, the cost depends on the expert.
How to insulate an old house cheaply with Energy Efficient Insulation
Now you have known the types of insulation used to insulate the old home. Now let’s check How to insulate an old home cheaply with Energy Efficient Insulation.
Doors and Windows insulation
If you consider Energy Efficient Insulation, then doors and windows insulation can be a perfect one for your old house. If you are in a home that has single-glazed windows or doors, you will understand that these windows or doors can be cold and draughty. But with this simple and cheap doors and windows installation, you can efficiently insulate your house.
You can simply put a layer of plastic film on your window or door frames and then use a hairdryer to make out any wrinkles smoother. And you can buy a window film kit at an affordable price. I know old windows and doors look classy. But these are not energy efficient insulation. You have to add a layer to insulate.
For costing, it completely varies from windows to windows, doors to doors. The lowest cost is $58 to $72 for windows, and the highest might be $1,932 to $2,500. But it is for replacing windows. And if you want to just add a layer, you can do it within less price. For doors, it is more.
Insulating the Attic
In general, old homes have a large attic. You may think that it is a lot easier to Loft insulation. But the reality is not that at all. Because of that vast space, there might be large gaps as well. So covering all the gaps and insulate your home is not easy. Even if there is a half-inch gap, your all efforts will end up in a vein.
Now how will you cover those gaps? You can use spray foam or foam to seal those gaps. It will be comfortable and energy efficient insulation. And it will be cheap enough as well. You may use plastic to avoid spray foam to get into the places where you do not want. The same goes for a loft, roof, or flat roof. One-fourth of the heat is gone through the roof. So do your Loft insulation it at first.
Maybe you are thinking about the Roof insulation cost. The roof installation cost is not that much. You can do it at $400. However, it varies from area to area, types of insulation, and labor costs.
Insulating Walls in an Old House
If your house was built prior to 1920, your house walls might be solid enough. However, there might be some gaps between the walls. And if your home was built after 1920, then chances are high that the walls are cavity walls. The gaps are more there. So, you have to insulate your walls for energy efficient insulation if it is cavity wall.
To cover the walls, you can use rigid foam or rigid board insulation for better insulation. It will save a lot of energy to make your home warmer in winter and cool in summer. It might be tricky to insulate the old walls, but you know, it is not impossible.
Costing depends on the area, labor cost, and types of materials or insulation you use. However, for insulating your walls, the average national cost is $1.00 per square foot.
Crawl Space and Rim Joist Insulation
One of the main problems with the old home is Crawl Space and Rim Joist Insulation. These crawl spaces can be 5 feet high and made of stone. And this can be a big problem when it comes to insulating your old house. So if you want to insulate your house, you should cover these spaces for sure.
The best thing you can do to cover these spaces is spray foam insulation. You know, spray foam insulation is an easy and cheap way to insulate any home. And it is a great energy efficient insulation as well.
And the cost varies a lot when it comes to crawl space insulation. The reason is, the space is not the same and it cannot be calculated by square foot cost. It varies from $3 for one roll to a $300 for larger spaces.
Insulating floor
If you want to insulate your room, then you have to insulate your floor. An insulating floor can be a great way to save energy and energy bills from your house. However, you need to insulate your attic only if you are living on the ground floor. You do not need to do it if you are living on the upper level.
But you can do it as well even if you are living on the upper floor because the heat or cold can go down through the floor. You should use rigid insulation foam to insulate your floor and to save energy. And since you are using rigid insulation foam, it will cost $0.75 to $1.65
Conclusion
Insulating makes your old house can make it more comfortable and more enjoyable. But insulating your old home can be expensive, and it might not save your energy. That is why I have discussed How to insulate an old home cheaply with Energy Efficient Insulation. I hope this article will help you insulate cheaply that can save energy.
Now you know the types of insulation and how you can do it. Now it is time for action. You should start applying the process or steps I have mentioned above. You can either do it yourself or hire a professional. But I will suggest you hire a professional. You will get the best result — best of luck.